JEREMIAH CHECKIK
Date of Birth: 1955
Based in Toronto for many years, Jeremiah Chechik was a multi-award winning director of TV commercials before heading for Hollywood. He contributed greatly to the scripts, cutting and casting, and writers and art directors would gladly surrender creative control to him. Jeremiah simply knew what worked best on film.
Though Chechik doesn't have a "signature style", he does possess an amazing range. He made his film debut directing the slapstick antics of Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Slapstick of a gentler sort was highlighted in Benny and Joon, with a star-making performance by Johnny Depp as a pensive Buster Keaton aficionado.
His Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill was critically hailed (Roger Ebert called it "startling in its originality"), but failed to find an audience. Next up was Diabolique, a moody remake of the classic French thriller, starring Sharon Stone.
His film, The Avengers, amalgamates the best elements of Chechik's previous films: sumptuous visuals, moody subtext, and moments of high comedy. Since then, he's worked primarily in television, on series such as Gossip Girl and Chuck.
Filmography
The Avengers (1998)
Diabolique (1996)
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill (1995)
Benny and Joon (1993)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)