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{{Short description|American television director and producer (1955–2024)}}
{{about||the Liberty ship|SS Jerry S. Foley}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Jerry Foley
| image         = 
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    = {{Birth year|1955}}
| birth_place   = 
| death_date    = {{Death date and given age|2024|3|10|68}}
| death_place   = [[Albany, New York]], U.S.
| nationality   = <!-- use only when necessary per [[WP:INFONAT]] -->
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = Television director and producer
| years_active  = 
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''
}}

'''Jerry Foley''' (1955 – March 10, 2024) was an American television director and producer. He directed the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' from 1995 until the end of the show's run.

Foley was the [[executive producer]] and director of the [[Live on Letterman]] concert series before it ended in 2015.<ref name=Rose /><ref name=Gay /> He was named Supervising Producer in May 2003.<ref name=Gay>Gay, Verne. "Go Relax, Dave, Jerry Foley's Back", ''[[Newsday]]'', New York. pg. A12. 2 May 2003.</ref><ref name=Starr /><ref>Schneider, Michael. "'Letterman' retrieves ex-staffers", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 5. 1 May 2003.</ref><ref>Jacobson, Mitch (2010). ''Mastering Multicamera Techniques: From Preproduction to Editing and Deliverables'', pg.79, 428. Focal/Elsevier, Amsterdam. {{ISBN|978-0240811765}}.</ref><ref>"He Missed You, Dave", ''[[New York Post]]'', New York. pg. 084. 1 May 2003.</ref><ref>Schneider, Michael. "'Letterman' spells staff shuffle", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 2. 7 April 2003.</ref> 

Foley had nine DGA Award nominations and 21 [[Emmy]] nominations—a record for a single person working on a variety series.<ref>Verini, Bob. "Road to the Emmys: Making the 'Vast Wasteland' Bloom", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''. pg. 51. 13 August 2013.</ref><ref name=dga>[http://www.dga.org/Awards/Explore.aspx "DGA Awards"], [[Directors Guild of America]], Retrieved on 21 May 2014.</ref>

==Early career==
After graduating from the [[University of Southern California]], Foley spent thirteen years at [[NBC]] working in a variety of functions on ''[[NBC News Overnight]]'', ''[[NBC News at Sunrise]]'', ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', ''[[The Tomorrow Show|Tomorrow]]'' with Tom Snyder, ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'', ''[[Later (talk show)|Later]]'' with [[Bob Costas]], ''[[Friday Night Videos]]'', ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'', ''WNBC News 4 New York'', ''[[Live at Five (WNBC)|Live at Five]]'', ''[[NFL Live]]'', ''NBC Game of the Week'', and ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]''.<ref name=Rose /><ref name=Foley />

==Letterman era==
Foley was the technical director of ''Late Night with David Letterman'' from 1988 to 1993. When the show ended in 1993, and [[David Letterman]] moved to CBS to host the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', he informed his crew at ''Late Night'' about the move in advance, and told them, "To those of you who are able, we'd love to have you come along."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=Brian Geoffrey |title=Directing for Television: Conversations with American TV Directors |date=1999 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-3591-7 |page=122 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nJlRhnUpwIoC&pg=PA122 |language=en}}</ref> Foley was one of the crew members that moved to CBS with Letterman.

Foley succeeded [[Hal Gurnee]] as the director of the ''Late Show'' in 1995. He directed the show until its conclusion in 2015.<ref name=Starr>Starr, Michael. "Top Dave Guy Quits...But The Cue Card Guy Stays", ''[[New York Post]]'', New York. pg. 087. 8 April 2003.</ref><ref name=Rose>Rose, Brian Geoffrey (1999). ''Directing for Television: Conversations with American TV Directors''. pg. 120–122. Scarecrow, Lanham, MD. {{ISBN|978-0810835917}}</ref><ref name="Foley">{{cite web |title=Jerry Foley |url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/bios/35753/ |website=CBS.com |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522001834/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/bios/35753/ |archive-date=22 May 2015}}</ref>

==Other work==
Foley directed over 3900 hours of late night television. He worked with film, television, and music talent in numerous single camera comedy segments. He produced and directed all 72 episodes of ''[[Live on Letterman]]'' including concerts with [[The Black Keys]], [[The Killers]], [[Adele]], [[Phoenix (band)|Phoenix]], [[Taylor Swift]], and [[Tim McGraw]]. Foley produced and directed over 40 Broadway performances for ''The'' ''Late Show'' including ''Wicked'', ''Pippin'', ''The Adams Family'', ''Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', ''Hair'', ''Young Frankenstein'', and ''Cinderella''.<ref name=Foley /> He was the executive producer and director of ''CBS News: 50 Years Later, Civil Rights'' and ''The Beatles 50 Years Later: How CBS is Remembering the Fab Four''.<ref>{{cite web |title=CBS News: 50 Years Later, Civil Rights (2014) |url=https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/cbs-news-50-years-later-civil-rights-2014 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=7 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=cbsnews.com |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-beatles-50-years-later-how-cbs-is-remembering-the-fab-four/|title=The Beatles 50 years later: How CBS is remembering the Fab Four|date=7 February 2014 }}</ref>

