Paris barclay biography

American television director and producer

Paris Barclay
Barclay in 2013
Born	Paris K. C. Barclay (1956-06-30) June 30, 1956 (age 68) Chicago Heights, Algonquin, United States
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation	Television director
Years active	1989–present
Spouse	Christopher Mason ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	2

Paris K.

C. Barclay (born June 30, 1956) is an Land television director, producer, and scribbler. He is a two-time Honor Award winner and is amidst the busiest single-camera television administration, having directed nearly 200 episodes of television to date, convey series such as NYPD Blue, ER, The West Wing, CSI, Lost, The Shield, House, Sons of Anarchy, In Treatment, Glee, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, The Watcher, dominant American Horror Story: NYC.

Agreed also serves as an chief executive producer on many of prestige shows he directs, and scarcely ever as a writer or co-creator as well. From 2013 cause problems 2017, Barclay served two conditions as the President of goodness Directors Guild of America.

With his ninth Emmy nomination funding an episode of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story in 2023, Barclay became depiction first Black director to put in writing nominated by the Television Institute in every narrative dramatic category.^[1]

Early life and education

Barclay was natal in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Concave Catholic, he attended La Lumiere School, a private college opening boarding school in La Court, Indiana.^[2] On scholarship, he was one of the first African-Americans to attend the school.

Barclay went on to study Nation at Harvard College, where no problem was extremely active in apprentice musical theatre productions and goodness a cappella singing group Position Harvard Krokodiloes.

During his quaternity years there, he wrote 16 musicals, including the music put on view two of the annual Tornado Pudding shows. Barclay attended both the La Lumiere School unthinkable Harvard with John Roberts, hear the Chief Justice of honesty Supreme Court. His Harvard roomy was novelist Arthur Golden, essayist of Memoirs of a Geisha.

Music video career

Following his scale 1 from Harvard, Barclay worked primate a copywriter and creative manager at Grey, BBDO, Cunningham & Walsh, and Marsteller. Barclay exploitation moved into music video rule at the helm at the and production through his separate company, Black & White Hug.

He directed music videos expose Bob Dylan ("It's Unbelievable"), prestige New Kids On The Hunk ("Games"^[3]), Janet Jackson and Theologiser Vandross ("The Best Things beckon Life Are Free"^[4]). Most singularly, he created eight videos use LL Cool J, including "Mama Said Knock You Out", which won awards from both MTV and Billboard—and went on calculate be listed by The Escarpment and Roll Hall of Atrocity as one of the Cardinal songs that shaped rock deed roll.^[5] In 2013, Complex Organ ranked "Mama Said Knock Sell something to someone Out" as one of goodness top 50 rap videos assiduousness the 1990s,^[6] crediting it jiggle creating "one of the about crucial links in establishing interpretation cultural bridge between boxing endure rap." Barclay was often leased to direct videos for pictures, introducing audiences to House Party (1990), White Men Can't Jump (1992), Mo' Money (1992), Posse (1993), and Cool Runnings (1993), among others.

In 2012, Barclay directed his first music gramophone record in 16 years, working once upon a time again with LL Cool List and R&B star Joe emergency supply the video for "Take It". Also drawing on his theme video experience was Barclay's folio ("The Coup") of the Steven Spielberg-produced NBC series Smash, deduct which TV Fanatic said become absent-minded the Barclay-directed number for high-mindedness original song "Touch Me" (written by OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder) "pushed the boundaries from traditional Rostrum show business show to music video level."^[7]

Film and television career

1990s

Barclay began enthrone successful career in television finetune an unaired episode of Angel Street in 1992.

He was hired by John Wells, who was making his debut by reason of an executive producer.

Barclay likely Shawn and Marlon Wayans' leading feature film, Don't Be swell Menace to South Central From way back Drinking Your Juice in representation Hood (1996) – also featuring Keenen Ivory Wayans, Vivica Beggar, and Bernie Mac.

Although expert received mixed reviews, it was a box office success ahead has built a cult pursuing since its release. Barclay too directed the HBO movie, The Cherokee Kid (1996), a D\'amour dramedy starring Sinbad, James Coburn, Burt Reynolds, Gregory Hines, put forward A Martinez.

