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Steve Miner
Steve Miner
Steve Miner
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Stephen C. Miner (born June 18, 1951) is an American director of film and television, film producer,[1] and a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is notable for his work in the horror genre, including Friday the 13th Part 2, Friday the 13th Part III, House, Warlock, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Lake Placid, and Day of the Dead. He has also directed numerous comedy and drama films, as well as episodes of notable television series including The Wonder Years, Dawson's Creek, and Smallville.

Key Information

Life and career

[edit]

Miner was born in Chicago, Illinois.[2]

He began work in the film industry as a recurring collaborator of producer-director Sean S. Cunningham, filling in for various behind the scenes roles on films such as The Last House on the Left and Friday the 13th. His directorial debut was the latter film's first sequel, and he directed the third entry less than a year later.[1] In 1983, Miner acquired the rights from Toho to develop an American Godzilla film titled Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 3D, with Miner attached as the director.[3] Miner hired Fred Dekker to write the script and William Stout for storyboards and concept art.[4][3] Miner generated some interest in Hollywood but was unable to secure financing and let the rights revert to Toho.[5]

Miner went on to direct other horror films such as Warlock, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and Lake Placid. Miner first crossed over into the comedy genre with his 1985 cult horror-comedy House, and has since gone on to direct other films in the genre including Soul Man and Big Bully. Miner is the only director to have crossed over and directed more than one of the horror "Big 3" (Halloween / Michael Myers, Friday the 13th / Jason Voorhees and Nightmare on Elm Street / Freddy Krueger).

Miner has since become a notable television director on shows like Smallville, Psych, Felicity, Dawson's Creek (including the pilot and four of the other episodes of the first season), and Diagnosis: Murder. His work on The Wonder Years earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series and a DGA Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Director

Other credits

Year Title Role
1972 The Last House on the Left Production assistant and assistant editor
1973 Case of the Full Moon Murders Editor and second unit director
1975 Video Vixens Assistant editor
1978 Here Come the Tigers Producer, second unit director, and editor
Manny's Orphans Story writer, editor, and producer
1980 Friday the 13th Associate producer, assistant director, and unit production manager
1982 A Stranger Is Watching Associate producer
1986 Night of the Creeps Second unit director

Television

[edit]

TV movies

  • Maverick Square (1990) (Also executive producer)
  • Texas Graces (1996)
  • The Third Degree (2001)
  • Home of the Brave (2002)
  • Scarlett (2006)

TV series

Year Title Director Producer Notes
1988 The Wonder Years Yes Supervising 9 episodes
1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Yes No Episode "B-Men"
1990 Elvis Yes No 6 episodes
1992 Laurie Hill Yes No Episode "Pilot"
1993 Against the Grain Yes No Episode "Pilot"
1994 Chicago Hope Yes No Episode "Shut Down"
1995 Raising Cane's Yes No
1996 Diagnosis: Murder Yes No Episode "An Explosive Murder"
1997 Relativity Yes No Episode "The Day the Earth Moved"
The Practice Yes No Episodes "Hide and Seek" and "Dog Bite"
1998 Dawson's Creek Yes Yes 4 episodes
1999 Wasteland Yes No Episode "Pilot"
2000 Felicity Yes No Episode "The Christening"
2001 Kate Brasher Yes No Episode "Georgia"
2002 Smallville Yes No Episode "Duplicity"
2003 Miss Match Yes No Episodes "Miss Communication" and "Who's Your Daddy?"
Karen Sisco Yes No Episode "Nostalgia"
2004 Jake 2.0 Yes No Episode "Upgrade"
Summerland Yes No Episode "Skipping School"
North Shore Yes No Episode "Alexandria"
2005 Wildfire Yes Co-executive Episode "Pilot" and "Trust"
2008 The Ex List Yes No Episode "Art Professor"
Psych Yes No Episode "Talk Derby to Me"
2009-2012 Make It or Break It Yes No 4 episodes
2009 Eureka Yes No Episode "Insane in the P-Brane"
2010 The Gates Yes Yes Episode "Identity Crisis"
2011-2017 Switched at Birth Yes No 19 episodes
2014-2015 Chasing Life Yes No 9 episodes
2015-2016 Stitchers Yes Executive 4 episodes

