Biography
Over the years, he has developed an easily identified kinetic style and cinema verite quality, perhaps best exemplified by his Emmy-nominated direction of "Ambush", the live episode kicking off the 1997-1998 season of NBC's medical drama "ER".
After relocating to NYC from his native Houston, Schlamme worked his way up from messenger to editor and finally director of live-action TV commercials at Perpetual Motion, an animation company. He also …
Career Milestones
2006 | Reteamed with Sorkin to executive produce and direct several episodes, including the pilot, of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" a fictional behind the scenes look at a sketch-comedy TV show; earned an Emmy nomination for directing the pilot episode | |
2005 | Directed the pilot episode of "Invasion" (ABC); also produced | |
2004 | Helmed the pilot episode of "Jack & Bobby" (WB); also produced | |
1999 | Reteamed with Sorkin to executive produce and direct several episodes, including the pilot, for NBC's "The West Wing"; a fictional drama about the behind the scenes look inside the White House | |
1998 | Executive produced and directed several episodes of Aaron Sorkin's "Sports Night" (ABC) | |
1998 | Earned an Emmy nomination for directing the live "Ambush" episode of NBC's "ER" | |
| Directed episodes of "Ally McBeal" (Fox), "Spin City" and "The Practice" (both ABC) | ||
1996 | Served as producer as well as episode director of the HBO series "Tracey Takes On ..." | |
1995 | Helmed TNT movie "Kingfish: The Story of Huey P. Long", featuring John Goodman in the title role | |
1994 | Returned to TV, steering episodes of "Chicago Hope" (CBS, starring Lahti), "Friends" and "ER" (both NBC) | |
1993 | Helmed the feature "So I Married an Axe Murderer", written by and starring Mike Myers | |
1992 | Directed episodes of the TV series "The Larry Sanders Show" (HBO), starring Shandling, and "Mad About You" (NBC) | |
1991 | Helmed the TV-movie "Crazy From the Heart" (TNT), starring Lahti | |
| Directed episodes of "It's Gary Shandling's Show" (Fox) | ||
1989 | Feature directorial debut, "Miss Firecracker", with Beth Henley adapting her stage play; wife Christine Lahti and son Winston appear in film | |
| Formed Berner/Schlamme Productions with Fred Berner to produce TV specials | ||
1986 | Helmed "Can a Guy Say No?", an "ABC Afterschool Special"; first collaboration with producer Fred Berner | |
1984 | Directed specials featuring various diverse entertainers including Whoopi Goldberg, Spalding Gray, Robert Klein, Gilbert Gottfried, Rowan Atkinson, and John Leguizamo | |
1984 | Executive produced and directed first TV special, "Bette Midler: Art or Bust!", an HBO concert film; credited as Thomas D Schlamme | |
1980 | Formed Schlamme Productions, a commercial production company, producing campaigns for the theatrical productions "Cats", "You Can't Take It With You", "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Greater Tuna" | |
| Started as a messenger for Perpetual Motion, an animation company, and worked up to becoming live-action film editor and later director of television commercials for clients like Hawaiian Punch, Michelin Tires and Harlequin Books; also directed short films for NBC Sports, NBC's "Weekend" and ABC's "That Thing" | ||
1973 | Moved from native Houston to NYC | |
Awards
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip |
2006 | Directors Guild of America Award for Dramatic Series Night in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip |
2003 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The West Wing |
2002 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The West Wing |
2002 | Producers Guild of America Award for Television Series - Drama in The West Wing |
2001 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in The West Wing |
2001 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The West Wing |
2001 | Producers Guild of America Award for Television Series - Drama in The West Wing |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series in Sports Night |
2000 | Directors Guild of America Award for Dramatic Series Night in The West Wing |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in The West Wing |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The West Wing |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series in Sports Night |
1999 | Directors Guild of America Award for Dramatic Series Night in The West Wing |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in ER |
1997 | Directors Guild of America Award for Musical Variety in Tracey Takes On... |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing For a Variety or Music Program in Tracey Takes On... |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in Tracey Takes On... |
1996 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special in The Best of Tracey Takes On... |
1996 | Directors Guild of America Award for Musical Variety in Tracey Takes On... |