Jim Goddard

Jim Goddard (1936 - 2013) was an English film and TV director who was born in Battersea, London. He directed episodes of many UK TV series such as Public Eye, Callan, Special Branch, The Sweeney, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, The Bell and Holby City. He may be best known outside England for the TV series Kennedy starring Martin Sheen or directing the film Shanghai Surprise as a vehicle for newlyweds Sean Penn and Madonna.

Biography Born James Dudley Goddard in Battersea, 1936, he studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and then became a set designer. Following a short period at the Royal Opera House, contributing to productions by Zeffirelli and Visconti, he moved into television work. In 1959 he joined the ABC Television design department as a production designer where he could be working one week on a kitchen-sink drama for Armchair Theatre or the next on a children's sci-fi series.

He first achieved recognition as a director for his work on five episodes of ABC TV's Tempo (1965–67), an arts magazine show, which led to his close friendship with Trevor Preston and Mike Hodges. Preston and Hodges were influential in establishing Euston Films. This smaller film unit became the standard for Euston Films, a company that played an important role in Goddard's future career. 1985 – Nominated for Best Film for Parker (1986) at Mystfest. 1987 – Nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director for Shanghai Surprise.