Jeff Woolnough

Jeff Woolnough
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Role:	Director
BSG Universe:	Re-imagined Series
Date of Birth:
Date of Death:	Missing required parameter 1=month! ,
Nationality:	CAN
Official Site
IMDb profile

Jeff Woolnough (also credited as Jeffrey W. Woolnough) is a Canadian film and television director who directed episodes for the Re-imagined Series. His career began in the late 1980s and he has won numerous awards directing multiple episodes of a variety of television series.

Early Career

Before starting his career as a broadcast journalist and documentary filmmaker, Woolnough played guitar in a touring rock band during his college days. He shadowed Norman Jewison on the Oscar-winning film Moonstruck (1987), which helped him become a director of fiction rather than fact. From his first production job in craft service to his numerous nominations and awards, Woolnough has directed some 150 hours of TV movies, limited series and hour-long episodic television.

His 1988 feature-length courtroom drama "Betrayal of Silence" marked his creative debut, after which he directed episodes of series like "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."

Career Highlights

Woolnough thrives in many genres; from sci-fi and historical adventure to procedurals, comedy, fantasy and horror. His body of work ranges from complex action and visual effects spectacles, to intimate, emotional and socially relevant pieces. He has been a member of the Directors Guild of Canada and is known for keeping his episodes on time and within budget.

His most prolific work has been with The Expanse and Vikings, for which he directed ten episodes of each. He has been a three-time Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Direction in a Drama Series for his work on Vikings, with nominations in 2017, 2018, and 2019. He was also a Gemini Award nominee for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries in 2010 for Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story.

By the late 1990s, Woolnough directed two direct-to-video sequels to Universal Soldier: Universal Soldier II: Brothers in Arms (1998) and Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Business (1999). In 2008, his Céline Dion biopic Céline was nominated for Best TV Movie and Best Writing at the Gemini Awards.

Battlestar Galactica

After Breck Eisner's departure from the Miniseries due to other projects, Woolnough was among the list of directors considered to replace Eisner. While Michael Rymer was selected, Woolnough later directed episodes of both the first and second seasons.

According to Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion, Woolnough was described as "a veteran TV director" whose credits include installments of Smallville, Stargate SG-1 and Dead Like Me at the time of his work on the series.

Director credits for "Battlestar Galactica"

• Season 1:
  • The Hand of God
• Season 2:
  • Home, Part II
  • Downloaded

Selected Filmography

Woolnough's extensive television work includes episodes of numerous high-profile series:

• The Expanse (2015-2022) - 10 episodes
• Vikings (2013-2020) - 10 episodes
• Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
• Riverdale (2017-2023)
• Supernatural (2005-2020)
• Bones (2005-2017)
• The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)
• Being Erica (2009-2011)
• Eureka (2006-2012)
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-2015)
• NCIS (2003-present)
• Las Vegas (2003-2008)
• Dark Angel (2000-2002)
• Taken (2002)
• The Outer Limits (1995-2002)

Awards and Recognition

Woolnough has received multiple nominations and awards throughout his career:

• Three-time Canadian Screen Award nominee for Best Direction in a Drama Series for Vikings (2017, 2018, 2019)
• Gemini Award nominee for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries for Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story (2010)
• Two Directors Guild of Canada awards for Outstanding Team Achievement in a Television Series for Being Erica and Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story (2010)