December 22, 1925: Birth of Duluthian Russel Mayberry, television director

On this day in Duluth in 1925, Russell Mayberry was born in Duluth. Mayberry grew up in Morgan Park. After graduating Duluth Central in 1943, he also took a job at the steel mill and did some work as a DJ for WEBC radio until the acting bug bit him, leading him to the drama program at Northwestern University. He got his professional start working in Chicago on the local Kukla, Fran & Ollie children’s show and by 1961 was directing Marlboro cigarette commercials. Two years later Screen Gems began asking him to direct television sitcoms, including Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Monkees. From 1967 to 1995 he directed more than 200 episodes of television comedies and dramas as well as two low-budget films—one for Disney. Mayberry died July 27, 2012. Click here to read much more about Mayberry’s life and discover the other classic ’60’s, ’70’s, and ’80’s television show he directed.

Russell Mayberry. (Image: Public Domain)