Gary Shimokawa

Gary K. Shimokawa (born February 13, 1942) is an American director and producer. He is best known for directing the sitcoms Archie Bunker's Place, Night Court and The Golden Girls. He has directed and produced over 40 shows and movies.

Biography Shimokawa was born in Los Angeles in 1942. He is of Japanese descent; he and his family were interned at Manzanar shortly after his birth following the attack on Pearl Harbor and signing of Executive Order 9066.

Before venturing into Hollywood films and TV, Shimokawa taught on the junior high and high school level in Los Angeles, and wrote on the Gardena Valley News, a local bi-weekly paper, as the Sports and Entertainment editor. In television, he has directed and produced shows for over 35 years (primarily half-hour multi-cam comedy shows for prime-time and cable) totaling over 600 episodes. He also co-wrote a comedy pilot for Nickelodeon cable TV network. Shimowaka holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Southern California (USC) in Comparative Literature.

Shimokawa also served as an adjunct professor at USC for two years in the graduate film and television program and was also an adjunct professor at LMU in undergraduate television. He presently serves as a visiting professor at New York University's Kanbar Institute of Film & Television.

Filmography

As director Welcome Back, Kotter (1976); Ep. "A Love Story" The Bay City Amusement Company (1977) Laverne & Shirley (1977); Ep. "Honeymoon Hotel" Another Day (1978); Ep. "A Couple Drinks With the Girls" Fish (1978); 8 Episodes Carter Country (1979); Ep. "The Russians Are Coming" Alice (TV series) (1980); Ep. "Carrie's Wedding" The Facts of Life (1980); Ep. "Molly's Holiday" Archie Bunker's Place (1980–83); 25 Episodes Mister T (1983–85); 30 Episodes Night Court (1984–85); 2 Episodes Down to Earth (1985); Ep. "Ethel's Memory Loss" What's Happening Now!! (1985–88); 4 Episodes Comedy Factory (1986); Ep. "Hearts of Steel" The Golden Girls (1986); Ep. "Second Motherhood" Sanchez of Bel Air (1986); 2 Episodes Nine to Five (1987–88); 14 Episodes ALF (1987–89); 13 Episodes Good Morning, Miss Bliss (1988–89); 5 Episodes Saved by the Bell (1989); 4 Episodes Normal Life (1990); Ep. "And Baby Makes..." Amen (1990–91); 3 Episodes Big Brother Jake (1990–92); 2 Episodes Sister, Sister (1995); Ep. "Christmas" Coach (1996); Ep. "We Can Never Die" Goode Behavior (1996); 23 Episodes Quick Witz (1996); Ep. "Pilot" USA High (1997); 3 Episodes Malibu, CA (1998); 3 Episodes Reba (2001); 3 Episodes Titus (2001–02); 8 Episodes One on One (2003); 4 Episodes Eve (2004); 3 Episodes Less Than Perfect (2004); Ep. "Claude's 15 Minutes of Christmas" Still Standing (2005); Ep. "Still Mother's Day" Cuts (2006); 2 Episodes Sherri (2009); Ep. "Thanks-for-Not-for-Nothing-Giving"

As Associate/Second Unit Director The Christmas Visit (1973) All in the Family (1973–77); 65 Episodes That's My Mama (1974); 3 Episodes Good Times (1975); 13 Episodes Welcome Back, Kotter (1975); Ep. "Welcome Back" Dorothy (1979); 3 Episodes The Facts of Life (1979–80); 3 Episodes Archie Bunker's Place (1980–82); 3 Episodes Night Court (1984–85); 28 Episodes Hail to the Chief (1985); Ep. "Pilot" The Golden Girls (1985–87); 39 Episodes Amen (1986); Ep. "Pilot"

As producer Mr. T and Tina (1976); 2 Episodes Count Basie at Carnegie Hall (1981) Living in TV Land (2006); Ep. "Sherman Hemsley" Lies I Told My Little Sister (2014)

Miscellaneous All in the Family (1972–73) as Stage Manager; 24 Episodes The Joker's Wild (1972–75) as Stage Manager; All Episodes The Actor's Journey (2011) as himself The Actor's Journey for Kids (2011) as himself