Jeff McCracken

{{Multiple issues| {{COI|date=June 2021}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2021}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Jeff McCracken | image = File:Artist in NYC.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = McCracken in [[NYC]] | birth_name = | other_names = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|09|12}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, US | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actor * director * producer * artist}} | years_active = 1978–present | spouse = Janet Taylor McCracken }}

'''Jeff McCracken''' (born September 12, 1952) is an American actor, director, producer, and artist.

== Early life and education == Born in [[Chicago]], McCracken graduated [[Evanston Township High School]] in 1970. He served in the [[United States Air Force]] during the [[Vietnam War]], where he attained the rank of sergeant.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} McCracken earned a Bachelor of Arts a degree in creative writing from [[Goddard College]].<ref name="NYWW">{{cite web|title=Jeff McCracken|url=http://mklennon.com/nywriters/?p=361|website=mklennon.com|accessdate=19 October 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181116083930/http://mklennon.com/nywriters/?p=361|archive-date= 2018-11-16}}</ref>

== Career == After studying at the [[Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre]] in New York City he began his acting career on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and [[off-Broadway]], including ''[[Breakfast with Les and Bess]]'' by [[Lee Kalcheim]].{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} As a member of the [[Circle Repertory Company]] he appeared in ''Confluence'' by [[Lanford Wilson]], [[John Bishop (screenwriter)|John Bishop]] and [[Beth Henley]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/11/theater/stage-confluence-3-one-acters-at-circle-rep.html|title= Stage: 'Confluence,' 3 One-Acters, at Circle Rep|last= Rich|first= Frank|date= 11 January 1982|website= [[The New York Times]]|access-date= |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.iobdb.com/Production/2174|title= Confluence|author= |date= |website= iobdb.com|publisher= Internet Off-Broadway Database|access-date= |quote=}}</ref> He also had roles in films, including ''[[The One Man Jury]]'' (1978), ''[[Stranger in Our House]]'' (1979), ''Kent State'' (1981),<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tvguide.com/movies/kent-state/cast/2000031633/|title= Kent State - Full Cast & Crew|author= |date= |website= tvguide.com|publisher= TV Guide|access-date= |quote=}}</ref> ''[[Running Brave]]'' (1985), and ''[[Waiting for the Light]]'' (1990). He appeared in television series, ''[[Bay City Blues]]'' and ''[[Hawaiian Heat]]'', as well as guest starring in other series such as: ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'', ''[[thirtysomething]]'', ''[[The Hitchhiker (TV series)|The Hitchhiker]]'', ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'', ''[[The Torkelsons]]'', ''[[All Is Forgiven (TV series)|All is Forgiven]]'', ''[[LAX (TV series)|LAX]]'', and ''[[Private Eye (TV series)|Private Eye]]''.

McCracken developed and co-produced the feature film ''[[Quiz Show (film)|Quiz Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tvguide.com/movies/quiz-show/cast/2030123468/|title= Quiz Show - Full Cast & Crew|author= |date= |website= tvguide.com|publisher= TV Guide|access-date= |quote=}}</ref> He was production executive on ''[[Pastime (film)|Pastime]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86365/pastime#credits|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120702164020/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/86365/Pastime/#credits|url-status= dead|archive-date= July 2, 2012|title= Pastime|author= |date= |website= Turner Classic Movies|publisher= TCM|access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

While at the Walt Disney Company he developed, produced and directed television shows ''[[Boy Meets World]]''; ''[[Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane]]''; ''[[Dinosaurs (TV series)|Dinosaurs]]'';<ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/person/47148/Jeff-McCracken |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104181121/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/47148/Jeff-McCracken |archive-date=2012-11-04 |title= Jeff McCracken at Movies & TV|author= |work=The New York Times |date= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and ''[[You Wish! (film)|You Wish]]'', as well as developing and overseeing production of ''[[The Torkelsons]]'', ''[[Maybe This Time (TV series)|Maybe This Time]]'', ''[[Misery Loves Company (TV series)|Misery Loves Company]]'', ''[[Where I Live]]'', and ''Singer and Sons''. In all he has directed over seventy episodes of television, including ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', ''[[Boy Meets World]]'', ''[[Dinosaurs (TV Series)|Dinosaurs]]'', ''[[Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane]]'', ''[[Still Standing (American TV series)|Still Standing]]'', ''[[The Trouble With Normal (TV series)|The Trouble With Normal]]'', ''[[Suite Life of Zach and Cody]]'', and ''[[Smart Guy]]''.

