Harold "Hal" Cooper (February 23, 1923 – April 11, 2014) was an American television director and executive producer who worked primarily on sitcoms. After establishing himself as a pioneer of the Golden Age of Television, Cooper became a regular director on many of the popular and enduring shows of the 1960s, '70s and '80s. He was perhaps best known for directing 54 episodes of I Dream of Jeannie between 1966 and 1969 38 episodes of "Mayberry RFD" between 1968 and 1971 and later directing 126 of the 141 episodes of Bea Arthurs sitcom Maude, on which he also served as executive producer from 1975 through 1978. His work on the latter series earned. Cooper two Emmy Award nominations as well as three nominations from the Directors Guild of America Awards.Born in The Bronx, New York, on February 23, 1923, Cooper began his entertainment career at the age of 9, becoming part of the acting troupe on the children's radio show Rainbow House. When he wasn't on microphone, Cooper spent his time in the control room, learning about directing from the show's producer and director, Bob Emery. One day in 1936, Emery fell ill two hours before the show was to go live and he chose Cooper to fill in for him, resulting in Cooper directing his first live broadcast at the age of 13.In 1940, Cooper began attending the University of Michigan, where he met his first wife, Pat Meikle, whom he married in 1944. His education was interrupted by World War II in 1943, when he was commissioned as a lieutenant (junior grade) into the U.S. Naval Reserve and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He returned to the university in 1946 and graduated with a B.A. that same year, after which he set out on a career in live television. He wrote, produced and acted in the pioneering live daytime children's series Your Television Babysitter for the DuMont Network. This show, which was co-written and hosted by Cooper's wife, Pat Meikle, aired on DuMont's first full day television broadcasting and led to a spin-off, The Magic Cottage, which Cooper also produced.From 1950 to 1957, Cooper directed and produced a number of daytime soap operas, including Search for Tomorrow. He moved to Los Angeles, California in 1958 and broke into network television sitcoms in 1962, starting with two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show. Over the next three decades, he amassed an extensive number of directing credits, which, in addition to I Dream of Jeannie and Maude, included 23 episodes of That Girl, 27 episodes of The Courtship of Eddie's Father, 11 episodes of The Odd Couple, 8 episodes of The Brady Bunch, 81 episodes of Gimme a Break!, 19 episodes of Empty Nest and 67 episodes of Dear John. He was also an executive producer on the latter three series.Cooper retired in 1996; his final screen credit as director was a January 1997 episode Something So Right. He died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills on April 11, 2014. He was 91.
February 23, 1923, The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States
Died
April 11, 2014, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Bronx, New York, USA
Profession
Director, Producer, Actor
Spouse
Martha Salcido (m. 1971–2010), Pat Meikle (m. 1944–1970)
Children
James Cooper, Bethami Cooper, Pamela Cooper
Parents
Adeline Cooper, Benjamin Cooper
Movies
Million Dollar Infield
Star Sign
Pisces
#
Fact
1
Hal had been a chain-smoker of cigarettes (up to 4 packs a day), until one night he had a horrible nightmare about his brother Paul (who had previously died of lung cancer). He woke up in a cold sweat and never picked-up another cigarette again.
2
He was a great lover of music, especially jazz and classical, and played the piano.
3
Attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1946.
4
During World War II, he served as junior lieutenant with the U.S. Naval Reserve in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.
5
Started in radio at the age of 9. He directed his first show at the age of 13 when the director became very ill 2 hours before the live broadcast. Before being taken to the hospital, the director said, "Let Hal direct it.".
6
Prolific television director and executive producer of popular comedy shows in the 1960's, 70's and 80's.
7
In 1971, Hal married Marta Lucille Salcido. In 1973, their son James was born.
8
Hal and Pat Meikle married in 1944 while in college. They have two daughters, Bethami and Pamela. They later divorced.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Something So Right
1997
TV Series 1 episode
New York Daze
1995
TV Series
The Powers That Be
1992-1993
TV Series 14 episodes
Dear John
1989-1992
TV Series 68 episodes
Starting Now
1989
TV Short
Empty Nest
1988-1989
TV Series 19 episodes
CBS Summer Playhouse
1987
TV Series 1 episode
Gimme a Break!
