Steve Barron
About
Biography
Biography
This stylish British director began his career--while still quite young--working as a camera assistant on the films "A Bridge Too Far" (1977), "Superman" (1978), "Superman II" (1980) and "The Duellists" (1977). Born in Dublin to a film family (his father was an actor and technician, his mother a director), Barron knew his way around a film set as a child. He made his feature debut with the video-oriented "Electric Dreams" (1984), which won awards at festivals in Madrid and France. During the mid-80s, he began directing hit music videos for Madonna, David Bowie, Michael Jackson ("Billie Jean"), Dire Straits ("Money For Nothing"), A-HA ("Take On Me") and Natalie Cole ("Unforgettable"), among others.
Barron returned to features with the action-comedy "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990), which went on to become the highest grossing independent feature to date (grossing over $300 million worldwide). He continued making escapist fare with "Coneheads" (1993), a film adaptation of the classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch. In 1994, he began a producing career, acting as co-executive producer on the Sylvester Stallone-Sharon Stone actioner "The Specialist" and the hit romantic comedy "While You Were Sleeping" (1995). He returned behind the cameras to helm the live-action adaptation of "The Adventures of Pinocchio" (1996) starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Martin Landau. This latter film also marked Barron's debut as a screenwriter.
Of course, Barron's music videos were seen on TV, but he made his official small-screen debut directing "Hans My Hedgehog" and "Fearnot" (NBC, 1987), the first two segments of "The Storyteller" series. In 1994, he executive-produced "Reboot" (ABC), the premiere for the first fully computer-animated children's series. Barron has also directed numerous TV commercials in England and the USA for Pepsi, Coke, Ford, Renault and other clients. In 1997, he entered into an agreement with Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment that resulted in his helming such acclaimed TV miniseries as the Emmy-nominated "Merlin" (NBC, 1998) and "Arabian Night" (ABC, 2000).
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Director (Short)
Director (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1977
Served as a camera assistant on such films as "A Bridge Too Far", "Superman" and "The Duellists" (dates approximate)
1984
Feature directing debut, "Electric Dreams"
1987
TV directing debut, "Hans My Hedgehog" episode of "The Storyteller"
1990
US feature directing debut, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
1994
Produced "Reboot" (ABC), the first fully computer-animated children's show
1994
Directed "Coneheads," a feature film based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketches
1996
Debut as screenwriter (also director), "The Adventures of Pinocchio"
1997
Signed two-year, first-look deal with Jim Henson Productions to develop feature and TV productions
1998
Helmed the NBC miniseries "Merlin", produced by Hallmark Entertainment; received Emmy nomination
2000
Directed the Emmy-nominated ABC miniseries "Arabian Nights", produced by Hallmark Entertainment
2001
Co-produced and directed the comedy "Rat"
2003
Helmed the Hallmark miniseries, "DreamKeeper"
2007
Wrote and directed the independent film, "Choking Man"
Family
