James Yukich

Cast · Director · Writer

Born

November 18, 1953 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

James "Jim" Yukich is a television and film director who has done everything from variety/comedy specials to live concerts to music videos to talk shows to movies. He graduated from Purdue University's Brian Lamb School of Communication in 1978 with a BA in Film/TV and began his career in the mail room at Capitol-EMI Records in Hollywood and worked his way up to become a staff Director/Editor/Producer. After leaving EMI, he formed Split Screen Inc., and then FYI, an independent Film/TV production company, directing over 500 Music Videos, Concerts, Commercials and TV shows. He's directed the theatrically released A Fare to Remember (1999), as well as Double Dragon (1994), a Universal Pictures release. Some of the Comedy Specials that he has created include those for Dennis Miller, Paul Reiser, Garry Shandling, Bill Maher, Katt Williams, Chelsea Handler, Martin Lawrence, Bruce Willis, Mo'Nique, Don Novello and Bob Einstein. In 1990 he co-created the Billboard Music Awards for FOX TV, directing and producing the show for the first four years. Jim has directed over 1500 episodes of the late night talk show Chelsea Lately (2007) over seven years, and over 60 episodes of Entertainment Tonight (1981) over six months. Jim has continued to edit & direct music specials. Artists have included; Jeff Beck, Shawn Mendes, Def Leppard, Fall Out Boy and many others. He has won 3 ACE Awards, has been nominated for 15 MTV Awards, nominated for 5 Grammy Awards and has won 2 Grammys.