1983-1987
TV Series 81 episodes
Comedy Factory
1986
TV Series 1 episode
The Stiller & Meara Show
1986
TV Movie
Never Again
1984
TV Movie
A Fine Romance
1983
TV Movie
Love, Sidney
1982-1983
TV Series 22 episodes
The Astronauts
1982
TV Movie
Million Dollar Infield
1982
TV Movie
And They All Lived Happily After
1981
TV Movie
Mr. and Mrs. and Mr.
1980
TV Movie
Insight
1967-1980
TV Series 14 episodes
Phyl & Mikhy
1980
TV Series 6 episodes
Free Country
1978
TV Series 3 episodes
Snavely
1978
TV Movie
Maude
1973-1978
TV Series 126 episodes
Another Day
1978
TV Series
McNamara's Band
1977/II
TV Movie
All's Fair
1976
TV Series 1 episode
The Dumplings
1976
TV Series
One Day at a Time
1975
TV Series 1 episode
Jerry
1974
TV Movie
Sanford and Son
1974
TV Series 2 episodes
Apple's Way
1974
TV Series
Love Thy Neighbor
1973
TV Series
The Brady Bunch
1970-1973
TV Series 8 episodes
The Odd Couple
1970-1973
TV Series 11 episodes
All in the Family
1972
TV Series 2 episodes
Mary Tyler Moore
1972
TV Series 2 episodes
Bobby Jo and the Good Time Band
1972
TV Movie
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1969-1972
TV Series 27 episodes
Love, American Style
1971
TV Series 2 episodes
The Good Life
1971
TV Series 1 episode
Funny Face
1971
TV Series 2 episodes
Getting Together
1971
TV Series 1 episode
Mayberry R.F.D.
1968-1971
TV Series 38 episodes
Room 222
1970
TV Series 1 episode
That Girl
1967-1970
TV Series 23 episodes
The Doris Day Show
1969-1970
TV Series 2 episodes
My World and Welcome to It
1969
TV Series 2 episodes
I Dream of Jeannie
1966-1969
TV Series 54 episodes
The Flying Nun
1968
TV Series 1 episode
Death Valley Days
1965-1968
TV Series 13 episodes
I Spy
1967
TV Series 1 episode
Gilligan's Island
1965-1967
TV Series 2 episodes
Hazel
1966
TV Series 1 episode
Gidget
1966
TV Series 3 episodes
CBS Repertoire Workshop
1964
TV Series 1 episode
The Art Linkletter Show
1963
TV Series
The Dick Van Dyke Show
1962
TV Series 2 episodes
The Clear Horizon
1960
TV Series
For Better or Worse
1959
TV Series
The Magic Cottage
1949
TV Series 1949-1951
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dear John
1989-1992
TV Series executive producer - 51 episodes
Empty Nest
1988-1989
TV Series executive producer - 21 episodes
CBS Summer Playhouse
1987
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
Gimme a Break!
1983-1987
TV Series executive producer - 96 episodes
Love, Sidney
1982
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
The Astronauts
1982
TV Movie executive producer
And They All Lived Happily After
1981
TV Movie executive producer
Mr. and Mrs. and Mr.
1980
TV Movie executive producer
Phyl & Mikhy
1980
TV Series producer - 1 episode
Maude
1975-1978
TV Series executive producer - 49 episodes
The Magic Cottage
1949
TV Series producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1970-1972
TV Series
Gus
Mayberry R.F.D.
1969
TV Series
That Girl
1968
TV Series
Interviewed Screenwriter
I Dream of Jeannie
1967
TV Series
Dog / Eddie
The Edge of Night
1957
TV Series
Paul Roberts
Robert Montgomery Presents
1956
TV Series
Ed Wilson
Hands of Mystery
1950
TV Series
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Gimme a Break!
1983-1985
TV Series story by - 3 episodes
The Astronauts
1982
TV Movie creator
Assistant Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Maude
1977
TV Series associate director - 1 episode
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Phyl & Mikhy
1980
TV Series composer - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
E! True Hollywood Story
1999-2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself - Director (In Memoriam)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1978
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Maude (1972)
1977
DGA Award
Directors Guild of America, USA
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series'
Maude (1972)
1976
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Maude (1972)
1976
DGA Award
Directors Guild of America, USA
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series'
Maude (1972)
1974
DGA Award
Directors Guild of America, USA
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series'