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Don Roy King Biography

Birth Name:Don Roy King

Profession Director, Actor

Fast Facts

  • Was awarded the Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016
  • Became a member of the Directors Guild of America in 1972
  • Graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1969
  • Spent 21 years directing daily morning television before getting a job with "Saturday Night Live," but had no sketch comedy experience
  • Quote: "[on "Saturday Night Live"] "In that panic scramble where the walls are being repainted and some costumes are being swapped out, we go on air at 11:30 p․m․ and it just sort of flies and remarkably seems to never crash․""
  • Quote: "[on "Saturday Night Live"] "It's just an adrenaline high and the most challenging but exhilarating mountain I've had to climb in television․""
  • Directed four "Direct from Broadway" musicals captured on film, including "Memphis․"

Awards

  • 1976Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Daytime Variety Program: nominated
  • 1977Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Daytime Variety Program: winner
  • 1978Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Director for a Variety Program: nominated
  • 1979Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Direction for a Variety Program: nominated
  • 1981Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Directors: nominated
  • 2007DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2009DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: winner
  • 2011DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2013DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2014DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2015DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: nominated
  • 2016DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2017DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2018DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2019DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2020DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2021DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: winner
  • 2022DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming: winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series: nominated