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Steve Miner

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Stephen C. Miner (born June 18, 1951) is an American film and television director, producer, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, best known for his influential work in the horror genre during the 1980s and 1990s. Miner's career began in the late 1970s as an assistant to producer-director Sean S. Cunningham, through which he entered the film industry and contributed to early slasher projects. His breakthrough came with directing the horror sequels Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), which established Jason Voorhees as the franchise's central antagonist, and Friday the 13th Part III (1982), notable for introducing Jason's iconic hockey mask and utilizing 3D cinematography. Miner expanded his horror portfolio with the supernatural comedy House (1985), a cult favorite blending scares and humor, and the witchcraft thriller Warlock (1989), praised for its atmospheric tension. In the 1990s, Miner diversified into family-friendly dramas and comedies, directing films such as Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991), a Disney inspirational story about female divers, and Forever Young (1992), a romantic fantasy starring Mel Gibson. He returned to horror with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), a meta-sequel to the original Halloween that revitalized the franchise and featured Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie Strode, earning acclaim for its self-aware tone and suspenseful pacing. Other notable genre entries include the creature feature Lake Placid (1999) and the 2008 remake of Day of the Dead. Beyond feature films, Miner has had a prolific television career, directing episodes of acclaimed series such as The Wonder Years (1988–1989, where he also served as supervising producer), Dawson's Creek (1998, including the pilot and several others), Felicity, Smallville, and Psych. His versatile directing style, often emphasizing character-driven narratives and genre innovation, has solidified his reputation as an underrated yet enduring figure in Hollywood.

Early life and education

Childhood and family

Stephen C. Miner, known professionally as Steve Miner, was born on June 18, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois. His early childhood unfolded in the Midwest, where he experienced the urban environment of Chicago during his formative years. Little is publicly documented about his immediate family, including parents or siblings, though his upbringing provided a foundation for his engagement with storytelling and media.

Initial professional steps

Steve Miner began his in the industry in the as a on industrial and , gaining foundational in low-budget production and on-set operations. This entry-level allowed him to learn the practical aspects of , including coordinating shoots and supporting crews on projects that emphasized efficiency and resourcefulness. He subsequently transitioned into production and post-production roles at Time-Life Films, where he contributed to documentaries through editing and assistant positions, honing his technical skills in narrative assembly and visual storytelling. He attended Dean Junior College in Franklin, Massachusetts. Miner's early collaborations with producer Sean S. Cunningham marked a pivotal shift toward narrative feature films, particularly in the horror genre. On The Last House on the Left (1972), he served as production assistant and assistant editor, assisting with the chaotic low-budget shoot and refining the film's raw, intense sequences under tight constraints. This work immersed him in the demands of independent horror production, teaching him to maximize limited resources for maximum impact. Later, as associate producer on Friday the 13th (1980), he oversaw production elements and unit management, further developing his abilities in coordinating horror-themed shoots and post-production pacing within Cunningham's fast-paced, economical style. These projects collectively sharpened Miner's proficiency in horror storytelling and low-budget filmmaking techniques, laying the groundwork for his eventual directing opportunities.

