Don Roy King

Donald Roy King (born October 9, 1947)[1] is an American television director, and also a producer, writer, and actor.[2] He has been the director for Saturday Night Live since 2006.[3] He has "directed more hours of live network television than anyone else in the history of television,"[4][2] according to Michael Chein.[4]

Don Roy King
Born
Donald Roy King

(1947-10-09) October 9, 1947
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationGateway High School
Alma materPennsylvania State University
OccupationTelevision director
EmployerSaturday Night Live

He has won a number of Emmys, among other awards.[5][4][6][7][8][9]

Early life and education

King is a native of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania.[1][10] He grew up in both Monroeville and Pitcairn, and initially wanted to go into acting.[11] His father worked as a mailman, with both his parents supporting his interests in sports and the arts. King was active as an athlete as a young student, and also directed classmates in small plays. He initially planned on attending West Point, with a medical exam later finding something wrong with his back and preventing him from applying. In eighth grade, he traveled with classmates to New York to see several Broadway musicals, with King developing a "crush" on New York City, aiming to eventually have a career there.[12]

He attended Gateway High School, graduating in 1965, and Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1969[1][10][13] with a degree in broadcasting.[12] He graduated Penn State's Bellisario College of Communications.[2] He initially studied for a degree in broadcast journalism, and also was involved with the school's theater department. He first directed a project during the last class of a broadcasting course, comparing it to playing quarterback on a football team.[7] He also had an amateur boxing career.[9]

Career

Early career

Early in his career, King wanted to be an actor, and also became a director at a local station in Pittsburgh. He then became a director at several bigger stations in Pennsylvania.[12] Aiming to eventually work in New York, he moved to a station in San Jose, then to a larger station in Pittsburgh, then moving on to direct at Channel 5 in New York.[12] King directed morning news television for around two decades, first at ABC's Good Morning America and later CBS This Morning.[2] His other directing work includes Survivor (including the live Survivor finales on CBS), The Early Show, and The Mike Douglas Show.[14] King went on to be nominated for five Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Individual Direction For A Variety Show. He won in 1977 for The Mike Douglas Show,[15] for the episode with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire appearing together for the first time. At the age of 27 or 28, after already earning an Emmy for directing, he enrolled again in acting classes.[12]

In 1991, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design for his work on CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.[16] At one point in his career, he was asked to be on a Blue Ribbon Panel for the Emmys, which he recollects gave him an understanding of how subjective it is to discern good directing. His assignments for various networks also took him to "20 countries and 38 states," with King working on productions and directing shows for "morning shows, documentaries, telethons, sporting events, concerts, and musicals."[12] He also had experienced directing a number of sports broadcasts.'[6]

Near the end of his career, he had directed CBS This Morning, Good Morning America and The Early Show for 21 years, and was looking for a career change away from morning news television.[7] In his mid-50s, he was still directing morning television at This Morning, then decided "I’ve got to change this lifestyle," moving on from CBS. Shortly afterwards, he was offered the chance direct Saturday Night Live.[5] After directing The Mike Douglas Show, afterwards he was offered the show America Alive!, which flopped in less than six months, leaving King "out of work for the first time in my life" in early 1979. He unexpectedly received an offer to direct SNL, and was brought in to test on six shows.[12]

SNL

At the age of 58,[12] he was hired as the director of Saturday Night Live in 2006,[5] becoming the third director in the show's history[2] and the fourth director to "man" the SNL control room.[6] Helming a live, 90-minute late night sketch and musical show,[5] he does not write or select sketches, noting it’s his job to help "bring them to life" instead.[4] In 2016, he was the subject of an AARP video profile.[5][17]

As of 2017, he was in his 11th season with SNL, and had won "six primetime Emmy awards, a daytime Emmy and three awards from the Directors Guild of America."[10] That year, he won best directing for a variety series for an episode hosted by Jimmy Fallon.[18]

He has been nominated for thirteen Directors Guild of America awards,[19] which he won in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.[20]

