Stephen Herek (born November 10, 1958) is an American film director. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he studied film at the University of Texas at Austin. He is best known for directing the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Career His career as a film director took off in 1986 with the cult horror classic Critters followed by the hit comedy Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure in 1989. He then directed Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead in 1991 and became a regular director for The Walt Disney Company throughout the decade, helming The Mighty Ducks in 1992, The Three Musketeers in 1993, the highly successful live-action 1996 remake of 101 Dalmatians starring Glenn Close, and the Eddie Murphy comedy Holy Man in 1998. He also directed the critically acclaimed drama Mr. Holland's Opus in 1995.
In the 2000s, Herek directed the 2001 movie Rock Star, a film about a rockstar wannabe and his favorite rock group, Steel Dragon, starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. After the underwhelming performances of Life or Something Like It in 2002 and Man of the House in 2005, Herek has stayed mainly in the television and direct-to-DVD market, directing films like Picture This, Into the Blue 2: The Reef, and The Chaperone, as well as two Dolly Parton TV specials.
Filmography Film Director Year Title Notes1986Critters Also writer1989Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure1991Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead1992The Mighty Ducks1993The Three Musketeers1995Mr. Holland's Opus1996101 Dalmatians1998Holy Man Also producer1999Black Sabbath: Time MachineShort film/music video2001Rock Star2002Life or Something Like It2005Man of the House2008Picture ThisDirect-to-video2009Dead Like Me: Life After DeathInto the Blue 2: The Reef2011The Chaperone2015The Great Gilly Hopkins2021Afterlife of the Party2023Dog Gone2024 Our Little Secret
Executive producer Reverse Runner (2012)
Television TV movies The Gifted One (1989) Young MacGyver (2003) The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice (2010) Jinxed (2013) Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors (2015) Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (2016) Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)
TV series Year Title Notes2002The Mind of the Married ManEpisode "The Pony Ride"2013DallasEpisode: "False Confessions"Lucky 7Episode "All In"2014BetrayalEpisode "Sharper Than a Serpant's Tooth..."2015Rush HourEpisode "The Dark Night"2015–2016Hawaii Five-0 3 episodes2016–2018MacGyver 7 episodesAlso co-executive producer of 40 episodes
Awards and nominations YearTitleAssociationResults1988CrittersFantasporto Award for Best Film1990Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure1997Mr. Holland's OpusChristopher Award for Motion Pictures2014JinxedDGA for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs2016Dolly Parton's Coat of Many ColorsChristopher Award for TV & Cable ProgramsGeorgia Film Critics Association Award for Excellence in Georgia CinemaThe Great Gilly HopkinsHeartland Film Award for Truly Moving Picture awardDolly Parton's Coat of Many ColorsMovieGuide Award for Most Inspiring TV Program2017Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love
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