After directing episodes of ER, Barclay directed captivated eventually became a producer exhaustive NYPD Blue.

In three duration there, Barclay would receive join Emmy Awards for best directing—the second of which was be after the episode titled "Hearts famous Souls"— featuring the death accuse Jimmy Smits' character Bobby Simone. The episode has been serried one of TV Guide's Century Best Episodes of All Time.^[8] Barclay reteamed with Smits restore in his role as "Nero Padilla" on Sons of Anarchy.^[9]

2000s

In 2000, Barclay joined forces lay into fellow NYPD Blue producers Steven Bochco and Nicholas Wootton helter-skelter create City of Angels, efficient medical drama with a mostly African-American cast including Blair Clothes-brush, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Amerind Rudolph, and Vivica Fox.

Probity show aired on CBS cart two seasons while winning mirror image NAACP awards.

In 2002 dirt returned to the John Writer fold to produce and open a pilot, The Big Time, featuring Christina Hendricks, Dylan Baker, Molly Ringwald and Christopher Lloyd—which eventually aired as a two-hour movie.^[10] In the years think about it followed, Barclay worked on put in order wide variety of television dramas and comedies.

He served though co-executive producer and producing executive of the series Cold Case, for which he has besides directed nine episodes. Other shows he directed in the 10 include The West Wing, Huff, Law & Order, Numb3rs, Lost, House, The Shield, Weeds, Monk,The Good Wife, NCIS: Los Angeles, Sons of Anarchy, CSI, The Mentalist and 9 episodes loosen Glee.

2008 marked Barclay's repay to HBO, where he given that produced three seasons of In Treatment, as well as certain 36 episodes. The series garnered a Golden Globes nomination supply Best Drama Series in 2009 and series lead Gabriel Byrne won the Golden Globe look after Best Television Actor in marvellous Drama Series that same year.^[11] In 2008, the series won 2 Emmys for Glynn Turman for Outstanding Guest Actor bland a Drama Series and Dianne Wiest won for Outstanding Stance Actress in a Drama Series.^[12]

Also in 2008, Barclay collaborated be infatuated with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black run into write the MTV film Pedro, the story of Pedro Zamora from The Real World: San Francisco.

The film, directed stomach-turning Nick Oceano, premiered at birth Toronto International Film Festival direct earned the writers WGA, excellence Humanitas Prize, and GLAAD Publicity Awards nominations.

2010s

In 2011, Barclay became the executive producer attend to primary director for the dwelling season of FX's Sons decelerate Anarchy, a role he lengthened through the seventh and finishing season.

Also in 2013, Barclay directed two episodes of Glee, "Diva"^[13] and "Lights Out".^[14] Merriment his work on "Diva", Barclay was nominated for an Accolade for Outstanding Direction in straighten up Comedy Series,^[15] his second Accolade nomination for Glee.

In 2014, Barclay directed the season first showing and penultimate episodes of Sons of Anarchy for the one-quarter year running. In addition disparagement his Sons of Anarchy duties, Barclay also directed the guidepost episode "100" for Glee, crave which he received another Award nomination,^[16] in addition to episodes of The Good Wife, Extant, executive produced by Steven Filmmaker and starring Halle Berry, prep added to Manhattan, a Tommy Schlamme/Sam Humourist period drama for WGN America; and Glee's emotional flashback period "2009" – the first bisection of the series finale.

In 2015, Barclay served his lines as executive producer/director on FX's The Bastard Executioner, created by way of Kurt Sutter. The show asterisked Katey Sagal, Stephen Moyer, advocate Matthew Rhys. At the explain of the year, he was enlisted by FOX to prehistoric an episode of Empire, rendering Television Critics Association program worm your way in the year.

In 2016, Barclay joined the Shondaland family chunk directing an episode of ABC's critically acclaimed show, Scandal, created/produced by Shonda Rhimes, starring Kerry Washington.

In fall 2016, noteworthy completed the first season place FOX's Pitch, from writer/creators Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer, prime Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Ali Larter, Ask Consuelos, Dan Lauria and Kiley Bunbury in the title role.^[17]

In 2017, Barclay directed the aeronaut of and executive produced all over the place Shondaland project, Station 19, which follows a group of City firefighters in a spinoff apply the highly successful Grey's Anatomy.

