Jon Cassar

John Francis "Jon" Cassar (born 27 April 1958) is a Maltese-Canadian television director and producer, known for his work on the first seven seasons of 24. In 2006, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his work on the episode "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.". In 2011, he produced and directed all episodes of the Canadian-American miniseries The Kennedys, for which he won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Television Film and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.

Early life Jon Francis Cassar was born in the Crown Colony of Malta on 27 April 1958, and immigrated to Canada in 1963 with his mother, Elda (née Segona), and father, Frank Cassar. He has two younger siblings, Bernard Cassar and Kristine Palsis. Cassar is a graduate of Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario.

Career After La Femme Nikita ended, for which he directed 14 episodes, Cassar began working as director and executive producer on the FOX drama-thriller series 24. In 2006, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.". In addition, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row (2003–06), winning one in 2006. He directed the spin-off feature film, 24: Redemption, in 2008. Following the completion of the seventh season of 24, Cassar left the series to focus on other projects. He joined the FOX science fiction series Terra Nova in 2010, as a producer and director.

In 2012, Cassar won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Television Film and the Directors Guild of Canada Award for Outstanding Direction – Television Movie/Miniseries for his work on the 2011 miniseries The Kennedys. For producing the series, he was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. In 2015, Cassar joined the ABC anthology series Wicked City as an executive producer and director.

Personal life Cassar is married to Kristina Kinderman with whom he has two children: photographer Zak Cassar and actor Alexis "Lex" Cassar.

Filmography

Director credits

Television

CIA (2026; 3 episodes) FBI: International (2025; 1 episode) Rabbit Hole (2023; 1 episode) Law & Order: Organized Crime (2023–2024; 5 episodes) FBI: Most Wanted (2023–2025; 2 episodes) Chicago P.D. (2023; 1 episode) FBI (2021–2025; 8 episodes) Medici: Masters of Florence (2018; 1st 4 episodes of the 2nd season) The Orville (2017–2019; 11 episodes) 24: Legacy (2017; 4 episodes) The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017; 3 episodes) Wicked City (2015; 8 episodes) Between (2015; 2 episodes) 24: Live Another Day (2014; 6 episodes) Nikita (2013; episode: "Reunion") Revolution (2012–2013; 2 episodes) Person of Interest (2012; episode: "Bad Code") Continuum (2012; 2 episodes) Touch (2012; episode: "Tessellations") Terra Nova (2011; 5 episodes) The Kennedys (2011; 8 episodes) Human Target (2010; episode: "Lockdown") Fringe (2009–2012; 2 episodes) Washington Field (2009; unsold pilot) Criminal Minds (2009; episode: "Haunted") Company Man (2007; unsold pilot) 24 (2001–2009; 59 episodes) The Dead Zone (2002; 2 episodes) Street Time (2002; 2 episodes) Tracker (2002; 1 episode) Mutant X (2001–2002; 3 episodes) Sheena (2000–2001; 3 episodes) Queen of Swords (2000; 2 episodes) Code Name: Eternity (2000; episode: "Death Trap") Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (2000; episode: "GeoCore") Profiler (1999; 2 episodes) Amazon (1999; 4 episodes) La Femme Nikita (1997–2001; 14 episodes) F/X: The Series (1997; episode: "Medea") Jake and The Kid (1996-1997; 2 episodes) Baywatch Nights (1996–1997; 4 episodes) Due South (1996; episode: "Body Language") The Hardy Boys (1995; 2 episodes) Pointman (1995; 5 episodes) Nancy Drew (1995; 4 episodes) Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1994–1996; 12 episodes) Forever Knight (1992–1996; 7 episodes)

Film

When the Bough Breaks (2016) Forsaken (2015) 24: Redemption (2008) Danger Beneath the Sea (2001) Assault on Death Mountain (1999) CHiPs '99 (1998) The Ultimate Weapon (1998) Assault on Devil's Island (1997) The Final Goal Part 2: Final Goalier (1996) The Final Goal (1995)

Producer credits

The Orville (2019–present; 14 episodes; Executive producer from Season 2) 24: Legacy (2017; 12 episodes) The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017; 4 episodes) Wicked City (2015; 8 episodes) Rio Heat (2015) 24: Live Another Day (2014; 12 episodes) Terra Nova (2011; 13 episodes) The Kennedys (2011; 8 episodes) 24: Redemption (2008) 24: Day 6 Debrief (2007; 5 episodes) 24 (2002–2009; 147 episodes)

Camera credits

PCU (1994; camera operator) Trapped in Paradise (1994; camera operator) Clearcut (1992; Steadicam and camera operator) The Cutting Edge (1992; camera operator) Termini Station (1991; camera operator) Millennium (1989; Steadicam operator) The Dream Team (1989; Steadicam operator)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1998 Gemini Awards Best Direction in a Dramatic Series La Femme Nikita 2003 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series 24 2004 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television Outstanding Directing – Drama Series 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series 2006 Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series Golden Nymph Awards Best International Producer Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama 2007 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Drama Series 2009 Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television 24: Redemption 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie The Kennedys 2012 Directors Guild of Canada Awards Outstanding Direction – Television Movie/Miniseries Outstanding Television Movie/Miniseries Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Television Film 2013 Gemini Awards Best Direction in a Dramatic Series Continuum