Joseph Pevney (September 15, 1911 – May 18, 2008) was an American film and television director."Joseph Pevney, 96; prolific film, TV director worked on original 'Star Trek' series"
''Los Angeles Times'', May 29, 2008

Biography

Born in New York City, Pevney made his debut in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic compositio ...

as a boy soprano in 1924. Although he hated vaudeville, he loved the theatre and developed a career as a stage actor, appearing in such plays as '' Home of the Brave'', ''The World We Make'', ''Key Largo'', ''Golden Boy'' and ''Nature Son''. A short career as a film actor followed, his most significant appearance being in the classic boxing film '' Body and Soul'' (1947) with

John Garfield John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...

, in which he played the role of Shorty Pulaski. Before turning to film, he served in the Signal Corps in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, then did more time on stage. Beginning with '' Shakedown'' (1950), Pevney became a film and

television director A television director is in charge of the activities involved in making a television program or section of a program. They are generally responsible for decisions about the editorial content and creative style of a program, and ensuring the pro ...

, with a directing career that spanned over 80 productions from 1950 to 1984. Among his films were

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as '' Treasure Island'', '' Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...

's ''

The Strange Door ''The Strange Door'' is a 1951 American horror film, released by Universal Pictures, and starring Charles Laughton, Boris Karloff, Sally Forrest and Richard Stapley. Karloff's role is actually a supporting one but his name carried significant w ...

'' (1951) with

Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future ...

and

Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established ...

, '' Meet Danny Wilson'' (1952) with Frank Sinatra, '' Desert Legion'' (1953) with

Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lak ...

, ''

3 Ring Circus ''3 Ring Circus'' is a 1954 American comedy film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The picture was shot from February 17 to March 31, 1954, and released on December 25 by Paramount Pictures. The supporting cast ...

'' (1954) with

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

and

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in pop culture, Lewis was nickn ...

, ''

Female on the Beach ''Female on the Beach'' is a 1955 American crime-drama film directed by Joseph Pevney starring Joan Crawford and Jeff Chandler in a story about a widow and her beach bum lover. The screenplay by Robert Hill and Richard Alan Simmons was based ...

'' (1955) with

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pic ...

and Jeff Chandler, ''

Tammy and the Bachelor ''Tammy and the Bachelor'' is a 1957 romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Debbie Reynolds as Tambrey "Tammy" Tyree, Walter Brennan as Grandpa Dinwitty and Leslie Nielsen as Peter Brent. It is the first of the four Tammy f ...

'' (1957) with

Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, and businesswoman. Her career spanned almost 70 years. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portra ...

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in '' Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky'' (1938), and '' The Westerner ...

and

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (11 February 192628 November 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. Nielsen was bo ...

, '' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957) with

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

Lon Chaney Leonidas Frank "Lon" Chaney (April 1, 1883 – August 26, 1930) was an American actor. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and powerful actors of cinema, renowned for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and affli ...

, '' Cash McCall'' (1959) with

James Garner James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including '' The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Chayefsky's ''The Ameri ...

and

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

, '' The Crowded Sky'' (1960) with

Dana Andrews Carver Dana Andrews (January 1, 1909 – December 17, 1992) was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts ...

, and Westerns such as '' The Plunderers'' (1960). Pevney also directed multiple episodes of noted television series, including ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vario ...

'', ''

The Paper Chase The Paper Chase (stylized as "the pAper chAse") was an American alternative rock band formed in 1998 by producer/engineer John Congleton in Dallas, Texas, who were signed to Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records. Their albums ''God Bless Your Blac ...

'', and '' Trapper John, M.D.''. He tied with Marc Daniels for directing the largest number of original ''Star Trek'' episodes (14 in total), including "

The Devil in the Dark "The Devil in the Dark" is the twenty-fifth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek''. Written by Gene L. Coon and directed by Joseph Pevney, the episode first aired on March 9, 1967. In thi ...

, "

Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectato ...

Harlan Ellison Harlan Jay Ellison (May 27, 1934 – June 28, 2018) was an American writer, known for his prolific and influential work in New Wave speculative fiction and for his outspoken, combative personality. Robert Bloch, the author of ''Psycho'', ...

