John Francis "Jon" Cassar (born 27 April 1958) is a Maltese-Canadian television director and producer, known for his work on the first seven seasons of 24. In 2006, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for his work on the episode "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.". In 2011, he produced and directed all episodes of the Canadian-American miniseries The Kennedys, for which he won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Television Film and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.
Jon Cassar | |
|---|---|
 Cassar at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | John Francis Cassar 27 April 1958 |
| Alma mater | Algonquin College |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Kristina Kinderman |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editJon Francis Cassar was born in Malta on 27 April 1958, and immigrated to Canada in 1963 with his mother, Elda (née Segona), and father, Frank Cassar.[1] He has two younger siblings, Bernard Cassar and Kristine Palsis. Cassar is a graduate of Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario.[2]
Career
editAfter La Femme Nikita ended, for which he directed 14 episodes, Cassar began working as director and executive producer on the FOX drama-thriller series 24. In 2006, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode "Day 5: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.".[3] In addition, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row (2003–06), winning one in 2006.[4] He directed the spin-off feature film, 24: Redemption, in 2008. Following the completion of the seventh season of 24, Cassar left the series to focus on other projects. He joined the FOX science fiction series Terra Nova in 2010, as a producer and director.[5]
In 2012, Cassar won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Television Film and the Directors Guild of Canada Award for Outstanding Direction – Television Movie/Miniseries for his work on the 2011 miniseries The Kennedys.[6][7] For producing the series, he was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie.[4] In 2014, it was announced that he would return for 24's follow-up event series, 24: Live Another Day, which debuted on 5 May 2014.[8] In 2015, Cassar joined the ABC anthology series Wicked City as an executive producer and director.[9]
Personal life
editCassar is married to Kristina Kinderman with whom he has two children: photographer Zak Cassar and actor Alexis "Lex" Cassar.[1] Zak is married to singer Betty Who and Lex's wife is actress Sprague Grayden.
He is the co-founder of the Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance, which hosts an annual charity auction called "Lights, Camera, Auction".[10]
Filmography
editDirector credits
editTelevision
edit- Rabbit Hole (2023; 1 episode)
- Law & Order: Organized Crime (2023-2024; 2 episodes)
- FBI: Most Wanted (2023; 1 episode)
- FBI (2022-2024; 2 episodes)
- Medici: Masters of Florence (2018; first four episodes of the second season)
- The Orville (2017-2019; 3 episodes)
- 24: Legacy (2017; 4 episodes)
- The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017; 3 episodes)
- Wicked City (2015; 8 episodes)
- Between (2015; 2 episodes)
- 24: Live Another Day (2014; 6 episodes)
- Nikita (2013; episode: "Reunion")
- Revolution (2012–2013; 2 episodes)
- Person of Interest (2012; episode: "Bad Code")
- Continuum (2012; 2 episodes)
- Touch (2012; episode: "Tessellations")
- Terra Nova (2011; 5 episodes)
- The Kennedys (2011; 8 episodes)
- Human Target (2010; episode: "Lockdown")
- Fringe (2009–2012; 2 episodes)
- Washington Field (2009; unsold pilot)
- Criminal Minds (2009; episode: "Haunted")
- Company Man (2007; unsold pilot)
- 24 (2001–2009; 59 episodes)
- The Dead Zone (2002; 2 episodes)
- Mutant X (2001–2002; 3 episodes)
- Sheena (2000–2001; 3 episodes)
- Queen of Swords (2000; 2 episodes)
- Code Name: Eternity (2000; episode: "Death Trap")
- Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (2000; episode: "GeoCore")
- Profiler (1999; 2 episodes)
- Amazon (1999; episode: "Fallen Angels")
- La Femme Nikita (1997–2001; 14 episodes)
- F/X: The Series (1997; episode: "Medea")
- Baywatch Nights (1996–1997; 4 episodes)
- Due South (1996; episode: "Body Language")
- The Hardy Boys (1995; 2 episodes)
- Pointman (1995; 5 episodes)
- Nancy Drew (1995; 4 episodes)
- Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1994–1996; 12 episodes)
- Forever Knight (1992–1996; 7 episodes)
Film
edit- When the Bough Breaks (2016)
- Forsaken (2015)
- 24: Redemption (2008)
- Danger Beneath the Sea (2001)
- Assault on Death Mountain (1999)
- CHiPs '99 (1998)
- The Ultimate Weapon (1998)
- Assault on Devil's Island (1997)
- The Final Goal Part 2: Final Goalier (1996)
- The Final Goal (1995)
Producer credits
edit- The Orville (2019–present; 14 episodes; Executive producer from Season 2)
- 24: Legacy (2017; 12 episodes)
- The Kennedys: After Camelot (2017; 4 episodes)
- Wicked City (2015; 8 episodes)
- Rio Heat (2015)
- 24: Live Another Day (2014; 12 episodes)
- Terra Nova (2011; 13 episodes)
- The Kennedys (2011; 8 episodes)
- 24: Redemption (2008)
- 24: Day 6 Debrief (2007; 5 episodes)
- 24 (2002–09; 147 episodes)
Camera credits
edit- PCU (1994; camera operator)
- Trapped in Paradise (1994; camera operator)
- Clearcut (1992; Steadicam and camera operator)
- The Cutting Edge (1992; camera operator)
- Termini Station (1991; camera operator)
- Millennium (1989; Steadicam operator)
- The Dream Team (1989; Steadicam operator)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Gemini Awards | Best Direction in a Dramatic Series | La Femme Nikita | Nominated |
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | 24 | Nominated |
| 2004 | Nominated | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Directing – Drama Series | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Drama Series | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Won | |||
| Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Won | |||
| Golden Nymph Awards | Best International Producer | Won | ||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Nominated | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directing – Drama Series | Won | ||
| 2009 | Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television | 24: Redemption | Nominated |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Miniseries or Movie | The Kennedys | Nominated |
| 2012 | Directors Guild of Canada Awards | Outstanding Direction – Television Movie/Miniseries | Won | |
| Outstanding Television Movie/Miniseries | Won | |||
| Producers Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television | Nominated | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directing – Television Film | Won | ||
| 2013 | Gemini Awards | Best Direction in a Dramatic Series | Continuum | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b "Cassar, Jon 1958- (John Cassar)". Encyclopedia.com.
- ^ "Premier's Award presented to Algonquin College Alumnus, Jon Cassar, as part of Higher Education Summit". Algonquin College. 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Maltese-born director lands Emmy for 24". Times of Malta. 29 August 2006.
- ^ a b Nickols, Corey (6 January 2015). "Me & My Emmy: Jon Cassar". Emmys.com.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (23 June 2010). "'24' Alum Jon Cassar Joins 'Terra Nova'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ "Jon Cassar Wins DGA Award for The Kennedys". Reelz. 28 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2012.
- ^ "David Cronenberg's 'A Dangerous Method,' Jon Cassar's 'The Kennedys' Dominate Directors Guild of Canada Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. 21 October 2012.
- ^ Marechal, AJ (12 June 2013). "Jon Cassar to Helm, Exec Produce Fox's '24: Live Another Day'". Variety.
- ^ Munn, Patrick (29 June 2015). "Jon Cassar Boards ABC's 1980s LA Crime Drama 'Wicked City'". TV Wise.
- ^ "Motion Picture Industry Charitable Alliance". MPICA.org.