Earl Bellamy

Earl Arthur Bellamy (March 11, 1917 – November 30, 2003) was an American television and film director.

Biography Bellamy was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was also known as Earl J. Bellamy, or Earl J. Bellamy, Jr. His father was Richard James Bellamy. He moved to Hollywood in 1920 with his parents; his father was a railroad engineer. After graduating from Hollywood High School in 1935, Bellamy received a degree from Los Angeles City College and took a job as a messenger for Columbia Studios. Within four years, Bellamy had worked his way up to second assistant director before taking time off to serve in the U.S. Navy's photographic unit during World War II.

When Bellamy returned to Hollywood, he became a well-respected TV director who was particularly adept at Westerns. Although he directed nearly two dozen feature films, Bellamy was best known for his work on The Lone Ranger, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, Rawhide, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, The Virginian, Perry Mason’’ and Tales of Wells Fargo.

Family fare was his forte in the 1950s. He directed shows like Jungle Jim, Lassie, Leave It to Beaver and The Donna Reed Show. In the 1960s, he focused on sitcoms like Bachelor Father, Get Smart, The Andy Griffith Show, The Munsters, McHale's Navy, and the final season of My Three Sons. Medical dramas, like Marcus Welby, M.D. and Trapper John M.D., as well as sitcoms such as M*A*S*H and The San Pedro Beach Bums, kept him busy in the 1970s. Before retiring in 1986, Bellamy directed the science fiction miniseries, V, and many episodes of Fantasy Island and Hart to Hart.

After his retirement, Bellamy and his wife moved to New Mexico. The state had provided him with many different filming locations.

In 2002, the Motion Picture and Television Fund gave him the prestigious Golden Boot Award.

Bellamy died on November 30, 2003, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 86. It is reported that he died of a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Personal life He had three children, Michael, Earl Jr, and Karen. His first wife died 9 years after Earl Jr was born. His second wife (mother of Karen) committed suicide.

Films

Sidewinder 1 (1977) director Speedtrap (1977) director Against a Crooked Sky (1975) director Walking Tall Part 2 (1975) director Sidecar Racers (1975) director Seven Alone (1974) director Backtrack! (1969) director Incident at Phantom Hill (1966) director Munster, Go Home! (1966) director Gunpoint (1966) director Fluffy (1965) director Stagecoach to Dancers' Rock (1962) director Toughest Gun in Tombstone (1958) director Blackjack Ketchum, Desperado (1956) director Seminole Uprising (1955) director A Star Is Born (1954) assistant director It Should Happen to You (1954) assistant director From Here to Eternity (1953) assistant director Shockproof (1949) assistant director

Television

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Role: Director The Andy Griffith Show Role: Director Bachelor Father Role: Director The Brian Keith Show Role: Director of some episodes CHiPs Role: Director The Castaways on Gilligan's Island (TV movie) Role: Director Code Red Role: Director Crusader Role: Director Daniel Boone Role: Director Desilu Playhouse Role: Director The Desperate Mission (TV movie) Role: Director Desperate Women (TV movie) Role: Director Eight Is Enough, season 3, episode 17: "Mother's Rule", Role: Director The F.B.I. Role: Director Fantasy Island Role: Director Fire! (TV movie) Role: Director Flood! (TV movie) Role: Director Future Cop Role: Director Get Smart Role: Director Hart to Hart Role: Director, Writer I Spy Role: Director Isis Role: Director The John Forsythe Show Role: Director Knight in Shining Armour (TV special) Role: Director Laramie Role: Director Laredo Role: Director Leave It to Beaver Role: Director The Lone Ranger Role: Director M Squad Role: Director M*A*S*H Role: Director Masquerade (TV movie) Role: Director Matt Helm Role: Director McHale's Navy Role: Director Medical Center Role: Director The Mod Squad Role: Director The Munsters Role: Director My Three Sons Role: Director O'Connor's Ocean (TV special) Role: Director Partners (TV series) Role: Director Perry Mason Role: Director The Pigeon (TV movie) Role: Director The Quest Role: Director Rawhide Role: Director The Restless Gun Role: Director of some episodes S.W.A.T. Role: Director The San Pedro Beach Bums Role: Director Sixth Sense (TV series) Role: Director Starsky and Hutch Role: Director Stranded (TV special) Role: Director To Rome with Love Role: Director The Trackers (TV movie) Role: Director Trapper John, M.D. Role: Director U.S. Marshal Role: Director 2 episodes Valentine Magic on Love Island (TV movie) Role: Director Wagon Train Role: Director Young Dan'l Boone Role: Director Tales of Wells Fargo Role: Director