His artwork has appeared in the magazine ''The Guide Artists''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://theguideartists.com/extreme/interview-with-jeff-mccracken/|title= Interview with Jeff McCracken |last= Gómez|first= Jennifer|date= 13 December 2021|website= theguideartists.com|publisher= The Guide Artists|access-date= |quote=}}</ref> He taught for several years at [[Dodge College of Film and Media Arts]], becoming an associate professor in 2008,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://blogs.chapman.edu/dodge/2008/10/06/dodge-college-announces-key-additions-to-faculty-for-fall-2008/|title= Dodge College Announces Key Additions to Faculty for Fall 2008|author= |date= |website= blogs.chapman.edu|publisher= Chapman University|access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and in 2016 he was a teacher at the [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/boy-meets-world-halloween-episode-and-then-there-was-shawn-130029292.html|title= Inside 'And Then There Was Shawn,' the Scary-Funny 'Boy Meets World' Halloween Episode|last= Alter|first= Ethan|date= 26 October 2016|website= yahoo.com|publisher= Yahoo! Entertainment|access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

== Personal life == McCracken lives in [[Washington, Connecticut]], with his wife, Janet Taylor McCracken, who is a food editor.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.thekitchn.com/authors/janet-taylor-mccracken|title= Janet Taylor McCracken|author= |date= |website= thekitchn.com|publisher= kitchn|access-date= |quote=}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2022}} They have three children.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

== Filmography ==

=== Film === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1978 |''[[Paradise Alley]]'' |Sailor |Uncredited |- |1978 |''[[The One Man Jury]]'' |Billy Joe Kerman | |- |1979 |''[[Yanks]]'' |Soldier |Uncredited |- |1983 |''[[Running Brave]]'' |Dennis Riley | |- |1987 |''Jake's M.O.'' |Tab Hoberman | |- |1990 |''[[Waiting for the Light]]'' |Charlie | |}

=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1978 |''Summer of Fear'' |Mike Gallagher | rowspan="3" |Television film |- |1981 |''Kent State'' |Bill Schroeder |- |1981 |[[Family Reunion (1981 film)|''Family Reunion'']] |Max Winfield |- |1983–1984 |''[[Bay City Blues]]'' |Vic Kresky |8 episodes |- |1984 |''[[Hawaiian Heat]]'' |Andy Senkowski |10 episodes |- |1986 |[[All Is Forgiven (TV series)|''All Is Forgiven'']] |Lance Tyler |Episode: "Past Perfect" |- |1986 |''[[A Winner Never Quits]]'' |Sheldrake |Television film |- |1986 |''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' |Mr. Stritch |Episode: "Up and Down" |- |1987 |[[The Hitchhiker (TV series)|''The Hitchhiker'']] |Allen |Episode: "Joker" |- |1987, 1988 |[[Private Eye (TV series)|''Private Eye'']] |Eddie / Vinnie Muzak |2 episodes |- |1989 |''[[Thirtysomething]]'' |Dave Calloman |Episode: "Payment Due" |- |1991 |''[[The Torkelsons]]'' |Reverend Langley Wilson |2 episodes |- |2004 |[[JAG (TV series)|''JAG'']] |Captain Goldman |Episode: "Crash" |- |2004 |[[LAX (TV series)|''LAX'']] |Gavin |Episode: "Finnegan Again, Begin Again" |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0566841}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Jeff}} [[Category:1952 births]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:Film producers from Illinois]] [[Category:American male stage actors]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:American television directors]] [[Category:Television producers from Illinois]] [[Category:Chapman University faculty]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Male actors from Chicago]] [[Category:Evanston Township High School alumni]] [[Category:Male actors from Evanston, Illinois]]