Fred De Cordova

Director

Birthday October 27, 1910

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace New York

DEATH DATE Sep 15, 2001 (90)

#267,301 Most Popular

About

Though he also directed the Ronald Reagan feature Bedtime for Bonzo and the Elvis Presley film Frankie and Johnny, de Cordova is remembered best for his two-decade career as a multiple-Emmy-winning producer and director of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Before Fame

After earning his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, he graduated from Harvard Law School. Instead of becoming an attorney, however, he spent a decade directing professional New York stage productions.

Trivia

Over the course of his career, he directed over twenty films, including Universal Studios features starring Humphrey BogartRock Hudson, and Bob Hope.

Family Life

He grew up in New York City as the child of George de Cordova and Margaret Timmins de Cordova. His marriage to Janet Thomas lasted from 1963 until his death in 2001.

Associated With

He began his television career in the early 1950s as a director of The Jack Benny Program.