Jefery Levy


Jefery Levy was an American film and television director, producer and writer, based in Beverly Hills, California.

Early life and career

Levy was born in New York City on May 21, 1958. In 1985, while a graduate student at UCLA, Levy wrote and produced the low-budget hit Ghoulies, a horror-comedy film. He has produced and directed dozens of TV and film projects over a span of three decades, and he is most recently known for the 2015 film ME, which he directed, produced, wrote, and starred.
Levy's debut feature was Drive, starring Academy Award nominee David Warner, and it won the FIPRESCI Award at the 48th Venice International Film Festival.

''The Key''

Levy's 2014 film adaption of the novel The Key by the Japanese writer Junichiro Tanizaki premiered at the Real Experiment Film Festival at the Laemmle Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills. The Key explores the twisted sexual life and marriage of a Los Angeles couple through their private journals in an explicit cinematic portrayal.

Teaching appointments

From 1991 to 1996, Levy served as the youngest associate professor at USC School of Cinema/Television. Levy was also a faculty member of The [American Film Institute], where he taught the master directing class from 1995 to 1996.

Death

Levy died in January 2026, at the age of 67.

Selected filmography