Tom Cherones, director and producer of ‘Seinfeld,’ dies at 86

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Tom Cherones, the television director and producer famous for his work on the first five seasons of the award-winning show “Seinfeld,” has passed away at the age of 86.

He died Jan. 5 at his home in Florence, Ore., according to a statement from his family.

He directed many memorable “Seinfeld” episodes, like “The Chinese Restaurant,” “The Parking Garage,” and “The Contest.” He actually started directing early in the series, with the second episode ever, “The Stake Out,” and went on to direct more than 80 episodes in total.

In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, director Andy Cherones explained he believes he directed many “Seinfeld” episodes because of his approach to filming. He felt he shot the show in a way that visually stood out from other sitcoms.

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Cherones left the show at the behest of its star Jerry Seinfeld.

He explained to the Television Academy Foundation that Jerry decided he wanted a change of pace and asked him to leave the show. They had been frequently changing writers over the years, and Jerry felt a new perspective was needed to revitalize things. Jerry had always maintained that the show would end when it stopped being successful.

George Cherones was nominated for six Emmy Awards for his contributions to “Seinfeld,” and he won one Emmy in 1993 for his work as a producer on the show.

“Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander mourned Cherones death in an Instagram post on Friday.

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Tom directed almost half of the episodes of ‘Seinfeld’. According to Alexander, he also established the show’s distinctive look and feel, and knew how to best showcase the chemistry between the actors.

Tom’s kindness allowed me to join the Directors Guild, and he was an incredible mentor. He was a genuinely good person, a talented director, and a fantastic teacher. His work has brought joy to fans for years, and will continue to do so for generations to come. Thank you for everything, Tom. May you rest in peace. Sending my love to your family and friends.

Following his work on “Seinfeld,” Cherones directed 23 episodes of Ellen DeGeneres’ sitcom, “Ellen,” in its second season. He also directed episodes of popular ‘90s shows like “Caroline in the City” and “NewsRadio,” as well as individual episodes of series including “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Boston Common,” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Born on September 11, 1939, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Cherones received a journalism degree from the University of New Mexico in 1961. He then served in the U.S. Navy for four years before going on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Alabama in 1967.

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Cherones began his career at a public television station in Pittsburgh, where he helped create episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” In 1975, he relocated to Los Angeles and quickly found work on popular shows like “General Hospital” and “Welcome Back, Kotter,” as well as with several large Hollywood studios.

I learned that after a successful career, George Cherones actually went back to the University of Alabama. From 2002 to 2014, he shared his knowledge and experience by teaching production classes – it’s wonderful to think he was inspiring the next generation of filmmakers!

Cherones is remembered by his wife, Carol E. Richards, his children Susan Cherones Lee and Scott Cherones, and his two grandchildren, Jessa and Thomas Cherones.

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2026-01-11 08:31