In 2010, he consulted on the film Morning Glory, where "he ensured that the TV scene was depicted accurately," and also played Merv the Director.[12] Between 2008 and 2018, he won an Emmy every year.[7] By 2018, he had received nine Emmy Awards,[4] eight Primetime and one Daytime, and five Directors Guild of America awards.[6] In 2015 and 2016, he lost out to the Daily Show and Inside Amy Schumer.[21] In 2018, he was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series, again for SNL, winning.[7] The next year, he won Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series again at the Primetime Emmy Awards.[8] At that point he had 28 Emmy nominations. In 2018, he played himself in A Star Is Born.[12]

He is the recipient of 10 Emmy awards and 19 nominations. His work on Saturday Night Live has earned him nine Primetime Emmys[22] and 13 nominations.[15] In January 2020, King won the Directors Guild of America Award for Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming for Saturday Night Live.[23]

Broadway Worldwide

He has spoken about the television industry at events[12] and schools such as Lawrence Herbert School of Communication[6] and Berkeley Forum.[4] When not working on SNL and live version of Weekend Update in August, King is involved in various stage plays and musicals. Among projects he has worked on are Broadway version of Romeo and Juliet and Memphis.[10] King is the creative director of Broadway Worldwide which brings theatrical events to theaters and television.[12] The company has produced four major productions as of 2019, all of which King directed:[12] Smokey Joe's Cafe; Putting It Together with Carol Burnett; Jekyll & Hyde and Memphis, all directed by King. He also directed a big screen taping of Broadway's Romeo and Juliet with Orlando Bloom in 2013.

Personal life

King lives in New York City, and has a daughter named Cameron.[10] He married actress Kate Snyder in 1995, after a prior marriage ended in divorce.[24]

Filmography

Director
2019
Saturday Night Live (2006-current) (TV Series)
2017
Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thursday
2016
A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special: 2016 (TV Movie)
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special (TV Movie)
The 2016 SNL Election Special (TV Movie)
Goodnight, Sweet Prince (TV Special)
2015
Hollywood Game Night (TV Series) (1 episode)
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special (TV Special)
An SNL Valentine (TV Special) (clips)
SNL's NFL Saturday (TV Movie) (clips)
2014
Saturday Night Live: Christmas Special (TV Special) (clips)
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special (TV Special) (clips)
Romeo and Juliet
SNL Sports Spectacular (TV Movie)
Saturday Night Live: Best of This Season (TV Special)
2013
Saturday Night Live: Christmas (TV Special)
Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving (TV Special)
Saturday Night Live: Halloween (TV Special)
2011
SNL Christmas (TV Special) (archive footage) 2000-2011
Survivor (TV Series) (8 episodes)
Memphis: The Musical
2010
The Women of SNL (TV Movie) (lead director)
Saturday Night Live Presents: Sports All-Stars (TV Special) (also archive footage)
2009
Saturday Night Live Just Commercials (TV Movie) (segment director)

SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (TV Movie) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler (TV Special) Saturday Night Live Sports Extra '09 (TV Special) (archive footage)'

2008
The Early Show (TV Series) (1 episode)
Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash '08 (TV Special)
Criss Angel Mindfreak (TV Series) (1 episode)
2005
Naomi's New Morning (TV Series)
2002
Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller (TV Special)
2001
Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical (TV Movie)
2000
Putting It Together: Direct from Broadway (TV Movie)
1987
The Howard Stern Show (TV Series) (5 episodes)
1977-1980
Kids Are People Too (TV Series) (1978-1980)
America Alive! (TV Series)
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series)

Actor
2018
A Star Is Born - Himself (cameo)[25]
2011
No Direction - Dad
2010
Morning Glory - Merv (Director of Daybreak)

Producer
2001
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV Special)
1998
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV Special)

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Ref
1991 News & Documentary Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design CBS Evening News with Dan Rather Won [16]
2007 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Alec Baldwin") Nominated [26]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Nominated [22]
2008 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Tina Fey") Nominated [22]
2009 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Justin Timberlake") Nominated [27]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Nominated [22]
2010 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Betty White") Nominated [28]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Won [22]
2011 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Justin Timberlake") Nominated [29]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Won [22]
2012 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Mick Jagger") Nominated [30]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Won [22]
2013 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety Saturday Night Live ("Host: Justin Timberlake") Won [31]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Won [22]
2014 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Jim Carrey") Nominated [32]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Jimmy Fallon") Won [22]
2015 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Tracey Morgan") Nominated [33]
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Special Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Won [33]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Won [22]
2016 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Hosts: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler") Nominated [22]
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Dave Chappelle") Nominated [34]
2017 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Jimmy Fallon") Won [22]
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Series Won [35]
2018 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Donald Glover") Won [22]
2019 Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Adam Driver") Won [36]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Adam Sandler") Won [22]
2020 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series Saturday Night Live ("Host: Eddie Murphy") Won [22]