Professional career

Feature film directing

Steve Miner's directorial debut came with Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), where he introduced Jason Voorhees as the primary antagonist, building on his prior experience as an associate producer and storyboard artist for the original film under Sean S. Cunningham. The film emphasized heightened suspense through practical effects and shadowy woodland settings, grossing $21.7 million domestically on a modest budget and establishing Miner as a capable handler of slasher tropes. He followed with Friday the 13th Part III (1982), innovating with 3D cinematography that presented unique production hurdles, including cumbersome dual-camera rigs and the need to choreograph kills for depth perception, while maintaining a focus on ensemble vulnerability and Jason's emerging menace. Despite technical complexities, the film earned $36.6 million at the U.S. box office, surpassing its predecessor and capitalizing on the 3D novelty to draw audiences. Miner transitioned to more genre-blending horror with House (1985), a comedic take on haunted-house tropes featuring stop-motion creatures and witty dialogue that balanced scares with humor, starring William Katt as a novelist unraveling supernatural family secrets. The film grossed $19.4 million domestically, proving Miner's versatility in infusing levity into horror without diluting tension. This approach carried into Warlock (1989), where he directed Julian Sands as a 17th-century sorcerer unleashed in modern Los Angeles, prioritizing playful supernatural chases over unrelenting dread and earning $9.1 million at the U.S. box office. Later, Miner revived the Halloween franchise with Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), centering Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode in a character-focused narrative of trauma and confrontation, which revitalized the series through tight pacing and emotional depth, achieving $55 million in domestic earnings. Shifting to mainstream fare, Miner helmed Soul Man (1986), a controversial comedy exploring racial privilege as a white student (C. Thomas Howell) uses skin-darkening pills for a scholarship, drawing NAACP protests for its handling of Black experiences but still profiting $27.8 million at the box office amid mixed reviews. He explored inspirational tales in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991), a Disney family drama based on equestrian Sonora Webster Carver's true story of diving horses amid the Great Depression, emphasizing themes of resilience and independence, with Gabrielle Anwar in the lead; it received positive notices for its uplifting tone but earned a modest $7.3 million domestically. Collaborating with Mel Gibson on Forever Young (1992), Miner crafted a romantic fantasy about cryogenic suspension and second chances at love, blending heartfelt drama with light sci-fi elements to gross $127.9 million worldwide. The remake My Father, the Hero (1994) starred Gérard Depardieu in a father-daughter vacation comedy tackling embarrassment and bonding, which underperformed critically at 21% on Rotten Tomatoes but succeeded commercially with $25.5 million in U.S. receipts. Miner continued with the bully-themed comedy Big Bully (1996), reuniting him with Friday the 13th star Norman Drake, though it received poor reviews and modest box office returns of $6.7 million domestically. In the early 2000s, Miner directed the Western Texas Rangers (2001), a period action film about law enforcement in post-Civil War Texas starring James Van Der Beek, which faced distribution issues and grossed only $319,000 domestically despite a $22 million budget. He returned to horror with the 2008 remake of Day of the Dead, a zombie thriller set in a remote town that emphasized survival horror elements and featured Mena Suvari, earning mixed reviews but finding a cult audience on home video. Miner returned to creature features with Lake Placid (1999), a comedic horror pitting researchers against a giant crocodile in Maine, highlighted by Betty White's eccentric role and David E. Kelley's script, generating $56.9 million globally despite middling 47% reviews. Throughout his feature work, Miner's style consistently merged suspenseful pacing with character-driven storytelling, often incorporating humor to humanize horror elements and elevate subgenres like slashers and monster movies, as seen in his adept transitions from franchise entries to original concepts.

Television directing

Miner began his television directing career in 1988 with the pilot episode of The Wonder Years, a nostalgic coming-of-age series set in the late 1960s, which he followed by directing at least six episodes during its first two seasons, including "Heart of Darkness" and "Walk Out." His work on the show earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Birthday Boy," recognizing his ability to capture the emotional nuances of suburban adolescence through intimate family dynamics and period-specific storytelling. This early involvement marked Miner's transition from feature films to episodic television, where he adapted his pacing to emphasize character-driven narratives over extended suspense sequences. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Miner contributed to several teen dramas, directing the pilot and four additional episodes of Dawson's Creek (1998–2003), including "Dance" and "Discovery," which explored themes of young love and personal revelation in a coastal New England setting. He also directed multiple episodes of Felicity (1998–2002), including key installments that advanced the college-life drama's emotional arcs. His Smallville episode "Duplicity" (2002), a pivotal installment in the series (2001–2011) that advanced the plot by having Clark Kent's friend Pete discover his Kryptonian spaceship, deepening the exploration of secrecy and trust in Clark's dual life. Later, he helmed several episodes of the comedic procedural Psych (2006–2014), blending humor and mystery in ways that echoed his feature film style. These contributions highlighted Miner's skill in handling serialized storytelling, where individual episodes built on ongoing character arcs while maintaining self-contained emotional resonance. His background in horror films occasionally informed subtle suspenseful moments, such as tense revelations in these youth-oriented narratives. Later in his career, Miner directed multiple episodes of Switched at Birth (2011–2017), including the pilot "This Is Not a Pipe," "Starry Night," and "Uprising," focusing on themes of identity, family, and disability within a switched-at-birth premise. Over his television tenure spanning nearly three decades, Miner directed more than 50 episodes across various series, demonstrating efficiency in fast-paced TV production by streamlining schedules and adapting cinematic techniques to the constraints of weekly episodic formats. No major television directing credits for Miner appear after 2017, aligning with his shift toward occasional feature film projects.

