Joel Zwick

One of the most prolific directors of episodic television, Joel Zwick has over 500 show credits under his belt with an amazing 21 pilots going on to become series. Zwick graduated from Brooklyn College before getting his start as a charter member of Ellen Stewart's La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in Manhattan's East Village. After directing a number of shows on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and for Broadway touring companies, Zwick made his television directing debut helming an episode of the obscure 1977 Adam Arkin sitcom, "Bustin' Loose." His big break came when he started working with heavyweight sitcom producer/creator Garry Marshall, who gave Zwick opportunities to direct a number of his shows, including "Laverne & Shirley," "Mork & Mindy," "Makin' It," and "The New Odd Couple." Zwick's forte became working on numerous ABC family-friendly sitcoms. Among the child actors he worked with were the Olsen Twins ("Full House"; "Two of a Kind"), Emmanuel Lewis ("Webster"), and Jaleel "Urkel" White ("Family Matters"). He is also a respected drama professor who has taught at Yale, Queens College, Brooklyn College and Wheaton College, and teaches television directing at the University of Southern California. Television has been where most of Zwick's efforts have been focused. Among the narrow scope of films he's directed are the much-loved 2002 ethnic comedy, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," and the 2004 live action remake of "Fat Albert."