Gerren Keith

Gerren Keith is an American TV director best known for his work on such high-rated 1970s and '80s sitcoms as the socially conscious Norman Lear production "Good Times," the iconic blended-family comedy "Diff'rent Strokes," and Marla Gibbs's post-"The Jeffersons" vehicle "227." Keith, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, began his television career as a stage manager for the popular game show "Let's Make a Deal"; he went on to fill that important but oft-overlooked role on a variety of popular variety shows starring comedians like Flip Wilson and Red Skelton. Keith made his directorial debut in 1975 with the "Sanford and Son" spinoff "Grady," starring Whitman Mayo as the title character, a widower who moves in with his grown daughter and her family in a tony Los Angeles suburb. The series was a short-lived flop, but Keith almost immediately moved on to a successful three-year stint directing the hit "Good Times." His career flourished well into the 21st century, including work on the Mo'Nique showcase "The Parkers" and Martin Lawrence's 1990s hit "Martin."