Stan Zimmerman is an American

television producer A television producer is a person who oversees one or more aspects of a television show, television program. Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon acce ...

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

and

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

. Zimmerman has been a scriptwriter for such television series as ''

The Golden Girls ''The Golden Girls'' is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. The show's ensemble cast stars Beatrice Arthur, Betty ...

'', ''

Roseanne ''Roseanne'' is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams (producer), Matt Williams that originally aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May ...

'' and ''

Gilmore Girls ''Gilmore Girls'' is an American comedy drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The show debuted October 5, 2000, on The WB and became a flagship series for the network. The show ran fo ...

'' and the 1996 feature film ''

A Very Brady Sequel ''A Very Brady Sequel'' is a 1996 American comedy film directed by Arlene Sanford (in her feature film directorial debut), with a screenplay by Harry Elfont, Deborah Kaplan, James Berg and Stan Zimmerman, and starring Shelley Long, Gary Co ...

''. Zimmerman is also the creator and executive producer of the sitcom ''

Rita Rocks ''Rita Rocks'' is a Lifetime original sitcom that ran from October 20, 2008 to December 7, 2009. It was the network's first original comedy in over a decade. The series debuted alongside re-runs of '' Reba'' as part of a new comedy hour for Tues ...

.''

Career

Zimmerman directed the

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

for the song "All I Want" by pop band Whore's Mascara. The song was nominated for three Pill Awards, including Best Video and Best Director, and had a cameo appearance by

Laverne Cox Laverne Cox (born May 29, 1972) is an American actress and LGBTQ advocate. She rose to prominence with her role as Sophia Burset on the Netflix series '' Orange Is the New Black'', becoming the first transgender person to be nominated for a ...

. Other television writing credits include ''

Brothers A brother (: brothers or brethren) is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingl ...

'', ''

Just Our Luck ''Just Our Luck'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC for 13 episodes (two were unaired) from September 20 to December 27, 1983. Created by brothers Lawrence and Charles Gordon, it was considered a modernized version of the 1960s sitcom ''I ...

'', '' George Burns Comedy Week'', ''

Hooperman ''Hooperman'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from September 23, 1987, to July 19, 1989. The show centered on the professional and personal life of San Francisco police Inspector Harry Hooperman, played by John Ri ...

'', ''

Something Wilder ''Something Wilder'' is an American sitcom television series starring Gene Wilder that ran on NBC from October 1, 1994, to June 13, 1995. The series was created by Lee Kalcheim and Barnet Kellman. A total of 18 half-hour episodes were produced ...

'', ''Fame'', and ''

Wanda at Large ''Wanda at Large'' is an American sitcom starring Wanda Sykes; Sykes also created the series alongside Bruce Helford, Les Firestein, and Lance Crouther. The series aired for two seasons on Fox from March 26 to November 7, 2003. Synopsis Sykes ...

''. In theater, Zimmerman directed ''"Gemini"'' (

Celebration Theatre The Celebration Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company in Los Angeles, founded in 1982. The company is located in West Hollywood, on the west end of Theatre Row, and specializes in works representing the LGBTQ+ experience. History Ce ...

), ''"Spike Heels"'' (Actors Circle Theatre), ''"A Tuna Christmas"'' (Theater Asylum), ''"

Entertaining Mr Sloane ''Entertaining Mr Sloane'' is a three-act play written in 1963 by the English playwright Joe Orton. It was first produced in London at the New Arts Theatre on 6 May 1964 and transferred to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre on 29 June 1964. Pl ...

"'' (

The Actors Company Theatre The Actors Company Theatre (TACT) was an Off-Broadway theatre company founded in 1992 by a group of New York stage veterans. For several years, TACT produced many concert performances, a cross between a staged reading and a full production. In 2 ...

), ''"Blink & You Might Miss Me"'' (Theatre Asylum), ''"Daughter Of"'' (3 Clubs Lounge), ''"Warm Cheese"'' (Studio C), ''"Synthesis"'' (Dorie Theatre), ''"Pledge"'' (McCadden Place Theatre, Dorie Theatre), ''"Pinata"'' (Lounge Theatre) and a revival of Justin Tanner's "Heartbreak Help" (Dorie Theatre), starring Tony winner

Marissa Jaret Winokur Marissa Jaret Winokur (born February 2, 1973), sometimes credited as Marissa Winokur, is an American actress and singer known for her Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, Tony-winning performance as Tracy Turnblad in the Broadway theatre, ...

Melissa Peterman Melissa Peterman (born July 1, 1971) is an American actress, television host and comedian. She has played the role of Barbra Jean in the television comedy series ''Reba (TV series), Reba'', appeared as Bonnie Wheeler in the Freeform (TV channel) ...

Teresa Ganzel Teresa Ganzel is an American actress and comedian. Career Ganzel was a recurring cast member of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' as the Matinee Lady in the "Tea Time Movie" sketches. She has often played stereotypical ditzy blonde ...

and

Sarah Gilman Sarah Baldwin Gilman (born January 18, 1996) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Delia in the Disney Channel series '' I Didn't Do It''. Early life and education Gilman was born on January 18, 1996, and resides in Los Angel ...

