Michael Schultz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Schultz
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Schultz in a 1957 high school yearbook photo.
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| Born | November 10, 1938 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Film director, theater director, film producer |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Lauren Jones
(m. 1965) |
Michael Schultz (born November 10, 1938) is an American director and producer who has worked in theater, movies, and television. He is known for directing popular films in the 1970s and for being one of the most important African-American directors of his time.
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Early Life and Education
Michael Schultz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His mother, Katherine, was African-American, and his father, Leo, was a salesman of German heritage. Growing up, his friends called him "Mike."
He went to Riverside High School in Milwaukee, where he was very involved in school activities. He played on the baseball and football teams and also acted in school plays.
After high school, Schultz studied at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Marquette University. He then went to the famous Princeton University. It was at Princeton in 1966 that he directed his first play, Waiting for Godot.
Career in Theater and Film
Starting on Stage
In 1968, Schultz joined the Negro Ensemble Company, a theater group that focused on telling stories about the Black experience. This work led him to direct plays on Broadway in New York City, which is the highest level of American theater.
His big break came when he directed the play To Be Young, Gifted and Black, which was based on the writings of Lorraine Hansberry. The play was so successful that he later directed a version for television in 1972.
Moving to Movies
In the 1970s, Schultz began directing movies. His early films often mixed comedy with serious ideas about society. His movie Cooley High (1975) is a classic story about teenagers growing up in Chicago.
He became very famous for directing the hit comedy Car Wash (1976). This movie follows the funny events at a Los Angeles car wash over a single day. He also directed the comedian Richard Pryor in the movie Which Way Is Up? (1977).
Schultz helped start the careers of many famous actors. Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Blair Underwood all appeared in one of his movies for the first time.
In 1978, Schultz directed the musical movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, based on the music of The Beatles. At the time, it had the largest budget ever given to an African-American director. Even though it was a huge project, it was not a success with critics or audiences.
Later Work in Television
More recently, Schultz has directed many television shows and TV movies. He has worked on popular series like The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Arrow, Black-ish, and All American. His work in television showed that he could direct many different styles of stories.
In 1991, Michael Schultz was honored for his important contributions to cinema by being added to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
In 1965, Schultz married Gloria Jones, who is an actress known by the stage name Lauren Jones. They have two children together.
Selected Works
Michael Schultz has directed dozens of movies and television episodes. Here are some of his most well-known projects.
Films
- Cooley High (1975)
- Car Wash (1976)
- Greased Lightning (1977)
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
- Carbon Copy (1981)
- The Last Dragon (1985)
- Disorderlies (1987)
- Livin' Large! (1991)
Television Shows
- Starsky and Hutch (1975)
- The Practice (1997)
- Ally McBeal (1997)
- Cold Case (2006)
- Brothers & Sisters
- Chuck (2010)
- Arrow (2012–2017)
- Black-ish (2015–2017)
- New Girl (2016–2018)
- Once Upon a Time (2017)
- Black Lightning (2018–2020)
- All American (2019–2025)
See also
In Spanish: Michael Schultz para niños
