John Thomas Lenox

Biography: John Thomas Lenox executive produced one of director Ron Howard's most successful films, Splash (1984). He has also directed numerous episodes of television series and made-for-TV movies. He received an Emmy nomination for executive producing the acclaimed miniseries The Long, Hot Summer, which starred Ava Gardner and Cybill Sheperd. A former child prodigy on piano, Lenox originally planned to become a classical musician and to this end, the Fort Worth, TX-born Lenox enrolled in the Southern University of Memphis on a full musical scholarship. But by that time, he had decided to become an economics major. He then went on to earn a Bachelors of Fine Arts in cinematography from the school. Lenox joined the Hollywood-based Directors Guild of America Apprenticeship Program in 1970. He gained experiences as an assistant director on such popular sitcoms as Love American Style, The Odd Couple, Phyllis, and Happy Days. He first soloed as a director on a few episodes of Laverne andJohn Thomas Lenox executive produced one of director Ron Howard's most successful films, Splash (1984). He has also directed numerous episodes of television series and made-for-TV movies. He received an Emmy nomination for executive producing the acclaimed miniseries The Long, Hot Summer, which starred Ava Gardner and Cybill Sheperd. A former child prodigy on piano, Lenox originally planned to become a classical musician and to this end, the Fort Worth, TX-born Lenox enrolled in the Southern University of Memphis on a full musical scholarship. But by that time, he had decided to become an economics major. He then went on to earn a Bachelors of Fine Arts in cinematography from the school. Lenox joined the Hollywood-based Directors Guild of America Apprenticeship Program in 1970. He gained experiences as an assistant director on such popular sitcoms as Love American Style, The Odd Couple, Phyllis, and Happy Days. He first soloed as a director on a few episodes of Laverne and Shirley. Lenox became a producer on Busting Loose, starring Adam Arkin. In 1989, Lenox provided an invaluable resource for new filmmakers when he co-founded the U.C.L.A. Extension "Making the Short Fiction Film" program. Lenox died of a heart attack on his 50th birthday.… Expand