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| | image=Jeff Woolnough c. 2020.jpg | | | image= |
| | role=Director | | | role=Director |
| | series=RDM | | | series=[[RDM]] |
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| | imdb=0941276 | | | imdb=0941276 |
| | site=http://jeffwoolnough.com/
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| '''Jeff Woolnough''' (also credited as '''Jeffrey W. Woolnough''') is a Canadian film and television director who directed three episodes of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]]. A member of the [[w:Directors Guild of Canada|Directors Guild of Canada]],<ref group="external" name="dgc_woolnough_member">{{cite web|url=https://dgc.ca/en/alberta/memberView?m=2666#:~:text=Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Jeff Woolnough – Member Profile|publisher=Directors Guild of Canada|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> he began directing scripted television in 1988 and has accumulated credits across approximately 150 hours of television movies, limited series, and hour-long episodic drama.<ref group="external" name="woolnough_site_about">{{cite web|url=http://jeffwoolnough.com/about-us/#:~:text=150%20hours%20of%20TV%20movies|title=About Jeff|publisher=Jeff Woolnough Official Website|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| == Career == | | == Biographical Notes == |
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| === Early work ===
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| Before working in broadcast journalism and documentary filmmaking, Woolnough played guitar in a touring rock band during his college years and took his first production job in craft services.<ref group="external" name="woolnough_site_band">{{cite web|url=http://jeffwoolnough.com/about-us/#:~:text=played%20guitar%20in%20a%20touring%20rock%20band|title=About Jeff|publisher=Jeff Woolnough Official Website|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> He credits apprenticing under [[w:Norman Jewison|Norman Jewison]] on the Academy Award-winning film ''[[w:Moonstruck|Moonstruck]]'' (MGM, 1987) with redirecting him from non-fiction into dramatic directing.<ref group="external" name="woolnough_site_jewison">{{cite web|url=http://jeffwoolnough.com/about-us/#:~:text=shadowed%20Norman%20Jewison|title=About Jeff|publisher=Jeff Woolnough Official Website|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> His first scripted directing credit was the [[w:Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] telefilm ''Betrayal of Silence'' (1988), filed under the credit "Jeffrey Woolnough."<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Betrayal%20of%20Silence|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| Through the 1990s, Woolnough directed episodes of several syndicated and cable genre series, including ''[[w:Silk Stalkings|Silk Stalkings]]'', ''[[w:Kung Fu: The Legend Continues|Kung Fu: The Legend Continues]]'', ''[[w:Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG-1]]'', ''[[w:Earth: Final Conflict|Earth: Final Conflict]]'', and multiple installments of ''[[w:The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'', as well as the NBC miniseries ''Sleepwalkers'' (1997).<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_1990s">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=The%20Outer%20Limits|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> He also directed the two [[w:Universal Soldier (1992 film)|Universal Soldier]] direct-to-video sequels produced for [[w:Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]: ''Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms'' (1998) and ''Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business'' (1999).<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_universal_soldier">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Universal%20Soldier%20II|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
| | == Director credits for "Battlestar Galactica" == |
| | | *Season 1: |
| In the early 2000s, Woolnough directed episodes of ''[[w:Dark Angel (American TV series)|Dark Angel]]'', ''[[w:Taken (miniseries)|Taken]]'' (Sci-Fi Channel, 2002), ''[[w:Dead Like Me|Dead Like Me]]'', and ''[[w:Smallville|Smallville]]'', among others.<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_2000s">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Dark%20Angel|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| === ''Battlestar Galactica'' ===
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| When [[w:Breck Eisner|Breck Eisner]] departed the [[Miniseries|''Battlestar Galactica'' miniseries]] prior to production, Woolnough was among the directors considered to replace him before [[Michael Rymer]] was selected.<ref group="production" name="bassom_companion_p19_eisner_replacement">{{cite book|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|author=Bassom, David|page=19|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year=2005}}</ref> He subsequently joined the Re-imagined Series as a recurring director, working on both the [[Season 1 (2004-05)|first]] and [[Season 2 (2005-06)|second]] seasons. At the time of his engagement, his credits on ''[[w:Smallville|Smallville]]'', ''[[w:Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG-1]]'', and ''[[w:Dead Like Me|Dead Like Me]]'' were cited in the series' official companion volume.<ref group="production" name="bassom_companion_p83_veteran">{{cite book|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|author=Bassom, David|page=83|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year=2005}}</ref>
