David Carson
About
Biography
Biography
Accomplished director and impresario of the English stage and noted director of British TV turned busy journeyman helmer of American episodic TV. Carson built a strong reputation in his native England for his inventive staging of both traditional and contemporary theater. He founded the London Theater Company and the Direct Theater Company and served as the artistic director of two regional theaters at Leeds and Canterbury. Carson was also a leading director at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He worked extensively in Britsh TV, notably on the "Sherlock Holmes" series in the mid-1980s, and directed numerous music videos. Carson came to Hollywood in 1989 and quickly demonstrated a propensity for thoughtful sci-fi with several episodes of "Alien Nation." He demonstrated diversity as a helmer of episodes of "L.A. Law," "Doogie Howser M.D.," "Northern Exposure" and "Homefront."
Most significantly Carson became one of the leading directors on the syndicated hit "Star Trek: The Next Generation." This led to the plum assignment of directing the hugely popular $12 million two-hour pilot of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (syndicated, 1993). Carson also helmed several other pilots and premieres. He segued to features with an extremely high profile debut, "Star Trek: Generations" (1994). Carson demonstrated equal comfort with both special effects and special stars. While delivering several outstanding action setpieces, he also smoothly bridged the gap between what some reviewers have described as the campy nostalgia of William Shatner's Captain Kirk and the earnest thesping of Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Producer (Special)
Life Events
1986
Directed "The Resident Patient", an episode of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Series II"; broadcast in the USA as part of the PBS "Mystery!" series
1987
Directed "The Musgrave Ritual" and "The Six Napoleons", episodes of "The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Series I"; broadcast in the USA as part of PBS' "Mystery!"
1989
American TV directing debut, "The Game", an episode of the cultish Fox sci-fi series "Alien Nation"
1989
Moved to the USA from his native England
1991
Directed the pilot episode of "Sons and Daughters", a short-lived CBS drama
1993
Directed the well-received $12 million two-hour pilot of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"
1993
Helmed first TV-movie "Shameful Secrets"
1993
Directed the pilot/preview episode of "South Beach", a short-lived NBC adventure series
1994
Feature directing debut, "Star Trek Generations"
1998
Directed the film "Letters from a Killer"
2000
Helmed the NBC miniseries "The 10th Kingdom"
