Stephen C. Miner (born June 18, 1951) is an American director of

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

and

television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

, film producer, and a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is notable for his work in the horror genre, including ''

Friday the 13th Part 2 ''Friday the 13th Part 2'' is a 1981 American slasher film produced and directed by Steve Miner in his List of directorial debuts, directorial debut, and written by Ron Kurz. It is the sequel to ''Friday the 13th (1980 film), Friday the 13th'' (1 ...

'', '' Friday the 13th Part III'', ''

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...

'', '' Warlock'', '' Halloween H20: 20 Years Later'', '' Lake Placid'', and '' Day of the Dead''. He has also directed numerous comedy and drama films, as well as episodes of notable television series including '' The Wonder Years,

Dawson's Creek ''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college. It aired from January 20, 19 ...

'', and ''

Smallville ''Smallville'' is an American superhero fiction, superhero television series developed by writer-producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The series was produce ...

.''

Life and career

Miner was born in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

.Miner, Steve 1951- (Stephen Miner) , Encyclopedia.com
/ref> He began work in the

film industry The film industry or motion picture industry comprises the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking, i.e., film production company, production companies, film studios, cinematography, animation, film production, screenwriting, pre- ...

as a recurring collaborator of producer-director Sean S. Cunningham, filling in for various behind the scenes roles on films such as ''The Last House on the Left'' and ''Friday the 13th''. His directorial debut was the latter film's first sequel, and he directed the third entry less than a year later. In 1983, Miner acquired the rights from

Toho is a Japanese entertainment company that primarily engages in producing and distributing films and exhibiting stage plays. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. ...

to develop an American ''Godzilla'' film titled '' Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3D'', with Miner attached as the director. Miner hired Fred Dekker to write the script and William Stout for storyboards and concept art. Miner generated some interest in Hollywood but was unable to secure financing and let the rights revert to Toho. Miner went on to direct other horror films such as ''Warlock'', '' Halloween H20: 20 Years Later'', and '' Lake Placid.'' Miner first crossed over into the comedy genre with his 1985 cult horror-comedy ''House'', and has since gone on to direct other films in the genre including ''Soul Man'' and ''Big Bully''. Miner is the only director to have crossed over and directed more than one of the horror "Big 3" (''

Halloween Halloween, or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve), is a celebration geography of Halloween, observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christianity, Western Christian f ...

'' / Michael Myers, '' Friday the 13th'' / Jason Voorhees and '' Nightmare on Elm Street'' / Freddy Krueger). Miner has since become a notable television director on shows like ''

Psych ''Psych'' is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks for USA Network. The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened o ...

, Felicity,

'' (including the pilot and four of the other episodes of the first season), and '' Diagnosis: Murder''. His work on '' The Wonder Years'' earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series and a DGA Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.

Filmography

Film

Director *''

'' (1981) (Also producer) *'' Friday the 13th Part III'' (1982) *''

'' (1985) *'' Soul Man'' (1986) *'' Warlock'' (1989) (Also producer) *'' Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken'' (1991) *'' Forever Young'' (1992) *'' My Father the Hero'' (1994) *'' Big Bully'' (1996) *'' Halloween H20: 20 Years Later'' (1998) *'' Lake Placid'' (1999) *'' Texas Rangers'' (2001) *'' Day of the Dead'' (2008) *'' Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous'' (2008) Other credits

Television

TV movies * ''Maverick Square'' (1990) (Also executive producer) * ''Texas Graces'' (1996) * ''The Third Degree'' (2001) * ''Home of the Brave'' (2002) * ''Scarlett'' (2006) TV series

References

Bibliography

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Miner, Steve 1951 births American male film actors American television directors Film directors from Illinois American horror film directors Living people People from Westport, Connecticut Artists from Chicago 20th-century American male actors Directors Guild of America Award winners Male actors from Chicago Film directors from Connecticut