. He directed and co-wrote, in collaboration with Christian McLaughlin, ''"Meet & Greet"'' (Elephant Space), ''"Yes, Virginia"'' (Studio C, Dorie Theatre, Judson Theatre Company), "Have A Good One" (Dorie Theatre) and the workshop productions of ''"It's On!"'', the TV theme song musical (Falcon Theatre, NYMF). He created and has been acting in ''Right Before I Go.'', his suicide awareness play. He's been performing it across America with high school and college students, alongside such actors as

Virginia Madsen Virginia Madsen (born September 11, 1961) is an American actress. She is the recipient of two Critics' Choice Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Gl ...

Hill Harper Frank Eugene "Hill" Harper (born May 17, 1966) is an American actor and political candidate, who is known for his roles as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in '' CSI: NY'', Agent Spelman Boyle in '' Limitless'', and Dr. Marcus Andrews in '' The Good Doctor'' ...

Vanessa Williams Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, model, producer and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later Vanes ...

. Zimmerman has also directed nine iterations of his LatinX version of '"The Diary of Anne Frank"'. Zimmerman appeared on

Bravo Bravo(s) or The Bravo(s) may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Groups and labels * Bravo (band), a Russian rock band * Bravo (Spanish group), represented Spain at Eurovision 1984 * Bravo Music, an American concert band music publishing compa ...

's '' Situation: Comedy'' reality show, as TV host/showrunner. The show is produced by

Sean Hayes Sean Patrick Hayes (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. Known for his performances on stage and screen, he gained acclaim for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom ''Will & Grace'', for which he won a Primet ...

. Together with Berg, he also wrote''

The Brady Bunch Movie ''The Brady Bunch Movie'' is a 1995 American comedy film that parodies the 1969–1974 television series ''The Brady Bunch'' (albeit in postmodern lens). The film was directed by Betty Thomas, with a screenplay by Laurice Elehwany, Rick Copp, a ...

'', though not credited, and rewrote the TV movie ''Annie'' for

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

. In 2023, Zimmerman and Berg co-wrote the movie '' Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas'', starring

Loni Anderson Loni Anderson (born August 5, 1945) is an American actress. She played receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the CBS sitcom ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' (1978–1982), which earned her three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Award nominations. Early life ...

Morgan Fairchild Morgan Fairchild (born Patsy Ann McClenny; February 3, 1950) is an American actress. She began acting in the early 1970s and has had roles in several television series since then. Fairchild began her career on the CBS daytime soap opera '' Searc ...

Linda Gray Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering wife of Larry Hagman's character J.R. Ewing on the CBS television drama series ''Dallas (TV series), Dallas'' (1978� ...

Donna Mills Donna Mills (born Donna Jean Miller; December 11, 1940) is an American actress. She began her television career in 1966 with a recurring role on ''The Secret Storm'', and in the same year appeared on Broadway in Woody Allen's comedy '' Don't ...

, and

Nicollette Sheridan Nicollette Sheridan (born November 21, 1963) is an American actress. She began her career as a fashion model before landing a role in the short-lived American Broadcasting Company, ABC primetime soap opera ''Paper Dolls'' in 1984, as well as st ...

. In 2024, Indigo River Publishing released Zimmerman's memoir, "The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore".

Filmography

Film

* ''

'' (1996,

feature film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole present ...

) * ''Christmas Bounty'' (2013) * '' Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas'' (2023)

Television

* ''

'' * ''Fame'' * ''

'' * '' George Burns Comedy Week'' * ''

'' * ''

Pauly ''Pauly'', a.k.a. ''The Pauly Shore Show'', is an American sitcom series that aired on Fox from March 3 until April 7, 1997, starring Pauly Shore. It was cancelled after five episodes, leaving two episodes unaired. Plot Pauly Sherman is the s ...

'' * ''

'' * '' Secs & EXECS'' (2017) * ''Skirtchasers'' (2016) * ''

'' * ''Brunch Date'' (2021)

Awards and recognition

Stan Zimmerman and his associate James Berg have received two

Writers Guild of America The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the name of two American labor unions representing writers in film, television, radio, and online media: * The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is headquartered in New York City and is affiliated wit ...

nominations, one for ''

,'' "Rose's Mother" and the other for the

lesbian kiss episode The "lesbian kiss episode" is a subgenre of the media portrayal of lesbians in American television media, created in the 1990s. Beginning in February 1991 with a kiss on the American ''L.A. Law'' series' episode " He's a Crowd" between C.J. Lamb ...

of ''

'', "

Don't Ask, Don't Tell "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) was the official United States policy on Sexual orientation in the United States military, military service of homosexual people. Instituted during the Presidency of Bill Clinton, Clinton administration, the pol ...

". He also received several awards for his work in theatre, such as "Best Director" for ''"Blink & You Might Miss Me"'' by BroadwayWorld.com, Hollywood Fringe Encore Producers' Award and 3 StageSceneLA Awards, including Best Director for ''"Meet & Greet"'', 3 StageSceneLA Awards, including Best Director for ''"Spike Heels"'', 7 StageSceneLA Awards, including Best Director for ''"Entertaining Mr Sloane"'', and Hollywood Fringe Encore Producers' Award for ''"Suicide Notes"''.

Private life

Stan Zimmerman is openly gay, as is his business associate James Berg. He is Jewish.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zimmerman, Stan Living people American male screenwriters American television producers American television writers American LGBTQ screenwriters LGBTQ television producers American male television writers Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people) Gay Jews Jewish American television writers