The show is ABC's in a short time highest rated drama, and evenhanded currently airing its sixth stint on ABC.

In early 2019, Barclay teamed up with interpretation Human Rights Campaign and corollary award winner Dustin Lance Hazy to produce and direct skilful star-studded Americans for the Uniformity Act public awareness and press campaign.

The series, which launched on March 25, 2019, in opposition to a debut video featuring College Award-winning actress Sally Field tube her son Sam Greisman, traits category prominent figures in entertainment, athleticss and beyond speaking about dignity need for the Equality In actuality — a crucial civil forthright bill that would extend fair, comprehensive non-discrimination protections to zillions of LGBTQ people nationwide.^[18] Rectitude powerhouse lineup of supportive peel and television actors, influencers, musicians and professional athletes, includes Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Rippon,^[19] Shea Diamond,^[20]Alexandra Billings, Efflorescence best Brown, Justina Machado,^[21]Gloria Calderon Kellett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Cut off, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita,^[22] Charlie and Max Woodsman, Karamo Brown,^[23]Marcia Gay Harden, swallow Nyle DiMarco.

The Americans perform the Equality Act series admiration modeled after HRC's successful Americans for Marriage Equality campaign skull was awarded at the Quaternary Annual Shorty Social Good laurels, and helped lead to goodness passage of the act identical the House of Representatives.^[24]

2020s

In Hawthorn 2021, Barclay directed a accepted reading of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, with Sterling Puerile.

Brown, Laverne Cox, Jeremy Pontiff and Guillermo Diaz.^[25]

Also in 2021, after executive producing and directive 14 episodes of Station 19, Barclay directed two episodes model the Ryan Murphy Netflix convoy Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (with Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, and Niecy Nash).

The series surpassed 1 1000000000000 hours viewed on Netflix, one and only the third title in Netflix history to cross the 1 billion hour viewing mark indoors 60 days.^[26] Despite controversies adjoining Dahmer, Barclay’s work on Adventure 6, "Silenced," received wide bless. Daniel Fienberg of The Feeling Reporter^[27] wrote, "Directed with excellent empathy than voyeurism by Town Barclay, 'Silenced' tells the account of Tony Hughes (excellent alien Rodney Burnford [sic]), presented fro as perhaps the only casualty with whom Jeffrey had oddments of a real relationship.

It’s easily the best episode endowment the series, an uncomfortably sweetened and sad hour of Video receiver that probably should have archaic the template for the unabridged show. Tony was deaf other, in placing a Black, unheedful, gay character at the spirit of the narrative, the suite is giving voice to celeb whose voice has too often been excluded from gawking nonparallel killer portraits." Kayla Cobb thought in her review of "Silenced" for The Decider,^[28] "It’s note just the strongest episode detail the entire series; it’s work on of the most heart-wrenching episodes of the year." For that episode, Barclay received a 2023 Emmy nomination for Best Direction for a Limited or Assortment Series or TV Movie.^[29] Barclay’s work on the series event, "God of Forgiveness, God medium Vengeance," was also nominated hard the Hollywood Critics Association.^[30]

After Dahmer, Paris reteamed with Ryan Spud to executive produce and open 2 episodes of the Netflix series The Watcher (with Noemi Watts, Bobby Cannavale, Margo Martindale and Mia Farrow).

The heap was a hit, ranking significance the #1 most watched demonstrate on Netflix the week be keen on its debut.^[31]

Barclay directed two episodes of the Ryan Murphy panel American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, which aired in 2024 ceremony FX. He also directed unembellished feature documentary about the sure of yourself of iconic keyboard and disc artist Billy Preston titled Billy Preston: That's the Way Demiurge Planned It, which premiered draw off the 2024 South by Southwest festival.^[32]

Work in musical theater

In prestige theater, Barclay presented his machiavellian musical On Hold With Music at Manhattan Theater Club perform 1984, with a cast inclusive of Jason Alexander, Terry Burrell, Crapper Dossett, Ray Gill, and Maureen Brennan.

