Emmy-winning Seinfeld producer and director Tom Cherones has died at 86 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Emmy-winning producer and director Tom Cherones, best known for his work on the iconic sitcom Seinfeld, has passed away at the age of 86. According to Deadline, Cherones died at his home in Florence, Oregon, following a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cherones was a key creative force behind Seinfeld during its formative years. He famously directed and produced the show’s second episode, The Stakeout, which aired in May 1990, and went on to serve as director and producer on a total of 85 episodes of the series. His contribution to the show earned him six Emmy nominations, and in 1993, he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, which he shared with creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.
In a rare on-screen appearance, Cherones also made a brief cameo in Seinfeld’s fourth episode, The Pilot. He eventually exited the show after its fifth season. Reflecting on his departure, Cherones said in an interview quoted by Deadline, “Creator Jerry Seinfeld was tired of the same thing, I guess. We changed writers almost every season, and finally, he just wanted somebody else, another presence, to try to keep it fresh.”
Born on September 11, 1939, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Cherones pursued journalism and television from an early age. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and later earned a master’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Alabama. He also served for four years as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, as per Deadline.
While completing his master’s degree, Cherones began working in educational television and produced and directed programs for WQED in Pittsburgh. His career took a major turn in 1975 when he moved to Hollywood and landed his first industry job as a production manager on General Hospital.
Cherones made his television directing debut with the 1986 show Babes in the Woods. Beyond Seinfeld, his directing credits include popular television series such as NewsRadio, Welcome Back, Kotter, Caroline in the City, Annie McGuire, and Ellen.
With a career spanning decades, Tom Cherones leaves behind a lasting legacy in American television, particularly through his influential work on Seinfeld, a show that continues to shape comedy storytelling to this day.
