Rod Daniel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rod Daniel
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Daniel, c. March 2014
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| Born |
Rollin Augustus Daniel III
August 4, 1942 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Died | April 16, 2016 (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Education | Battle Ground Academy |
| Alma mater | Davidson College Vanderbilt University |
| Occupation | Director |
| Years active | 1969–2003 |
| Spouse(s) |
Martha Mueller
(m. 1965) |
| Children | 2 |
Rollin Augustus "Rod" Daniel III (August 4, 1942 – April 16, 2016) was an American director. He made many movies and TV shows from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. One of his most famous movies was the comedy Teen Wolf (1985), which starred Michael J. Fox. This movie was very popular and earned a lot of money.
Rod Daniel's father was a well-known surgeon. People thought Rod would follow in his footsteps. But after serving in the Vietnam War, he decided to work in advertising. He directed many commercials before moving to Los Angeles. There, his friend Hugh Wilson helped him start a career in TV. Rod became a director and producer for the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati. He also worked on other shows like Magnum, P.I. and Newhart.
Later, Rod Daniel wanted to make movies instead of TV shows. He directed comedies like Like Father Like Son, K-9, The Super, and Beethoven's 2nd. He also kept directing TV episodes for shows like Everybody Loves Raymond and Caroline in the City. His last movie, Home Alone 4, came out on TV in 2002. After that, he stopped working in entertainment. Rod Daniel then moved back to Tennessee. He spent time on his hobbies, photography and music. He later moved to Chicago, where he passed away in April 2016.
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Early Life and Education
Rod Daniel was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 4, 1942. His full name was Rollin Augustus Daniel III. His father, Dr. Rollin A. Daniel Jr., was a top heart surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was also a founder of an important medical board.
Rod went to high school at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee. He graduated in 1960. In 2013, he was honored in his school's Hall of Fame. He studied at Davidson College for two years. Then, he moved to Vanderbilt University, where he earned a degree in economics in 1964. Rod said that even though his family expected him to be a doctor like his father, he chose a different path. After serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, he went into advertising.
Rod's first job in advertising was in Nashville. He made commercials for a department store. He then moved to Atlanta and later to Chicago, still making commercials. He directed ads for big companies like Hallmark Cards and Procter & Gamble. About a year later, he moved to Los Angeles.
Becoming a Director
In Los Angeles, Rod Daniel started working with TV producer Hugh Wilson. Hugh was developing a new show called WKRP in Cincinnati. He invited Rod to watch the filming of the first episode. Rod felt he knew how to direct and wanted to join the show. Hugh Wilson gave him a job as an associate producer. Rod eventually became a director and directed 33 episodes of the show. He said WKRP was a great place to learn about stories and characters.
After three years on WKRP, Rod directed episodes for other TV shows. These included Newhart and Magnum, P.I.. He also directed several episodes of The Duck Factory, which starred Jim Carrey. However, that show was not successful. Rod decided he wanted to make movies instead. He felt that TV was too fast-paced and didn't allow for quality work. He changed his agent, which was a difficult step, and told them he wanted to direct a film.
Directing Teen Wolf
About a month after changing agents, Rod Daniel received the script for Teen Wolf. He really liked it. He met with actor Michael J. Fox and liked him right away. Rod was hired because he saw the movie as a story about a father and son, not just a werewolf. He said that much of Teen Wolf was about the kind of father he wished he had. The movie was filmed in just 25 days.
Teen Wolf was a huge success when it came out in 1985. It earned $80 million, which was a lot compared to its small budget of $1.4 million. Rod was very proud of the film. He said it was a chance for him to start fresh. He felt it was a well-written, clean, and classy movie.
More Movies and TV Shows
After Teen Wolf became a hit, Rod Daniel looked for his next project. He wanted to choose his scripts carefully, something he couldn't do in TV. His next film was the 1987 comedy Like Father Like Son. This movie starred Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore. It also explored themes about fathers and sons. The film earned $34 million in the U.S.
Next, he directed K-9 in 1989. This comedy starred Jim Belushi and a police dog. Even though critics didn't love it, the movie made $78 million worldwide. It even led to two more movies with Jim Belushi.
In 1991, Daniel directed The Super. This movie starred Joe Pesci as a rich building manager forced to live in his own rundown building. The film did not do well with critics or at the box office.
Rod Daniel's next movie was Beethoven's 2nd in 1993. This was a sequel to the popular dog movie Beethoven. It was his last movie shown in theaters. While critics weren't impressed, the film made a lot of money, earning $118 million worldwide. A song from the movie, "The Day I Fall in Love," was even nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, and a Golden Globe.
After Beethoven's 2nd, Rod Daniel went back to directing TV shows. He directed episodes of popular shows like Caroline in the City, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Suddenly Susan. He also directed several TV movies for the Disney Channel, including Genius and Alley Cats Strike. His final directing job was the TV movie Home Alone 4 in 2002. After this, Rod Daniel retired. He felt that he was no longer in touch with what was popular in the entertainment world.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Rod Daniel married Martha "Marti" Mueller in 1965. They stayed married until his death. They had two sons, Lucas and John. Lucas said that his father's ability to put his own feelings about his dad into Teen Wolf helped him. The Daniel family lived in Tarzana, California.
After retiring, Rod moved back to a rural home in Franklin, Tennessee. However, he missed city life. He then moved to downtown Chicago, where he lived for the rest of his life. He also had a vacation home in Glen Arbor, Michigan, where he enjoyed salmon fishing in the summer.
Rod Daniel was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the group that gives out the Academy Awards.
Music and Photography
Rod Daniel was also a musician. He played bass in a rock band called "The Wild Hots." The band was made up of his friends from high school and college. They would often reunite for shows every few years. When he moved back to Tennessee, he played with his bandmates again. They performed in Nashville, mostly for charity events.
Another one of Rod's hobbies was photography. He took beautiful black and white photos, mostly of rural America. To get his pictures, he would ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle through the rural southwest U.S. for weeks. He captured scenes of old towns and empty buildings. His photos were shown in art shows and galleries across the U.S.
Later Years
Rod Daniel was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002. He had surgery for it in 2012. He was a strong supporter of research for the disease. He also volunteered to help other patients. Rod Daniel passed away at his home in Chicago on April 16, 2016, at the age of 73. He died from complications related to Parkinson's disease.
Filmography
- Teen Wolf (1985)
- Like Father Like Son (1987)
- K-9 (1989)
- The Super (1991)
- Beethoven's 2nd (1993)
- Genius (1999 TV film)
- Alley Cats Strike (2000 TV film)
- How to Marry a Billionaire: A Christmas Tale (2000 TV film)
- Home Alone 4 (2002 TV film)