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| Woolnough directed the Season 1 episode "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]" (written by [[Bradley Thompson]] and [[David Weddle]]), the season's visual-effects-intensive set piece built around the fleet's strike on a Cylon tylium refinery. For [[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]], he returned to direct "[[Home, Part II]]" (written by [[David Eick]]). In the audio commentary for that episode, Eick noted that because Woolnough had previously helmed "The Hand of God," he was a director already "intimate with the characters and the style" of the series — a factor Eick called important given that the scripts for the arc were being substantially rewritten during production.<ref group="commentary" name="eick_podcast_home2_woolnough_knowledge">{{cite podcast|url=https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Podcast:Home,_Part_II#:~:text=intimate%20with%20the%20characters|title=Podcast: Home, Part II|publisher=BattlestarWiki.org|accessdate=May 23|accessyear=2026}}</ref> Eick singled out Woolnough's direction of {{Callsign|Starbuck}}'s prayer scene after her return to ''[[Galactica (TRS)|Galactica]]'' following the recovery of the [[Arrow of Apollo]] as a particularly effective moment within what he described as one of the most logistically demanding episodes of the run.<ref group="commentary" name="eick_podcast_home2_starbuck_scene">{{cite podcast|url=https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Podcast:Home,_Part_II#:~:text=Lords%20of%20Kobol%2C%20hear%20my%20prayer|title=Podcast: Home, Part II|publisher=BattlestarWiki.org|accessdate=May 23|accessyear=2026}}</ref>
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| His third episode, "[[Downloaded]]" (Season 2, Episode 18; written by Thompson and Weddle), presented the Cylon perspective of [[resurrection]] and was subsequently nominated for the [[w:Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form)]] at the 65th World Science Fiction Convention (Nippon 2007, Yokohama) in 2007,<ref group="external" name="hugo_2007_downloaded_nominee">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2007-hugo-awards/#:~:text=Downloaded|title=2007 Hugo Awards|publisher=The Hugo Awards|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> and was also nominated at the 5th Annual [[w:Visual Effects Society|Visual Effects Society]] Awards for Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program.<ref group="external" name="fxguide_ves5_downloaded_nominee">{{cite web|url=https://www.fxguide.com/fxfeatured/visual_effects_society_announces_nominees/#:~:text=Battlestar%20Galactica|title=Visual Effects Society Announces Nominees|publisher=fxguide|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| ==== Director credits for ''Battlestar Galactica'' ====
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| *[[Season 1 (2004-05)|Season 1]]: | |
| **[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]] | | **[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]] |
| *[[Season 2 (2005-06)|Season 2]]:
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| **[[Home, Part II]] | | **[[Home, Part II]] |
| | *Season 2: |
| **[[Downloaded]] | | **[[Downloaded]] |
| | ''See also: [[:Category:Episodes directed by Jeff Woolnough|Episodes directed by Jeff Woolnough]]'' |
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| === Later television work === | | == External Links == |
| In 2008, Woolnough directed the CBC biographical television film ''Céline'', an unauthorized account of [[w:Céline Dion|Céline Dion]]'s early life. The production received nominations at the 24th [[w:Gemini Award|Gemini Awards]] (2009) for Best TV Movie and Best Writing.<ref group="external" name="imdb_celine_2008_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1166981/#:~:text=Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Céline (2008)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
| | {{imdb name|id=0941276|name=Jeff Woolnough}} |
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| He directed the 2010 CBC sports biography ''Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story'' (written by Tim Cherry) and its 2012 sequel ''Wrath of Grapes: The Don Cherry Story II''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_cherry_story">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Keep%20Your%20Head%20Up%2C%20Kid|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> ''Keep Your Head Up, Kid'' earned him a nomination at the 25th Gemini Awards for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries.<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_gemini_nomination">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/awards/#:~:text=Gemini%20Award|title=Jeff Woolnough – Awards|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> At the Directors Guild of Canada Awards held on 25 September 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Woolnough shared Outstanding Team Achievement wins in two categories: Best Television Series – Drama (for the ''[[w:Being Erica|Being Erica]]'' episode "Everything She Wants") and Best Television Movie/Mini-Series (for ''Keep Your Head Up, Kid'').<ref group="external" name="newswire_dgc_2010_winners">{{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/2010-dgc-awards-winners-545610742.html#:~:text=Being%20Erica|title=2010 DGC Awards Winners|publisher=Newswire.ca|date=25 September 2010|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| Woolnough served as pilot director on the [[w:BBC America|BBC America]] period drama ''[[w:Copper (TV series)|Copper]]'' (2012)<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_copper_pilot">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2049116/#:~:text=Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Copper (2012)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> and on the CBC/CW legal drama ''[[w:Burden of Truth|Burden of Truth]]'' (2018), for which the CBC Media Centre press release described him as "veteran director Jeff Woolnough (''The Expanse'', ''Vikings'', ''Saving Hope'', ''Bones'')".<ref group="external" name="cbc_mediacentre_burden_of_truth">{{cite web|url=https://mediacentre.cbc.ca/announcement/3700/production-underway-in-winnipeg-on-new-cbc-original-series-burden-of-truth-starring-kristin-kreuk/#:~:text=veteran%20director%20Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Production Underway in Winnipeg on New CBC Original Series Burden of Truth Starring Kristin Kreuk|publisher=CBC Media Centre|date=2018|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| Woolnough directed ten episodes of ''[[w:Vikings (TV series)|Vikings]]'' (History/MGM, 2013–2020) across multiple seasons, the fourth-highest individual total among the series' directors per IMDb's full credits listing.