Quick Facts
Biography
Joel Zwick (born January 11, 1942) is an American Jewish film director, television director, and theater director. He is best known for his work on the television series Perfect Strangers, Full House, and Family Matters, and as well as for directing the films My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Second Sight, and Fat Albert.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family, his father a Cantor from an orthodox background, and having his Bar Mitzva at an orthodox Synagogue, Zwick was educated at Brooklyn College. He directed twenty-one pilots, all of which went on to have successful runs as weekly television series.
Zwick is married to Dr. Candice Zwick, a psychologist, spiritual therapist and film director, and a daughter Hillary.
Despite a popular misconception, Joel Zwick is not related to fellow director Edward Zwick.
Television
- Busting Loose (1977)
- Insight (1978)
- Mork & Mindy (1978)
- The Ted Knight Show (1978)
- Makin' It (1979)
- Goodtime Girls (1980)
- Laverne & Shirley (1978–1980)
- It's a Living (1980–1981)
- Bosom Buddies (1980–1982)
- Joanie Loves Chachi (1982)
- The New Odd Couple (1982)
- Brothers (1984–1985)
- Webster (1983–1986)
- Perfect Strangers (1986–1992)
- On Our Own (1994)
- The Wayans Bros. (1995)
- Full House (1987–1995)
- Kirk (1995)
- The Parent 'Hood (1995)
- Step by Step (1992–1996)
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992–1997)
- Meego (1997)
- Family Matters (1989–1998)
- The Jamie Foxx Show (1998)
- Love Boat: The Next Wave (1999)
- Two of a Kind (1999)
- Two and a Half Men (2008)
- The Suite Life on Deck (2010–2011)
- Pair of Kings (2010–2011)
- Good Luck Charlie (2010–2011)
- I'm in the Band (2010–2011)
- Shake It Up (2010–2013)
- Dog with a Blog (2013)
- Jessie (2013)
- Girl Meets World (2014)
- Fuller House (2016)
Film
- Second Sight (1989)
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
- Elvis Has Left the Building (2004)
- Fat Albert (2004)
- Kehr, Dave (2002). "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". The New York Times.
Broadway
- Dance with Me (musical), 1975
- Esther (Promenade Theater)
- George Gershwin, Alone (One Man Show), Helen Hayes Theater 2001
- Back From Broadway, Benefit concert Lincoln Center, 2002
Theater
Charter member of "La MaMa, E.T.C." created and founded by Ellen Stewart
Acted in the original production of "MacBird"
Directed the following theater productions:
- "Dance With Me" (Tony Nomination)
- "Shenandoah" (Broadway national tour)
- "Oklahoma" (National tour)
- "Cold Storage" (American Place Theater)
- "Esther" (Promenade Theater, NY)
- "Merry-Go-Round" (Chicago and Las Vegas)
- "Last Chance Saloon" (West End, London)
- "Woycek" (West End, London)
- "Carry A. Nation" (Triangle Theater)
- "George Gershwin Alone" (One man show) (Los Angeles; Broadway; West End London; Ford Theater - Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; W. Palm Beach, FL; Old Globe - San Diego, CA; North Korea; etc.)
- "Back From Broadway"
- "Monsieur Chopin" (One man show)
- "Beethoven, As I Knew Him" (One man show)
- Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein (One man show)
- "Jamaica Farewell" (One-woman show)
- "Serrano"
Teaching credentials
- Yale University
- Brooklyn College
- Queens College, City University of New York
- Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
- University of Southern California