References
  1. "Live from New York, there's a Western Pennsylvania guy behind the scenes". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. December 9, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  2. "Yes, It's Really LIVE!: A Conversation With Director for Saturday Night Live Don Roy King". www.berkeley.edu. Berkeley Calendar Events. September 6, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  3. "> Saturday Night Live". NBC.com. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  4. Sandhu, Mani (September 10, 2018). "'SNL' director Don Roy King talks reality of TV industry at Berkeley Forum event". www.dailycal.org. The Daily Californian.
  5. Blevins, Joe (October 18, 2016). "Get to know Don Roy King, affable director of Saturday Night Live". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 2, 2020 – via avclub.com.
  6. "Live from Studio A: 'SNL' director speaks to Herbert School". www.thehofstrachronicle.com. The Hofstra Chronicle. April 30. Retrieved February 2, 2020. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. Perry, Kimberly (September 16, 2018). "'SNL' director Don Roy King compares directing to playing football". www.webn.tv. WebN Boston News. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  8. "Don Roy King wins award at Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles". www.upi.com. UPI. 2019.
  9. Satalia, Patty (November 7, 2014). "Take Note: Don Roy King and the Serious Art of TV Comedy". www.wpsu.org. WPSU. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  10. Sciullo, Maria (April 5, 2017). "Pittsburgh native Don Roy King sees all the angles for 'Saturday Night Live'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  11. Corsaro, Louis A. (January 13, 2014). "A ready for prime-time player: Don Roy King". www.bizjournals.com. Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  12. Fisher, Tania (2019). "Actor/Writer Tania Fisher sits down with Don Roy King". www.stagevoices.com. Stage Voices. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  13. "Don Roy King '69 Lib" (PDF). Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  14. Carter, Bill (2006-09-21). "Bowing to Budget Cuts at NBC, 'Saturday Night Live' Pares Five Performers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  15. "Outstanding Individual Direction For A Variety Show - Google Search". g.co. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  16. "13TH ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED BY TilE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES" (PDF). emmyonline.com/. July 23, 1991.
  17. Wright, Megh (October 19, 2016). "Get to Know 'Saturday Night Live's Director Don Roy King". www.vulture.com. Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  18. Butler, Bethonie (September 17, 2017). "Don Roy King wins best directing for a variety series for 'Saturday Night Live'". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  19. Atkins, Lucas. "Director's Guild Don Roy King". dga.org. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  20. "69th Annual DGA Awards". www.dga.org. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  21. Crist, Allison (September 22, 2019). "Emmys: 'SNL's' Don Roy King Wins Directing for a Variety Series Third Year in a Row". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  22. "Don Roy King - Television Academy". Television Academy. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  23. "'1917' Director Takes Home Top Prize At DGA Awards". www.patch.com. Patch. January 26, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  24. "WEDDINGS; Kate Snyder, Don King". New York Times. July 30, 1995. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  25. Sciullo, Maria (October 5, 2018). "Live, from New York: 'Saturday Night Live' director Don Roy King plays himself in 'A Star Is Born'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  26. "Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television: Dramatic Series Night, Comedy Series, Musical Variety, Reality Programs, Daytime Serials and Children's Programs". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  27. "2009 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  28. "2010 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  29. "2011 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  30. "2012 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  31. "2013 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  32. "2014 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  33. "2015 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  34. "2016 Nominees and Winners - Directors Guild of America". Directors Guild of America. January 11, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  35. "DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2017". Directors Guild of America. January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  36. "DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2018". Directors Guild of America. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
Preceded by
Beth McCarthy-Miller		 Saturday Night Live director
2006–present		 Succeeded by
None
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