ActorAmericanTheatre DirectorTelevision Director

Don Scardino

Donald Scardino is an American director, producer, and former actor known for his extensive career in television, stage, and film, including Emmy-winning work on 30 Rock.

1. Early Life

Donald Scardino's personal background provided a foundation for his long career in the arts, shaped by his family's musical inclinations.

1.1. Birth and Family

Donald Joseph Scardino was born on February 17, 1949, in New York City. His parents, Dorothy Denny Scardino and Charles Scardino, were both jazz musicians, which likely fostered an early exposure to the performing arts in his life.

2. Career

Donald Scardino's professional journey encompasses a wide range of roles, from his early days as an actor to his later success as a director and producer across various entertainment platforms.

2.1. Acting

Scardino began his career as an actor, performing in numerous stage productions, films, and television series before transitioning primarily into directing.

2.1.1. Stage Work

Scardino's early acting career included significant work in live theater. His first credit on Broadway was as an understudy in The Playroom in 1965. He continued to appear in other Broadway productions such as Johnny No-Trump, Godspell, and King of Hearts. Off-Broadway, Scardino performed in plays including The Rimers of Eldritch, The Comedy of Errors, Moonchildren, and I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road.

2.1.2. Film and Television Appearances

Scardino' made several appearances in feature films and television throughout his acting career. His film credits include The People Next Door (1970), Homer (1970) as Homer Edwards, Rip-Off (1971) as Michael, Whiteoak of Jalna (1972), Squirm (1976) as Mick, Cruising (1980) as Ted Bailey, and He Knows You're Alone (1980) as Marvin Travis.

On television, Scardino appeared in various daytime soap operas, including Guiding Light, All My Children, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, Another World, and As the World Turns which premiered in 1956. He also had roles in primetime series such as The Ghost & Mrs. Muir and The Name of the Game. In 2020, Scardino made a guest appearance on The Big Alakens Big Lake marathon fundraiser episode of The George Lucas Talk Show.

2.1.3. Radio Theater

Scardino also contributed to radio drama, starring in several episodes of the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, a program that ran from 1974 to 1982.

2.2. Directing

Following his acting roles, particularly on network soap operas, Scardino transitioned into directing, a field in which he achieved significant success across theater, television, and film.

2.2.1. Stage Directing

Scardino directed numerous plays both on and Off-Broadway. A notable achievement in his stage directing career was the world premiere of Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed play A Few Good Men in 1989. Other stage productions he directed include Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All (2003) and the musical Lennon (2005).

2.2.2. Television Directing

Scardino's television directing career is extensive, beginning with the soap operas he once acted in. He directed episodes of Another World, One Life to Live, and All My Children. His work expanded to include a wide range of popular primetime series.

His notable television directing credits include:

  • The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1988-1991)
  • Tracey Ullman Takes on New York (1993)
  • Law & Order (1991-2006)
  • Tracey Takes On... (1997-1998)
  • Cosby (1998-2000)
  • The West Wing (2000)
  • Ed (2002-2003)
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2002-2003)
  • George Lopez (2004)
    • Hope & Faith (2004-2006)
  • 30 Rock (2006-2013), for which he received significant acclaim.
  • Rescue Me (2007)
  • Royal Pains (2009-2011)
  • 2 Broke Girls (2013-2017)
  • Mission Control (2014), a television movie.
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)
  • Young Sheldon (2017)
  • LA to Vegas (2018)
  • Instinct (2018)
  • All About the Washingtons (2018)
  • The Cool Kids (2018)
  • New Amsterdam (2019)
  • The Conners (2020)
  • Our (Almost Completely True) Love Story (2021)
  • Only Murders in the Building (2021)

2.2.3. Film Directing

Scardino's directorial work also extends to feature films. His film directing credits include Me and Veronica, which was featured at the Venice Film Festival, and Advice from a Caterpillar, which won the award for best comedy at the Aspen Comedy Festival. In 2013, he directed The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, a comedy film starring Jim Carrey and Steve Carell.

2.3. Producing

In addition to his acting and directing roles, Scardino has also served as a producer on several television projects. His producing credits include:

  • The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1988-1991)
  • Deadline (2000-2001)
  • 30 Rock (2006-2010)

3. Other Activities

Beyond his work as an actor, director, and producer, Donald Scardino held a significant leadership role in the theater community. He served as the artistic director at Playwrights Horizons, a prominent Off-Broadway theater, from 1991 to 1996.

4. Awards and Nominations

Donald Scardino's work in television and film has earned him several awards and nominations throughout his career:

  • 1986: Nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Young Man in a Drama Series for his role in Another World.
  • 1994: Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program for Tracey Takes on New York.
  • 1998: Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program for Tracey Takes On....
  • 1998: Nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety for Tracey Takes On....
  • 2008: Won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for his work on 30 Rock.
  • 2009: Won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for 30 Rock.
  • 2010: Nominated for a Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for 30 Rock.

5. Assessment and Impact

Donald Scardino's career demonstrates a significant and varied impact on the American entertainment industry, particularly in television. His extensive work as a director on critically acclaimed and popular series like 30 Rock, for which he received multiple Emmy Awards, highlights his ability to shape successful comedic and dramatic narratives. His transition from a prolific actor to a highly sought-after director of both stage and screen productions underscores his versatility and enduring influence. Scardino's contributions to long-running and influential television shows, as well as his involvement in the development of new theatrical works, reflect his consistent presence and creative input in shaping contemporary media landscapes.