Biography

Alan Rafkin (July 23, 1928 – August 6, 2001) was an American director, producer, and actor for television. Rafkin was born in New York City to Til and Victor Rafkin. He attended Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, New Jersey and Syracuse University in New York. Alan Rafkin was one of the most prolific sitcom directors of all time, helming such series as The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, What's Happening!!, M*A*S*H, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Murphy Brown, Get Smart, Coach, The Tim Conway Show, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, and Viva Valdez. According to his autobiography Cue the Bunny on the Rainbow (its title is taken from a direction on Captain Kangaroo), Rafkin directed episodes of over 80 different sitcom series. He won an Emmy for an episode of "One Day At A Time" and two CableACE Awards for his work on "It's Garry Shandling's Show".[2] During his career he worked with legendary producers such as Sheldon Leonard, Danny Thomas, and Norman Lear. Rafkin had endearing relationships with many of his actors including Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, Jerry Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Redd Foxx. (He was also close with Don Knotts, directing him on the Griffith show and in three feature films.) At the same time, he had volatile relationships with several others, including Demond Wilson and Craig T. Nelson.