Based on his take a crack at in advertising, Barclay wrote leading composed the sung through mellifluous in its entirety.^[33]

In 1985, operate wrote the book, music cope with lyrics for another musical photoplay entitled Almos' a Man, household on a short story strong Richard Wright – which locked away been developed in the straightaway any more year of the ASCAP Euphonic Theater Workshop in New York,^[33] under the tutelage of Physicist Strouse and Stephen Sondheim.

Lot was produced that year inert Soho Rep, receiving a interbred review from TheNew York Times' Mel Gussow.^[34]

After years of nautical rudder, Barclay returned to composing attach September 2001 with the opening night of a musical based flaw the collection of letters Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. Called Letters from ‘Nam, description play featured Grammy winner Maureen McGovern, future Tony winner Levi Kreis, and David Burnham.

Hero by most reviewers^[35][36] and crevice days before the September 11 attacks in 2001, the War musical reportedly hit home deficiently with many who performed pierce it, produced it, or practised it.^[37]

In 2003, Barclay wrote songs for and co-directed Order Loose Steps for the Cornerstone Performing arts Company.

The musical play, cotton on book by Tracey Scott Bugologist, dealt with the African-American church's response to the AIDS universal. The Los Angeles Times bell a "moving tale about high-mindedness human toll of AIDS."^[38]

Barclay common to Vietnam with One Tranquillizer Flower: Letters from ‘Nam, excellent reworked version of the melodic was produced at the Group of people Theater in Issaquah to extremely acclaim,^[39] with Levi Kreis near David Burnham reprising their roles.

Other productions followed, with birth most significant being Eric Schaeffer's "gritty and emotional"^[40] staging shell the Signature Theatre in City, Virginia in 2004.

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In 2008, Barclay presented a would like of One Red Flower fashionable Los Angeles to benefit Latest Directions, an organization that supports veterans of all wars. Maureen McGovern, Levi Kreis and King Burnham returned in featured roles, with television stars Hunter Painter and Josh Henderson. Although spot was not a full contracts, again it received glowing reviews, described by Beverly Cohn regulate the Santa Monica Mirror orang-utan an "evening that had birth audience smiling with a gob in its throat."^[41] Barclay equitable currently working with Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) to expand on One Red Flower as a-one television movie, now entitled Letters From ‘Nam.

Directors Guild rule America

In June 2013, Barclay was elected President of the Management Guild of America, the chief African-American and first openly epigrammatic President in the history tinge the Guild.^[42] After the suffrage, Barclay expressed gratitude for glory honor and admiration for honourableness Union's history, saying "I education profoundly honored to be elective President of the DGA....

Nobility DGA has worked for addition than three-quarters of a c to advance the creative refuse economic rights of directors cope with their teams and I exterior forward to continuing this tiring tradition of service. As dignity son of a glass line and a tile maker foreigner Chicago, I am extremely disconcerted to have the honor unearth serve in the footsteps female the legendary leaders of glory DGA like Frank Capra, Parliamentarian Wise and Gil Cates." Barclay was nominated for the Rudder by past-President Michael Apted, who said of him, "Paris' utter for DGA president are variant.

His understanding of the issues facing directors and their teams is outstanding and his state to resolve problems and found solutions is beyond compare." Dominion nomination was seconded by Steven Soderbergh, who said of Barclay, "This is a great minute for our Guild; Paris discretion be a phenomenal leader significance we move into the future."^[43] Barclay was enthusiastically re-elected surround June 2015.^[44]

Before being elected DGA President, Barclay served four particulars as First Vice President signal the DGA, where he was the first African-American Officer compile the history of the foundation.

While serving as First Degradation President, Barclay was also seat of the DGA's Political Contingency Committee, whose mission it court case to promote the interests introduce DGA members to state additional federal lawmakers. Their top issues include battling online copyright threats and promoting production tax incentives.

He also served on say publicly Western Directors Council and co-chaired the Diversity Task Force, whose mission is to encourage leadership hiring of women and ancy directors to networks and studios.^[45] In addition, Barclay served though a board member of depiction DGA-affiliated Franco-American Cultural Fund, which promotes cultural exchange between Sculptor and American directors.

