Stephen Herek


Stephen Herek is an American film director. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he studied film at the University of [Texas at Austin]. He is best known for directing the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Career

His career as a film director took off in 1986 with the cult horror classic Critters followed by the hit comedy Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure in 1989. He then directed Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead in 1991 and became a regular director for The [Walt Disney Company] throughout the decade, helming The Mighty Ducks in 1992, The [Three Musketeers (1993 film)|The Three Musketeers] in 1993, the highly successful live-action 1996 remake of 101 Dalmatians starring Glenn Close, and the Eddie Murphy comedy Holy Man in 1998. He also directed the critically acclaimed drama Mr. Holland's Opus in 1995.
In the 2000s, Herek directed the 2001 movie Rock Star, a film about a rockstar wannabe and his favorite rock group, Steel Dragon, starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. After the underwhelming performances of Life or Something Like It in 2002 and Man [of the House (2005 film)|Man of the House] in 2005, Herek has stayed mainly in the television and direct-to-DVD market, directing films like Picture This, Into the Blue 2: The Reef, and The Chaperone, as well as two Dolly Parton TV specials.

Filmography

Film

Director
YearTitleNotes
1986CrittersAlso writer
1989Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
1991Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead
1992The Mighty Ducks
1993The Three Musketeers
1995Mr. Holland's Opus
1996101 Dalmatians
1998Holy ManAlso producer
1999Black Sabbath: Time MachineShort film/music video
2001Rock Star
2002Life or Something Like It
2005Man of the House
2008Picture ThisDirect-to-video
2009Dead like Me: [Life After Death|Dead Like Me: Life After Death]Direct-to-video
2009Into the Blue 2: The ReefDirect-to-video
2011The Chaperone
2015The [Great Gilly Hopkins (film)|The Great Gilly Hopkins]
2021Afterlife of the Party
2023Dog Gone
2024Our Little Secret

Executive producer
TV movies
TV series
YearTitleNotes
2002The Mind of the Married ManEpisode "The Pony Ride"
2013DallasEpisode: "False Confessions"
2013Lucky 7Episode "All In"
2014BetrayalEpisode "Sharper Than a Serpant's Tooth..."
2015Rush HourEpisode "The Dark Night"
2015–2016Hawaii Five-03 episodes
2016–2018MacGyver7 episodes
Also co-executive producer of 40 episodes

Awards and nominations