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Norman Frederick Jewison, acclaimed and incredibly versatile director of “In the Heat of the Night,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Moonstruck,” died peacefully at home on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the age of 97.
Jewison is a native of Canada and his film career has spanned more than four decades. He was nominated for seven Oscars, including three for Best Director (“In the Heat of the Night,” “The Fiddler on the Roof,” “Moonstruck”) and four for Best Picture (“The Russians Are Coming,” “The Russians come”, “The Fiddler on the Roof”, “A Soldier”) Story, Moonstruck.) His films received a total of 46 nominations and 12 Oscars. In 1999, Jewison received the prestigious Irving Thalberg Award at the Academy Awards. He also received three Emmy Awards for his work on television.
His other extensive credits include The Hurricane, Agnes of God, A Soldier's Story, Rollerball and Jesus Christ Superstar, all of which he also produced.
Early in his career, Jewison found occasional work as an actor on stage and radio for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After a stint at the BBC, he wrote, directed and produced some of Canada's most popular musicals, dramas, comedy variety shows and specials for the CBC.
Jewison went to New York in 1958 to direct “Your Hit Parade” for CBS. That led to The Andy Williams Show, two Harry Belafonte specials, Danny Kaye's television debut, The Broadway of Lerner and Loewe and award-winning Judy Garland specials.
In film, Jewison directed a number of comedies for Universal before becoming an independent producer. He achieved great success with his first film, which he co-wrote and directed, “The Cincinnati Kid” with Steve McQueen, Ann-Margret and Edward G. Robinson. This set him on the path to a series of memorable films, including The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming and The Thomas Crown Affair (again with McQueen) and In the Heat of the Night (winner of five Oscars, including Best Picture in 1967). ) and the mighty …And Justice For All (with Al Pacino).
Jewison received numerous other prestigious awards throughout his long career, including the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival, the Donatello Award from Italy and the Genie Award from the Canadian Academy.
In January 2010, he received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America. The Film Society of Lincoln Center presented a retrospective honoring Jewison in May 2011. The Toronto International Film Festival held a retrospective for Jewison in August 2011.
Jewison was the founder of the Canadian Film Center and Canada appointed him an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1982, a Member of the Order of Ontario in 1989 and a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1992, the country's highest civilian honor. Jewison was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 2004.
Lesli Linka Glatter, president of the Directors Guild of America, issued the following statement upon learning of Jewison's death:
Today we mourn the loss of a legendary director. Known for his influential and impactful filmography over many decades, Norman was also one of our DGA heroes – a warrior and champion always ready to defend his fellow directors, their creative rights and the craft of directing.
Norman's cinematic range was truly remarkable – few filmmakers can move between romantic comedies, dramas and musicals as fluidly and eloquently as he can. But his most powerful films, and those he said were his “favorites,” addressed racism and injustice, including “In the Heat of the Night” and “A Soldier's Story,” both of which were nominated for DGA Awards. In 2010, we awarded him the Guild's highest honor, the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award, for his outstanding display of the craft of directing.
In addition to leadership, the importance of guilds and unions and the fight for racial justice and equality were central to Norman's work and life. A dedicated and passionate member of the Guild, Norman served on the National Board, the DGA Western Directors Council and many committees, where he consistently mentored others and worked to preserve and expand the creative rights of DGA members.
His fellow directors will forever remember him as a dynamic force who brought depth, insight and a touch of humor to everything he touched. Our thoughts are with his wife Lynne, his family and the many directors and executive team members who were fortunate enough to be influenced by him.
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