Thomas David Schlamme was born on May 5, 1950 in Houston, Texas. He is a producer of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
Biography[]
Photo by Jeff Vespa - © WireImage.com
Early Life[]
After relocating to NYC from his native Houston, he worked his way up from messenger to editor and finally director of live-action TV commercials at Perpetual Motion, an animation company. He also directed short films for NBC Sports, NBC's "Weekend" and ABC's "That Thing" before forming Schlamme Productions, a commercial production company which advertised the New York plays "Cats", "You Can't Take It With You", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Greater Tuna". [1]
Directing Career[]
Schlamme started by directing episodic TV helming episodes of the sitcoms "Sledge Hammer!", "The Wonder Years" (both ABC) and "It's Gary Shandling's Show" (Fox). His evolved into series development; starting with the Shandling vehicle "The Larry Sanders Show" (HBO, 1992-98) before it went on the air. He was later central to the development of "Tracey Takes On...". He would eventually help develop the ABC series "Sports Night", serving as executive producer and primary director in his first collaboration with writer Aaron Sorkin. They would go on to create "The West Wing" and now Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC).
Personal Life[]
Has three children with his wife Christine Lahti: Sons Wilson and Joseph; daughter Emma.
Awards and Nominations[]
Emmy Awards[]
- 2003 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) (Shared)
- 2002 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) (Shared)
- 2002 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Program for: The West Wing Documentary Special (2002) (TV)(Shared)
- 2001 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) (Shared)
- 2001 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) For episode "In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen", parts I and II.
- 2000 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) (Shared)
- 2000 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for: "The West Wing" (1999) For the pilot.
- 1999 Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for: "Sports Night" (1998) For episode "Quo Vadimus".
- 1998 Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for: "ER" (1994) For episode "Ambush".
- 1997 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for: "Tracey Takes On..." (1996) (Shared)
- 1997 Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program for: "Tracey Takes On..." (1996) For episode "1976".
- 1996 Nominated for an Emmy for Won an Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series for: "Tracey Takes On..." (1996)
Trivia[]
- He has visited the White House several times and, during the Clinton administration, once stayed the night in the Lincoln Bedroom. He drew on observations of White House staffers made during this visit to inspire the visual and behavioral style of the fictional staffers in "The West Wing" (1999), which he co-created with Aaron Sorkin.
Select Filmography[]
- You So Crazy (1994)
- So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
- Miss Firecracker (1989)
- Spalding Gray: Terrors of Pleasure (1988)
Select Television Appearances[]
Directing[]
- "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
- "Invasion"
- "Jack & Bobby"
- "The West Wing"
- "Boston Public"
- "Sports Night"
- "Ally McBeal"
- "ER"
- "The Practice"
- "Spin City"
- "Mad About You"
- "Tracey Takes On..."
- "Friends"
- "Chicago Hope"
- "The Larry Sanders Show"
- "The Wonder Years"
- "Sessions"
- "One Life to Live"
- "Sledge Hammer!"
- "It's Garry Shandling's Show."