Don Chaffey
Don Chaffey
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
Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Known Credits
81
Gender
Male
Birthday
1917-08-05 (108 years old)
Place of Birth
Hastings, Sussex, England
Crew

1988

Mission: Impossible Director

1987

Houston Knights Director

1986

Outlaws Director

1985

International Airport Director

1985

Stingray Director

1985

Spenser: For Hire Director

1985

Hollywood Beat Director

1985

MacGyver Director

1984

Airwolf Director

1984

Hunter Director

1984

Finder of Lost Loves Director

1983

Lottery! Director

1982

Hotel Director

1982

T. J. Hooker Director

1982

Matt Houston Director

1982

Gavilan Director

1981

Strike Force Director

1980

Casino Director

1979

C.H.O.M.P.S. Director

1978

The Magic of Lassie Director

1978

Shimmering Light Director

1978

The Gift of Love Director

1978

Vega$ Director

1977

Pete's Dragon Director

1977

Born to Run Director

1976

The Fourth Wish Director

1976

Charlie's Angels Director

1975

Ride a Wild Pony Director

1974

Persecution Director

1973

Charley One-Eye Director

1972

The Protectors Director

1971

Clinic Exclusive Director

1968

A Twist of Sand Director

1967

The Viking Queen Director

1967

The Prisoner Director

1967

Man in a Suitcase Director

1966

The Baron Director

1965

The Crooked Road Director

1965

The Crooked Road Writer

1964

A Jolly Bad Fellow Director

1962

The Webster Boy Director

1961

Greyfriars Bobby Director

1961

A Matter of WHO Director

1961

The Avengers Director

1960

Dentist in the Chair Director

1960

Danger Man Director

1959

Danger Within Director

1958

The Man Upstairs Additional Dialogue

1958

The Man Upstairs Director

1958

Dial 999 Director

1957

The Flesh Is Weak Director

1955

Lilli Palmer Theatre Director

1954

Time Is My Enemy Director

1953

A Good Pull-Up Director

1953

Watch Out Director

1953

Bouncer Breaks Up! Director

1953

Skid Kids Director

1953

The Mask Director

1953

Black 13 Art Direction

1953

Strange Stories Director

1952

King of the Underworld Art Direction