Personal life

Marriage

Steve Miner married Susan Miner on September 17, 1977. As of 2025, the couple has been married for over 48 years, a union that began shortly after Miner's entry into the film industry in the mid-1970s. Public records and interviews reveal limited details about Miner's family life beyond his marriage, with no mention of children or other immediate family members, reflecting his preference for maintaining privacy in personal matters.

Later years and residence

Following the conclusion of his directing work on the television series Switched at Birth in , Steve Miner adopted a reduced , with no major new credits reported through 2025. At age 74, he has focused on a more private while remaining an active member of the Motion Picture of Arts and Sciences. Miner's primary residence is in Westport, Connecticut, where he owns a home and maintains strong ties to the community. Although his career was centered in Los Angeles, with offices there, Connecticut has served as his longstanding personal base. This arrangement reflects a balance between industry involvement and family life in his .

Filmography

Feature films

Steve Miner's involvement in feature films began in the early 1970s with production and editing roles before transitioning to directing in the early 1980s. He served as production assistant and assistant editor on the horror film The Last House on the Left (1972). He was credited as story writer, producer, and editor on the comedy film Manny's Orphans (1978), and as editor, producer, and second unit director on Here Come the Tigers (1978). His early major credit was as associate producer and assistant director on the horror film Friday the 13th (1980), produced by Sean S. Cunningham. The following table lists Miner's directed feature films chronologically, including key cast members where notable.
YearTitleRoleKey Cast
1981Friday the 13th Part 2DirectorAmy Steel, John Furey, Betsy Palmer
1982Friday the 13th Part IIIDirectorDana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Tracie Savage
1985HouseDirectorWilliam Katt, George Wendt, Kay Lenz
1986Soul ManDirectorC. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, James Earl Jones
1989WarlockDirectorJulian Sands, Lori Singer, Kevin O'Brien
1991Wild Hearts Can't Be BrokenDirectorGabrielle Anwar, Michael Schoeffling, Kathleen Quinlan
1992Forever YoungDirectorMel Gibson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elijah Wood
1996Big BullyDirectorRick Moranis, Justin Cooper, Karen Young
1998Halloween H20: 20 Years LaterDirectorJamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Josh Hartnett
1999Lake PlacidDirectorBill Pullman, Bridget Fonda, Brendan Gleeson
2001Texas RangersDirectorJames Van Der Beek, Rachael Leigh Cook, Dylan McDermott
2008Day of the DeadDirectorMena Suvari, Nick Cannon, Ving Rhames
No additional feature film directing credits for Miner have been reported through 2025.

Television episodes

Miner's television directing career spanned from 1988 to 2018, during which he helmed over 50 episodes across more than 20 series, frequently combining directing with producing duties. His early work emphasized family-oriented dramas, evolving toward teen and supernatural genres in later years. Key series include:
  • The Wonder Years (1988–1991): 10 episodes, including the pilot.
  • Elvis (1990 miniseries): 6 episodes.
  • Chicago Hope (1994): 2 episodes.
  • Dawson's Creek (1998): 5 episodes, including the pilot.
  • Felicity (1998–2001): 4 episodes.
  • Roswell (1999–2001): 3 episodes.
  • Smallville (2001–2007): 6 episodes, including "Duplicity".
  • One Tree Hill (2003–2011): 10 episodes.
  • Make It or Break It (2009): 2 episodes.
  • The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017): 7 episodes.
Additional credits encompass episodes of Psych (2008), Eureka (2009), The Ex List (2008), Switched at Birth (2011–2017), Once Upon a Time (2011–2018), Stitchers (2015–2016), and Dead of Summer (2016). No new directing credits have emerged since 2018 as of November 2025.

