Jack Bender (born September 25, 1949) is an American television and film director, television producer and actor best known for his work as a director on Lost, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones.

Jack Bender
Bender at the 2013 ComicCon
Born (1949-09-25) September 25, 1949 (age 74)
Occupations
Years active1971–present
SpouseLaura Owens
Children2

Biography edit

Bender grew up in a secular Jewish family in Los Angeles. His father was a furrier to the Hollywood community.[1] He studied art with Los Angeles artist Martin Lubner (spouse of actress Joanna Merlin) and then went into acting "because it seemed like what I could do and make a living."[1] As an actor, Bender guest-starred on All in the Family, The Bob Newhart Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He co-starred in The Million Dollar Duck, Savage and McNaughton's Daughter. He then went into directing, working on a number of television series.

He directed the popular slasher film Child's Play 3 before becoming an executive producer and lead director on the ABC TV series Lost, directing 38 episodes of the show, including the series finale.[2] Bender has also directed on other popular shows such as The Sopranos,[3] Carnivàle, Alias and Boston Public. In recent years he was an executive producer and lead director on the TV series Under the Dome (2013) and The Last Ship (2014–15). In 2016, Bender directed the fifth and sixth episodes of the sixth season of Game of Thrones, followed by a limited TV series adaptation of Stephen King's novel Mr. Mercedes.[4]

Bender received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his direction of the Lost episodes "Live Together, Die Alone", "Through the Looking Glass" and the series finale "The End". He was also nominated for the Game of Thrones episode "The Door".

Family/Personal life edit

Bender is married to Rabbi Laura Owens of B’nai Horin of Los Angeles. They have two daughters, Hannah and Sophie Owens-Bender.[1]

Director edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Maseng, Jonathan (January 7, 2015). "Jack Bender's lost and found". Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
  2. ^ Miller, Ross. "J.J. Abrams Will NOT Direct The Lost Season 6 Finale". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2009-05-16.
  3. ^ "The Sopranos cast and crew". HBO. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  4. ^ "'Game of Thrones' New Director Teases Season 6, Why He's Treating Show Like 'Lost'". Variety. 2 July 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ "The Sopranos – "Another Toothpick"". HBO. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  6. ^ "The Sopranos – "...To Save Us All from Satan's Power"". HBO. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  7. ^ "The Sopranos – "The Weight"". HBO. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  8. ^ "The Sopranos – "Mayham"". HBO. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved February 6, 2010.
  9. ^ Jack Bender (director), William Schmidt (writer) (2003-11-09). "Insomnia". Carnivàle. Season 1. Episode 9. HBO.
  10. ^ Jack Bender (director), William Schmidt (writer) (2005-01-16). "Alamogordo, NM". Carnivàle. Season 2. Episode 2. HBO.
  11. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof (writer) (2004-10-06). "Tabula Rasa". Lost. Season 1. Episode 3. ABC.
  12. ^ Jack Bender (director), David Fury (writer) (2004-10-13). "Walkabout". Lost. Season 1. Episode 4. ABC.
  13. ^ Jack Bender (director), Jennifer Johnson & Paul Dini (writers) (2004-11-03). "The Moth". Lost. Season 1. Episode 7. ABC.
  14. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Jennifer Johnson (writers) (2005-01-05). "Whatever the Case May Be". Lost. Season 1. Episode 12. ABC.
  15. ^ Jack Bender (director), Drew Goddard (writer) (2005-02-16). "Outlaws". Lost. Season 1. Episode 16. ABC.
  16. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers) (2005-05-18). "Exodus: Part 1". Lost. Season 1. Episode 23. ABC.
  17. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers) (2005-05-25). "Exodus: Part 2". Lost. Season 1. Episode 24. ABC.
  18. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof (writer) (2005-09-21). "Man of Science, Man of Faith". Lost. Season 2. Episode 1. ABC.
  19. ^ Jack Bender (director), Javier Grillo-Marxuach & Craig Wright (writers) (2005-10-05). "Orientation". Lost. Season 2. Episode 3. ABC.
  20. ^ Jack Bender (director), Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers) (2006-01-25). "Fire and Water". Lost. Season 2. Episode 12. ABC.
  21. ^ Jack Bender (director), Dawn Lambertsen Kelly & Matt Ragghianti (writers) (2006-03-01). "Maternity Leave". Lost. Season 2. Episode 15. ABC.
  22. ^ Jack Bender (director), Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers) (2006-04-05). "Dave". Lost. Season 2. Episode 18. ABC.
  23. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers) (2006-05-24). "Live Together, Die Alone". Lost. Season 2. Episode 23. ABC.
  24. ^ Jack Bender (director), J. J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof (writers) (2006-10-04). "A Tale of Two Cities". Lost. Season 3. Episode 1. ABC.
  25. ^ Jack Bender (director), Alison Schapker & Monica Owusu-Breen (writers) (2006-11-01). "The Cost of Living". Lost. Season 3. Episode 5. ABC.
  26. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Drew Goddard (writers) (2007-02-14). "Flashes Before Your Eyes". Lost. Season 3. Episode 8. ABC.
  27. ^ Jack Bender (director), Drew Goddard & Jeff Pinkner (writers) (2007-03-21). "The Man from Tallahassee". Lost. Season 3. Episode 13. ABC.
  28. ^ Jack Bender (director), Carlton Cuse & Drew Goddard (writers) (2007-04-11). "One Of Us". Lost. Season 3. Episode 16. ABC.
  29. ^ Jack Bender (director), Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (writers) (2007-05-23). "Through the Looking Glass". Lost. Season 3. Episode 22. ABC.
  30. ^ Jack Bender (director), Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (writers) (2008-01-31). "The Beginning of the End". Lost. Season 4. Episode 1. ABC.
  31. ^ Jack Bender (director), Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz (writers) (2008-02-14). "The Economist". Lost. Season 4. Episode 3. ABC.
  32. ^ Jack Bender (director), Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof (writers) (2008-02-28). "The Constant". Lost. Season 4. Episode 5. ABC.
  33. ^ Jack Bender (director), Brian K. Vaughn & Drew Goddard (writers) (2008-04-24). "The Shape of Things to Come". Lost. Season 4. Episode 9. ABC.
  34. ^ Jack Bender (director), Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse (writers) (2008-05-29). "There's No Place Like Home, Part 2". Lost. Season 4. Episode 13. ABC.

External links edit