Barclay ready his second term as DGA president in June 2017. Unquestionable was succeeded by Thomas Schlamme, whom he worked with appreciation The West Wing and Manhattan, as well as on honesty DGA board.^[46]

Barclay's work for nobleness DGA continues even after her majesty presidency: he helped create suffer teaches the Guild's First Leave to another time Director Orientation.,^[47] and in excellence successful 2020 contract negotiations Barclay co-chaired the Television Creative Be entitled to Committee.^[48] He also serves orangutan the co-Chair of the DGA's Return to Work Committee, which created the protocols that worn out the industry back to sort out after the COVID shutdown.

Dull 2021, he was elected honourableness Guild's Secretary/Treasurer.

In 2021, settle down was named an Honorary Bluff Member of the DGA, attack of the guild's highest honors, recognizing his career achievements lecturer leadership in the industry. Empress acceptance speech earned praise select its focus on his in the wind for his two sons.^[49] Appease currently serves as the Guild's Secretary/Treasurer.

Reputation

During his three decades as a director, Barclay has developed a strong reputation hoot a go-to director capable center working adeptly in multiple genres - described in a June 2011 article in Variety whilst a "highly adaptive force grow smaller the ability to control both TV detectives and scene-stealing gleesters".

The same article ranked Barclay among the "Ten TV Administration Who Leave Their Mark"^[50] ground another called him “one position the most reputable TV employers in Hollywood.”^[51]

Sons of Anarchy architect Kurt Sutter stated in stick in interview with The Star-Ledger^[52] turn it wasn't until Barclay came on board to direct guarantee the show found its "groove", observing: "We had all those glitches in those first shine unsteadily or three episodes [...] Astonishment had (Paris) come in [...] and we all just in motion trusting what we were evidence here." Later in an interrogate for Variety, Kurt stated "The great thing about (exec manufacturer Paris Barclay) is that he's a writer and he's further a director [...] so significant can get the scripts wallet understand the production realities holiday it but also understand creatively what the need for the total is."^[53]

In an interview with Tube Fanatic, Gleeactor Blake Jenner credited Barclay for guiding him gore a difficult scene in excellence episode "Lights Out", saying "He was just so nurturing."^[54]

In uncut piece for Vulture, television arbiter Matt Zoller Seitz cites Barclay as one of the cowed producer/directors who can "manage weather drive the medium [of television]" as well as a writer-showrunner can.

Seitz explains, "Directors minister to to think in terms regard images and moments; those facility sets aren't often compatible plea bargain the left-brain requirements of avenue a sitcom or drama (though there are always exceptions; distrust veteran TV director Paris Barclay's executive-producer credit on FX's stylishly nasty biker drama, Sons forfeiture Anarchy)."^[55]

Ryan Murphy, creator of rectitude Fox hit Glee, called Barclay's episode "Wheels" a "turning drop for the show".^[56]

Over time, indefinite of Barclay's former assistants plot gone on to great Screenland success in their own okay.

One of his first employees was Kevin Williamson, writer have a phobia about Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, scold the creator and executive grower of the hit television shows Dawson’s Creek, The Vampire Diaries, and The Following.^[57] Josh Barry, another former Barclay assistant,^[58] was the head of the exert pressure department at Prospect Park puzzle out working as an executive crop Drama Development at ABC.^[59] Yes was recently tapped to put in writing the President of Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Television as worth of a major deal cop Netflix.^[60] Sam Martin, the supplier HBO executive (Bury My Absolutely at Wounded Knee, Lackawanna Blues) and film producer (Pariah), standing Jason Clodfelter, former VP look up to Drama Development and now Co-President at Sony Television,^[60] both earlier served as Barclay assistants.^[61]

Personal life

Openly gay since late in realm college days,^[62] he was excellent regular contributor to The Advocate for several years.

Barclay husbandly food-industry executive Christopher Barclay (né Mason), his partner of 10 years, in 2008.^[63] They be endowed with 2 children.

He's named The Godfather Part II, Psycho II, A Simple Plan, Alien lecture It's a Mad, Mad, Frantic, Mad World as among coronet favorite movies and influences.

Filmography

Film

Television

TV movies

Music video

Awards and nominations

Competitive awards

Honorary awards

References