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Steve Miner received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 1989 for his work on the ABC series The Wonder Years. For the episode "Birthday Boy," which aired on April 11, 1989, he was nominated in the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series category at the 41st Primetime Emmy Awards. Additionally, Miner shared in the nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series for The Wonder Years, credited alongside producers Carol Black, Bob Brush, Neal Marlens, and Jeffrey Silver. The series itself was recognized for its nostalgic portrayal of adolescence, with Miner's direction of key early episodes, including the pilot and "Birthday Boy," playing a central role in establishing its tone and critical acclaim. Neither nomination resulted in a win; the Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series award went to Peter Baldwin for another The Wonder Years episode, "Our Miss White," while Murphy Brown won for Outstanding Comedy Series. These recognitions highlighted Miner's contributions to innovative television storytelling during the show's debut season, bolstering his reputation and opening doors to directorial opportunities on other acclaimed series in the years that followed. No further Primetime Emmy nominations for Miner have been recorded through 2025.

Directors Guild of America Awards

Steve Miner won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series at the 41st Annual DGA Awards in 1989 for directing the pilot episode of the ABC series The Wonder Years. The episode, which premiered on January 31, 1988, introduced the coming-of-age story of Kevin Arnold, narrated by Daniel Stern, and was praised for its nostalgic portrayal of suburban life in the late 1960s. This marked Miner's sole DGA recognition, highlighting his transition from horror films to acclaimed television direction during the show's debut season, where he directed multiple episodes including the pilot.

Other awards

Miner received the Critics' Award at the 1986 Avoriaz International Fantastic Film Festival for House (1985). He was also nominated for the Grand Prize at the 1991 Fantasporto International Film Festival for Warlock (1989).

References

  1. https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/miner-steve-1951-stephen-miner
  2. https://www.facebook.com/OnThisDayInHorror/posts/happy-74th-birthday-to-filmmaker-steve-miner-miner-was-born-on-june-18-1951-in-c/1049513203939674/
  3. https://collider.com/steve-miner-horror-director/
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/steve_miner
  5. https://letterboxd.com/director/steve-miner/
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591171/
  7. https://www.conventionallstars.com/steve-miner
  8. http://www.filmreference.com/film/12/Steve-Miner.html
  9. https://fridaythe13thfilms.com/saga/part2/steveminer.html
  10. https://www.slashfilm.com/968513/creating-friday-the-13ths-3d-sequel-was-a-challenge-for-director-steve-miner/
  11. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-2
  12. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Friday-the-13th-Part-3
  13. https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/house-review-1986-william-katt/
  14. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0098622/
  15. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0120694/
  16. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/soul_man
  17. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wild_hearts_cant_be_broken
  18. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_father_the_hero
  19. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Big-Bully
  20. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Texas-Rangers
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  22. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0139414/
  23. http://www.fthismovie.net/2022/08/director-essentials-steve-miner.html
  24. https://www.filmaffinity.com/us/movie-awards.php?movie-id=904496
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0750317/
  26. https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/steve-miner
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0555151/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0555093/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0702950/
  30. https://switchedatbirthtvseries.fandom.com/wiki/List_Of_Switched_At_Birth_Episodes
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2721120/
  32. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58712-steve-miner?language=en-US
  33. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591171/bio/
  34. https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/steve-miner/2041/
  35. https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/westport/neighbors/happy-birthday-to-westports-stephen-c-steve-miner/464442/
  36. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591171/fullcredits
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094582/fullcredits
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118300/fullcredits
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279600/fullcredits
  40. https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/1989/outstanding-directing-for-a-comedy-series
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0750291/
  42. https://www.televisionacademy.com/awards/nominees-winners/1989/outstanding-comedy-series
  43. https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1980s/1988
  44. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094582/awards/
  45. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0591171/awards/
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