<ref group="external" name="imdb_vikings_fullcredits_woolnough">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2306299/fullcredits/#:~:text=Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Vikings – Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> His Viking episode credits include "Answers in Blood" (2.05), "Unforgiven" (2.06), "Warrior's Fate" (3.04), "Scarred" (3.05), and "Revenge" (4.18).<ref group="external" name="imdb_vikings_woolnough_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Vikings|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> He received [[w:Canadian Screen Award|Canadian Screen Award]] nominations for Best Direction in a Drama Series for his ''Vikings'' work at the 5th (2017), 6th (2018), and 7th (2019) Canadian Screen Awards ceremonies.<ref group="external" name="academy_csa_2019_woolnough">{{cite web|url=https://academy.ca/2019/jeff-woolnough-3/#:~:text=Best%20Direction|title=Jeff Woolnough – 7th Canadian Screen Awards|publisher=Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television|year=2019|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| Woolnough also directed twelve episodes of the science fiction series ''[[w:The Expanse (TV series)|The Expanse]]'' (Syfy/Amazon, 2015–2022),<ref group="external" name="imdb_expanse_fullcredits_woolnough">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3230854/fullcredits/#:~:text=Jeff%20Woolnough|title=The Expanse – Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> joining in its first season (2015) before Breck Eisner — the director originally considered for the BSG miniseries — came aboard in 2017. His other episodic credits include ''[[w:CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'', ''[[w:NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'', ''[[w:Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'', ''[[w:Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'', ''[[w:The Vampire Diaries|The Vampire Diaries]]'', ''[[w:Eureka (American TV series)|Eureka]]'', ''[[w:Chilling Adventures of Sabrina|Chilling Adventures of Sabrina]]'', and ''[[w:Riverdale (2017 TV series)|Riverdale]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_woolnough_episodic_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941276/#:~:text=Chilling%20Adventures%20of%20Sabrina|title=Jeff Woolnough|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| Woolnough's official website states he has accumulated twelve award nominations and three outstanding achievement awards across his career.<ref group="external" name="woolnough_site_awards_total">{{cite web|url=http://jeffwoolnough.com/about-us/#:~:text=12%20nominations%20and%203%20outstanding%20achievement|title=About Jeff|publisher=Jeff Woolnough Official Website|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| == Personal life ==
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| [[File:VBWFF Opening - Claudette Roche and Jeff Woolnough c. 2018.jpg|thumb|Claudette Roche with her husband, Jeff Woolnough, at the 2018 Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival.]]
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| Woolnough is married to actress and dialect coach .<ref group="external" name="imdb_roche_bio_spouse">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0729996/bio/#:~:text=married%20to%20Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Claudette Roche – Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> The couple met in Toronto during the [[w:Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]] and relocated to Los Angeles in 1990 after both obtained U.S. green cards.<ref group="external" name="veronews_2019_roche_profile">{{cite web|url=https://veronews.com/2019/07/18/claudette-roche-accent-coach-talks-up-island-life/#:~:text=met%20in%20Toronto|title=Claudette Roche: Accent coach talks up island life|publisher=Vero News|author=Genz, Michelle|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> In 2015 they moved to [[w:Vero Beach, Florida|Vero Beach, Florida]].<ref group="external" name="veronews_2019_roche_vero">{{cite web|url=https://veronews.com/2019/07/18/claudette-roche-accent-coach-talks-up-island-life/#:~:text=moved%20into%20an%20oceanfront%20condo%20in%20Vero|title=Claudette Roche: Accent coach talks up island life|publisher=Vero News|author=Genz, Michelle|date=18 July 2019|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> Woolnough and Roche served as co-chairs of the [[w:Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival|Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival]].<ref group="external" name="veronews_2018_wff_woolnough_roche">{{cite web|url=https://veronews.com/2018/06/14/two-thumbs-wine-film-fest-another-smash-hit/#:~:text=Claudette%20Roche%20and%20Jeff%20Woolnough|title=Two thumbs up! Wine & Film Fest another smash hit|publisher=Vero News|author=Schenkel, Mary; LaBaff, Stephanie|date=14 June 2018|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref> In 2018 they registered JWCR LLC, a Florida limited liability company based in Vero Beach.<ref group="external" name="sunbiz_jwcr_llc">{{cite web|url=https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/corporationsearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOrder=JWCR+L180002307340&aggregateId=flal-l18000230734-33a91926-4e13-48a6-b752-78f51e896428&searchTerm=JWCR+LLC#:~:text=L18000230734|title=JWCR LLC – Detail by Entity Name|publisher=Florida Division of Corporations|accessdate=23 May 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === Production History ===
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| {{reflist|group=production}}
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| === Commentary and Interviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=commentary}}
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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| [[Category:A to Z]] | | [[Category:A to Z|Woolnough, Jeff]] |
| [[Category:Behind the Scenes]] | | [[Category:Behind the Scenes|Woolnough, Jeff]] |
| [[Category:Crew]] | | [[Category:Crew|Woolnough, Jeff]] |
| [[Category:Crew (RDM)]]
| | [[Category:Directors|Woolnough, Jeff]] |
| [[Category:Directors]] | | [[Category:RDM|Woolnough, Jeff]] |
| [[Category:Directors (RDM)]] | |
| [[Category:Former Stargate Cast and Crew]]
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| [[Category:RDM]]
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| [[de:Jeff Woolnough]]
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