David Nutter

A director with a number of impressive television credits, David Nutter was best known for his work in the science fiction and fantasy genres, working extensively on classic series like "The X-Files" (Fox 1993-2002) and "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011-). Nutter began directing for television in 1987, helming episodes of the stylized police drama "21 Jump Street" (Fox 1987-1991). Work on the syndicated series "The Adventures of Superboy" (1988-1992) followed, he additionally had directing credits for episodes of the adventure comedy "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures" (Fox 1992) and cop show "The Commish" (ABC 1991-95). In 1993, Nutter began a five-season run with "The X-Files," directing over 20 episodes including the particularly memorable entries "Ice" (set in the Arctic), "Tooms" (an examination of a cannibalistic serial killer) and "Revelations" (a religious-themed episode centering around a child's unexplained stigmata). A writer, producer and director with the series from its early months, Nutter helped to create the eerie and unusually evocative narrative style that won the show critical acclaim and a host of devoted fans. He subsequently joined the team of "Millennium" (Fox 1996-99) for that similarly acclaimed series' first season as producer and director; he also worked in those capacities on NBC's short lived dream-themed drama series "Sleepwalkers" (1997). While he had greater success on the small screen, Nutter contributed to film as well, making his feature directorial and editing debut with the gripping Vietnam War drama "Cease Fire" (1985), starring Don Johnson. The director next took on the direct-to-video horror sequels "Trancers 4: Jack of Swords" (1994) and "Trancers 5: Sudden Deth" (1994). In 1998, in the midst of a teen-horror resurgence, he landed the directing slot for the feature "Disturbing Behavior," a thriller about the threat of parentally-authorized mind control starring Katie Holmes. Nutter gave the teen market another try, and returned to form as a producer and director of the cult show "Roswell" (The WB, 1999-2001; UPN, 2001-02), an original and engrossing combination of romantic teen drama and sci-fi thriller. Set in the New Mexico town famed for its alleged UFO crash, the show followed a trio of otherworldly beings in teenage human form trying to disguise their true identity while searching for their origins. Nutter also produced and directed episodes of the Superman origin story "Smallville" (WB / CW 2001-2011). During this era, Nutter began working primarily on pilots, helming the first episode of series ranging from procedural "Without A Trace" (CBS 2002-09) to historical drama "Jack and Bobby" (WB 2004-05). In 2011, Nutter began working on the fantasy hit "Game of Thrones" (HBO 2011-), helming several episodes of the series and winning his second Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series in 2015. His first had come for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special in 2002 for "Band of Brothers" (HBO 2002).