's "

The City on the Edge of Forever "The City on the Edge of Forever" is the twenty-eighth and penultimate episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by Harlan Ellison, contributors and/or editors to the script included St ...

", " Amok Time", "

Journey to Babel "Journey to Babel" is the tenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by D. C. Fontana and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on November 17, 1967. In the episode, '' ...

", and " The Trouble with Tribbles". ''Star Trek'' NBC executive Herb Solow and executive co-producer Robert Justman write, in their 1996 book ''Star Trek The Real Story'', of Pevney:

Joseph Pevney was an ex-actor turned director. Some former actors become good directors; some become hack directors. Pevney was the former, but more than just "good."

He continued directing TV shows during the 1970s and 1980s. The last he stayed with was '' Trapper John, M.D.'' running between 1979 and 1986, followed by retirement. Pevney was married three times. His first wife was actress Mitzi Green, with whom he had four children. On May 18, 2008, Pevney died at home in Palm Desert, California, at age 96.

Selected filmography

As actor: * ''

Nocturne A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night. History The term ''nocturne'' (from French '' nocturne'' 'of the night') was first applied to musical pieces in the 18th century, when it indicated an ensemb ...

'' (1946) as Fingers * '' Body and Soul'' (1947) as Shorty Polaski * '' The Street with No Name'' (1948) as Matty * '' Thieves' Highway'' (1949) as Pete * '' Outside the Wall'' (1950) as Gus Wormser * '' Shakedown'' (1950) as Keller, the reporter (uncredited, final film role) As director: * '' Shakedown'' (1950) * '' Undercover Girl'' (1950) * '' The Iron Man'' (1951) * ''

The Lady from Texas ''The Lady from Texas'' is a 1951 American comedy Western film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Howard Duff, Mona Freeman and Josephine Hull. Plot A ranch cook and a cowboy save a poor old Civil War widow from a land grabber in the Old W ...

'' (1951) * ''

'' (1951) * '' Air Cadet'' (1951) * '' Flesh and Fury'' (1952) * '' Meet Danny Wilson'' (1952) * '' Because of You'' (1952) * '' Just Across the Street'' (1952) * '' Desert Legion'' (1953) * '' Back to God's Country'' (1953) * '' It Happens Every Thursday'' (1953) * '' Yankee Pasha'' (1954) * ''

Playgirl ''Playgirl'' was an American magazine that featured general interest articles, lifestyle and celebrity news, in addition to nude or semi-nude men. In the 1970s and 1980s, the magazine printed monthly and was marketed mainly to women, although it ...

'' (1954) * ''

'' (1954) * '' Six Bridges to Cross'' (1955) * ''

Foxfire Foxfire, also called fairy fire and chimpanzee fire, is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. The bluish-green glow is attributed to a luciferase, an oxidative enzyme, which emits light as it reacts with ...

'' (1955) * ''

Away All Boats ''Away All Boats'' is a 1956 American war film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Jeff Chandler, George Nader, Lex Barker, and Julie Adams. It was produced by Howard Christie from a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman based on the 1953 novel by Kenne ...

'' (1956) * '' Congo Crossing'' (1956) * '' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957) * '' The Midnight Story'' (1957) * ''

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

'' (1957) * ''

'' (1957) * '' Torpedo Run'' (1958) * '' Twilight for the Gods'' (1958) * '' Cash McCall'' (1959) * '' The Crowded Sky'' (1960) * '' The Plunderers'' (1960) * ''

Portrait of a Mobster ''Portrait of a Mobster'' is a 1961 American crime film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Vic Morrow, Leslie Parrish and Ray Danton repeating his role as 'Legs' Diamond.PORTRAIT OF A MOBSTER, Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 28, Iss. 3 ...

'' (1961) * '' The Night of the Grizzly'' (1966)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pevney, Joseph 1911 births 2008 deaths American male film actors American television directors Film directors from New York City Hugo Award winners Vaudeville performers 20th-century American Jews 20th-century American male actors Burials at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery 21st-century American Jews