Tucker Gates

A prolific television director and producer, Tucker Gates forged an eclectic and remarkably successful career path. Although Gates first gained notice for his work on imaginative science-fiction and fantasy series such as "The X-Files" (Fox 1993-2002), "Alias" (ABC 2001-06), and "Lost" (ABC 2004-10), he proved equally adept when he turned his hand to relatively mainstream dramas such as "House M.D." (Fox 2004-12) and demonstrated a remarkable talent for comedy with shows including "The Office" (NBC 2005-13) and "Parks and Recreation" (NBC 2009-15). Dartmouth graduate Gates began his television career as an associate producer on the short-lived thriller "Unsub" (NBC 1989). His directorial career began with episodes of popular cop dramas like "21 Jump Street" (Fox 1987-91) and "The Commish" (ABC 1991-96) before he became a dependable journeyman director who demonstrated his versatility by working on only one or two episodes of a series before moving on. Gates did occasionally stick around long-term on a show, working as a producer and director on Denis Leary's single-camera cop comedy "The Job" (ABC 2001-02), romantic drama "Skin" (Fox 2003-05), and spy caper "Alias." Gates served as an executive producer on the hugely ambitious but ratings-starved alternate reality drama series "Kings" (NBC 2009). In 2013 Gates returned to double duty, as a director and executive producer, on "Bates Motel" (A&E 2013-17), which is both a modern-day reimagining of and prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's classic "Psycho," exploring the relationship between a teenage Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother (Vera Farmiga).