Don Chaffey
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- August 5, 1917
- Died
- November 13, 1990 (aged 73)
- Birthplace
- Hastings, Sussex, England
Biography
Donald Chaffey (5 August 1917 – 13 November 1990) was a British film director, writer, producer, and art director. Chaffey's film career began as an art director in 1947, and his directorial debut was in 1953. He remained active in the industry until his death in 1990 from heart failure. His film Charley One-Eye (1973) was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. He is chiefly remembered for his fantasy films, which include Jason and the Argonauts (1963), The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963), One Million Years B.C. (1966), The Viking Queen (1967), Creatures the World Forgot (1971), Pete's Dragon (1977), and C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979), his final feature film. Concurrent with his theatrically released films, Chaffey directed episodes of numerous British television series, including multiple installments of Danger Man, The Prisoner, and The Avengers. From the 1980s until his death, all of his work was in American made-for-TV movies, and in such TV series as Fantasy Island, Stingray, MacGyver, Vega$, T. J. Hooker, Matt Houston, and Charlie's Angels. Chaffey began his career in the art department of Gainsborough Pictures where he worked as a draftsman on Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945), The Rake's Progress (1945), and Caravan (1946). He was art director of The Adventures of Dusty Bates (1947) and The Little Ballerina (1948). He directed the documentary shorts Thames Tideway (1948) and Cape Cargoes (1948). Chaffey directed the short features The Mysterious Poacher (1950) and The Case of the Missing Scene (1950). He returned to the art department for King of the Underworld (1950), The Stolen Plans (1952), Murder at the Grange (1952), Murder at Scotland Yard (1952), and Black 13 (1953). Chaffey resumed his directing career with the family film Skid Kids (1953). He made the short Watch Out (1953), then did Strange Stories (1953), Bouncer Breaks Up (1953, a short), The Mask (1952), and A Good Pull Up (1953). Chaffey directed Time Is My Enemy (1954). After the short Dead on Time (1955) he made The Secret Tent (1956), The Flesh Is Weak (1957) and The Girl in the Picture (1957). He directed episodes of TV series like Theatre Royal, The Adventures of the Big Man, Chevron Hall of Stars, The Errol Flynn Theatre, Assignment Foreign Legion, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dial 999, and The New Adventures of Charlie Chan. He interspersed these with features like A Question of Adultery (1958), The Man Upstairs (1958), Danger Within (1959), Dentist in the Chair (1960), Lies My Father Told Me (1960), and Nearly a Nasty Accident (1961).
Known For
Filmography
Mission: Impossible - The Golden Serpent
Movie · Director
Mission: Impossible
TV · Director · 5 eps
Houston Knights
TV · Director · 1 ep
Outlaws
TV · Director · 1 ep
International Airport
Movie · Director
Stingray
TV · Director · 2 eps
Spenser: For Hire
TV · Director · 2 eps
Hollywood Beat
TV · Director · 4 eps
MacGyver
TV · Director · 2 eps
Airwolf
TV · Director · 1 ep
Hunter
TV · Director · 1 ep
Finder of Lost Loves
TV · Director · 6 eps
Lottery!
TV · Director · 1 ep
Hotel
TV · Director · 4 eps
T. J. Hooker
TV · Director · 6 eps
Matt Houston
TV · Director · 14 eps
Gavilan
TV · Director · 1 ep
Strike Force
TV · Director · 4 eps
Casino
Movie · Director
C.H.O.M.P.S.
Movie · Director
Lassie: The New Beginning
Movie · Director
The Magic of Lassie
Movie · Director
Shimmering Light
Movie · Director
The Gift of Love
Movie · Director
Vega$
TV · Director · 14 eps
Pete's Dragon
Movie · Director
Born to Run
Movie · Director
The Fourth Wish
Movie · Director
Charlie's Angels
TV · Director · 11 eps
Ride a Wild Pony
Movie · Director
Persecution
Movie · Director
Charley-One-Eye
Movie · Director
The Mysterious Poacher
Movie · Director
The Protectors
TV · Director · 9 eps
Creatures the World Forgot
Movie · Director
Clinic Exclusive
Movie · Director
Journey to the Unknown
Movie · Director
A Twist of Sand
Movie · Director
Journey to the Unknown
TV · Director · 2 eps
The Viking Queen
Movie · Director
The Prisoner
TV · Director · 4 eps
Man in a Suitcase
TV · Director · 1 ep
One Million Years B.C.
Movie · Director
The Baron
TV · Director · 2 eps
The Crooked Road
Movie · Director
A Jolly Bad Fellow
Movie · Director
The Horse Without a Head
Movie · Director
Jason and the Argonauts
Movie · Director
The Three Lives of Thomasina
Movie · Director
The Prince and the Pauper
Movie · Director
The Webster Boy
Movie · Director
Greyfriars Bobby
Movie · Director
A Matter of WHO
Movie · Director
Nearly a Nasty Accident
Movie · Director
The Avengers
TV · Director · 5 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · Director · 10 eps
Lies My Father Told Me
Movie · Director
Dentist in the Chair
Movie · Director
Danger Man
TV · Director · 12 eps
Danger Within
Movie · Director
The Man Upstairs
Movie · Director
A Question of Adultery
Movie · Director
Dial 999
TV · Director · 1 ep
The Flesh Is Weak
Movie · Director
The Girl in the Picture
Movie · Director
Assignment Foreign Legion
TV · Director · 1 ep
The Adventures of Robin Hood
TV · Director · 7 eps
Lilli Palmer Theatre
TV · Director · 1 ep
Time Is My Enemy
Movie · Director
Watch Out
Movie · Director
Skid Kids
Movie · Director
Bouncer Breaks Up!
Movie · Director
A Good Pull-Up
Movie · Director
The Mask
Movie · Director
Strange Stories
Movie · Director
The Case of the Missing Scene
Movie · Director