Overview
- Tom Cherones died on Jan. 5 at his home in Florence, Oregon, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, a family spokesperson said.
- He directed 81 of the first 86 episodes across Seinfeld’s first five seasons, helping craft a cinematic multicamera style on standout installments such as The Chinese Restaurant, The Parking Garage and The Contest.
- He received six Emmy nominations, shared the 1993 Emmy for outstanding comedy series, and won a Directors Guild of America award for directing The Contest.
- He departed after season five at Jerry Seinfeld’s request to refresh the series, and Andy Ackerman took over as lead director.
- Beyond Seinfeld, he led major runs on Ellen and NewsRadio, taught television production at the University of Alabama, and is survived by his wife Carol, two children and two grandchildren; the family suggests donations to the Tom Cherones and Joyce Keener Fund at the Western Lane Community Foundation or to Hilarity for Charity.