Jerry Foley directed episodes of ABC's ''The View'' and Broadway segments for ''Good Morning America''. He was the producer and director of the "America Salutes You" benefit concert.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.tribunemedia.com/america-salutes-you-benefit-concert-for-military-veterans-and-their-families-november-12-rosemont-theater-in-chicago/ | title=Tribune Media &#124; "America Salutes You" Benefit Concert for Military, Veterans and Their Families November 12, Rosemont Theater in Chicago | access-date=2017-04-28 | archive-date=2017-04-29 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000134/http://www.tribunemedia.com/america-salutes-you-benefit-concert-for-military-veterans-and-their-families-november-12-rosemont-theater-in-chicago/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2016, Foley was named Artistic Director of the North Fork TV Festival.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/north-fork-tv-festival-founded-by-commack-native-opens-in-greenport-1.12190769 |title = Newsday &#124; Long Island's & NYC's News Source &#124; Newsday}}</ref> Jerry Foley directed the NBC primetime special ''[[Tony Bennett Celebrates 90: The Best Is Yet to Come]]''.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://deadline.com/2016/08/tony-bennetts-90th-birthday-special-nbc-lady-gaga-elton-john-others-1201796983/ |title = NBC Special Celebrates Tony Bennett's 90th Birthday with Lady Gaga, Elton John & Others|date = 2016-08-02}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Foley was the younger brother of film director [[James Foley (director)|James Foley]].

Jerry Foley died on March 10, 2024, at the age of 68,<ref>[https://latenighter.com/news/longtime-david-letterman-director-jerry-foley-dies-at-68/ Longtime David Letterman Director Jerry Foley Dies at 68]</ref> after a skiing accident in [[Vermont]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jerry-foley-dead-late-show-david-letterman-director-1235850716/|title=Jerry Foley, 'Late Show With David Letterman' Director, Dies at 68|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 12, 2024|access-date=March 12, 2024}}</ref>

== Primetime Emmy nominations ==
* 2013, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2013a>THR Staff. "Emmy Winners and Nominees 2013: The Complete List", ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''. 21 September 2013.</ref>
* 2012, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2012a>McLean, Thomas J.. "Variety Series", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 13. 22 August 2012.</ref>
* 2011, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2011a>"63rd Annual Emmy Nominations", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 11. 15 July 2011.</ref>
* 2010, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2010a>"Juggling is essential for nominees", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. A3. 3 August 2010.</ref>
* 2009, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2009a>"Nominees happy to lose special feeling", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. Al Vol. 304 No. 31 {{ISSN|0011-5509}}. 18 August 2009.</ref>
* 2009, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2009b>"The Emmy Nominations; And the nominees are...", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 16. 17 July 2009.</ref>
* 2008, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2008a>Gilbert, Matthew. "It all adds up for 'Mad Men' Sixteen nominations and a historic first for AMC drama", ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', Boston. pg. C1. 18 July 2008.</ref>
* 2007, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2007a>Andreeva, Nellie. "Emmy folks name names", ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''. 23 August 2007.</ref>
* 2006, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2006a>"List of Main Primetime Emmy Nominations", [[Associated Press]]. 23 August 2006.</ref>
* 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2005a>"2005 Primetime Emmy Nominations", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 10. 15 July 2005.</ref>
* 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2005a />
* 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2004a>"Selected Emmy Noms", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. A20. 12 August 2004.</ref>
* 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2004a />
* 2003, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2003a>"Selected Emmy Noms", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. A20. 14 August 2003.</ref>
* 2003, Nominated for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' (Producer)<ref name=2003b>"Emmys; The other nominees", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 34. 18 July 2003.</ref>
* 2002, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2002a>"The Emmy Nominations; Complete List of Nominees For The Record", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 18. 19 July 2002.</ref>
* 2001, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2001a>"Primetime Emmy Noms", ''[[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]''. pg. 28. 13 July 2001.</ref>
* 2000, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=2000a>"The 52nd Emmy Nominations", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 23. 21 July 2000.</ref>
* 1996, Nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=1996a>"Emmy Award Nominations 1996; And The Emmy Nominees Are....", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 22. 19 July 1996.</ref>
* 1995, Nominated for Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=1995a>"Emmy Award Nominations 1995; Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 26. 21 July 1995.</ref>
* 1994, Nominated for Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series for ''The Late Show with David Letterman''<ref name=1994a>"Emmy Award Nominations 1994; Nighttime Nominees: A Complete Rundown", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. pg. 26. 22 July 1994.</ref>

== DGA Award nominations ==
* 2007, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 2005, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 2004, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 2002, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 2001, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 2000, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 1999, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />
* 1998, Nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Musical Variety Program<ref name=dga />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/0902-Summer-2009/Television-Directing-David-Letterman.aspx "Directing Dave"] Jerry Foley – DGA.org
* {{IMDb name|0284159}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150312002243/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/ ''Late Show with David Letterman'']

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foley, Jerry}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:Skiing deaths]]
[[Category:Sports deaths in Vermont]]