Neal Israel

Neal Israel (born July 27, 1945) is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his comedic work in the 1980s for films such as Police Academy, Real Genius, and Bachelor Party. Israel has also directed episodes for several TV shows, including The Fresh Beat Band, Lizzie McGuire, Zeke and Luther, Dog with a Blog, and I Didn't Do It.

Biography

Career Raised in Manhattan in a Jewish family, Israel started his career on the Broadway stage as assistant to legendary director George Abbott. After working at the New Dramatists Guild and the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference, he came to Los Angeles, and was an executive at both ABC and CBS. During this time he wrote and directed the break through indie hit Tunnel Vision, which introduced such future stars as Chevy Chase, John Candy and Al Franken.

On television, he wrote Ringo, a special that starred Ringo Starr and George Harrison. He then wrote with his partner, Pat Proft, the first Police Academy movie, which spawned six sequels. He directed and co-wrote Bachelor Party, which starred Tom Hanks. He followed this with the comedy Moving Violations. Real Genius, another of his scripts, was made into a successful film starring Val Kilmer, and in 1987, he produced the film Three O'Clock High. He also directed Breaking The Rules starring Jason Bateman and the cult classic Surf Ninjas with Rob Schneider and Leslie Nielsen.

Neal continues to work in both film and television as a writer, director, producer, and script doctor. He has directed numerous movies of the week, pilots, and episodes of shows such as The Wonder Years, Nash Bridges, Joan of Arcadia, and Even Stevens. Recent directing credits include Disney's Zeke and Luther and Kickin It. In 2004, he executive-produced the Academy Award-nominated film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet.

In July 2017, Israel said he was working on a comedy with his longterm partner Pat Proft that will feature stars of the predominant comedic films of the '70s and '80s.

Personal life His first marriage was to American singer/songwriter Lori Lieberman. They divorced in 1980. After being hired by director Amy Heckerling to work on Johnny Dangerously, the two began a relationship and married in July 1984.

Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Notes 1976 Tunnel Vision credited as Neil Israel, co-directed with Bradley R. Swirnoff 1977 Cracking Up 1979 Americathon 1984 Police Academy Bachelor Party 1985 Moving Violations Real Genius 1990 Look Who's Talking Too 1992 Breaking the Rules a.k.a. Sketches 1993 Surf Ninjas

Producer Three O'Clock High (1987) The Runner (1999)

Executive producer Chocolate for Breakfast (1998) Finding Neverland (2004) Bachelor Party 2: The Last Temptation (2008)

Television Director The George Burns Comedy Week (1985) The Wonder Years (1991) Harts of the West (1994) Love Boat: The Next Wave (1999) Clueless (1997–1999) Shasta McNasty (1999) Even Stevens (2000) Lizzie McGuire (2001) The Mind of the Married Man (2001) Family Affair (2002) Do Over (2002) Phil of the Future (2004) Joan of Arcadia (2005) Flight 29 Down (2007) About a Girl (2007) The Fresh Beat Band (2010) Zeke and Luther (2011) Kickin' It (2011) Dog with a Blog (2012) I Didn't Do It (2015)

Producer Twilight Theater (1982) CBS Summer Playhouse (1988) Miracles (2003)

Writer Yogi's Gang (1973) All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special (1980)

TV movies Year Title Director Producer Writer 1986 Combat Academy 1989 The Cover Girl and the Cop Dream Date 1992 Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story 1993 Taking the Heat 1995 Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare 1996 Kidz in the Wood 1997 Dad's Week Off 1999 The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights 2001 Hounded The Poof Point 2002 The Brady Bunch in the White House 2003 National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Family Reunion

Awards and nominations Year Award Result Category Series 1981 Writers Guild of America Award Won Variety, Musical or Comedy All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special (Shared with Jeffrey Barron, Earl Brown, Carmen Finestra, Denny Johnston, Sean Kelly, Steve Martin, Pat McCormick, Michael McManus, Pat Proft, and Mason Williams) 2002 BAFTA Awards Nominated Best International Lizzie McGuire (Shared with Susan Estelle Jansen)