Reza Badiyi
Encyclopedia
Reza Sayed Badiyi (April 17, 1930 - August 20, 2011) was an Iranian-American
film director. Badiyi was well known for directing episodes of many popular (and quite distinct) television series. His credits also include developing the memorable opening montages (title visualization) for Hawaii Five-O
, Get Smart
, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show
.
, Iran
. He graduated from the Academy of Drama in Iran. He moved to the United States in 1955. He graduated from Syracuse University
with a degree in film making.
. Badiyi was assistant director on the low-budget 1957 film "The Delinquents," which marked Altman's feature film debut as a director.
Early in his career, he directed episodes of Get Smart
, Mission: Impossible
, Hawaii Five-O
, The Incredible Hulk, Mannix
, The Six Million Dollar Man
, Starsky and Hutch
, The Rockford Files
and Police Squad!
. He also directed the definitive "fashion show" sequence of the third season of the popular "Doris Day Show". There were lowlights, as well, including directing the unsold pilot for "Inside O.U.T.", starring Farrah Fawcett and a chimp for Colombia/Screen Gems in 1971.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed episodes of Falcon Crest
, Cagney and Lacey, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight
"), Le Femme Nikita, Sliders
and Baywatch
.
On May 2010, Badiyi was honored at UCLA for his 80th birthday and his 60th year in the entertainment industry.
. He was the father of Mina Badie.
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans are Americans of Iranian ancestry or people possessing Iranian and American dual citizenship.Iranian-Americans are amongst the most highly educated groups in the United States...
film director. Badiyi was well known for directing episodes of many popular (and quite distinct) television series. His credits also include developing the memorable opening montages (title visualization) for Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
.
Early life and education
Badiyi was born April 17, 1930, in ArakArak, Iran
-Industries:thumb|right|250px|wagon parsArak is one of the main industrial cities of Iran, possessing many plants for heavy industries especially for the metal and machinery industries, including:...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. He graduated from the Academy of Drama in Iran. He moved to the United States in 1955. He graduated from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
with a degree in film making.
Career
After Syracuse University Badiyi often worked with Robert AltmanRobert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
. Badiyi was assistant director on the low-budget 1957 film "The Delinquents," which marked Altman's feature film debut as a director.
Early in his career, he directed episodes of Get Smart
Get Smart
Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirizes the secret agent genre. Created by Mel Brooks with Buck Henry, the show starred Don Adams , Barbara Feldon , and Edward Platt...
, Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
, Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, The Incredible Hulk, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
, Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files
The Rockford Files is an American television drama series which aired on the NBC network between September 13, 1974 and January 10, 1980. It has remained in regular syndication to the present day. The show stars James Garner as Los Angeles-based private investigator Jim Rockford and features Noah...
and Police Squad!
Police Squad!
Police Squad! is a television comedy series first broadcast in 1982, created by Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker and starring Leslie Nielsen. A spoof of police procedurals, the series was packed with ZAZ's usual sight gags, wordplay and non sequiturs...
. He also directed the definitive "fashion show" sequence of the third season of the popular "Doris Day Show". There were lowlights, as well, including directing the unsold pilot for "Inside O.U.T.", starring Farrah Fawcett and a chimp for Colombia/Screen Gems in 1971.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed episodes of Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest
Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced....
, Cagney and Lacey, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS...
, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Out of Mind, Out of Sight
"Out of Mind, Out of Sight", also known as "Invisible Girl", is the 11th episode of season one of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer....
"), Le Femme Nikita, Sliders
Sliders
Sliders is an American science fiction television series. It was broadcast for five seasons, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2000. The series follows a group of travelers as they use a wormhole to "slide" between different parallel universes. The show was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé...
and Baywatch
Baywatch
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
.
Awards
On October 2008, Badiyi received the Lifetime Achievement Award (Persian Golden Lioness) in dramatic arts from The World Academy of Arts Literature and Media - WAALMOn May 2010, Badiyi was honored at UCLA for his 80th birthday and his 60th year in the entertainment industry.
Personal life
Badiyi was once married to actress and writer Barbara Turner and was thus for a time the stepfather of actress Jennifer Jason LeighJennifer Jason Leigh
Jennifer Jason Leigh is an American film and stage actress, best known for her roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Single White Female, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Georgia and Short Cuts...
. He was the father of Mina Badie.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine directorial credits
- "Civil DefenseCivil Defense (DS9 episode)"Civil Defense" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the seventh episode of the third season.Quick Overview - The crew become trapped in various areas of the station when a Cardassian security program is tripped.-Plot:...
" - "Past Tense, Part IPast Tense (DS9 episode)"Past Tense" is a two-part episode from the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The crew of the Defiant is thrown back in time to 2024 on Earth. The United States of America has attempted to solve the problem of homelessness by erecting "Sanctuary Districts" where unemployed and/or...
" - "Life SupportLife Support (DS9 episode)"Life Support " is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 13th episode of the third season.Quick Overview: During pivotal negotiations with the Cardassians, Vedek Bareil Antos is fatally injured.-Plot:...
" - "VisionaryVisionary (DS9 episode)"Visionary" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the seventeenth episode of the third season. It maintains a fan rating of 4.5 out of 5 on the official Star Trek Website.-Plot:...
" - "Paradise LostParadise Lost (DS9 episode)"Paradise Lost" is an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the twelfth episode of the fourth season. It is rated 4.1/5 on the official Star Trek Website.-Plot:...
"
External links
- Reza Badiyi interview by the Archive of American TelevisionArchive of American TelevisionThe Archive of American Television is a division of the non-profit Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation that films interviews with notable people from all aspects of the television industry....
- OCPC Magazine Cover story: Reza Badiyi - The last TV tycoon
- Veteran TV director Reza Badiyi feted