John Nicolella

John Joseph Nicolella (May 28, 1945 – February 21, 1998) was an American film, television director and producer. He is best known for his directing and producing work on the 1980s television series Miami Vice. He is also known for producing the 1983 movie comedy hit Easy Money starring Rodney Dangerfield, Joe Pesci, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

John Nicolella
Born
John Joseph Nicolella

(1945-05-28)May 28, 1945
DiedFebruary 21, 1998(1998-02-21) (aged 52)
Los Angeles, California
OccupationDirector, producer
Years active1971–97
Spouse(s)Patti Kent Nicolella
(3 children)

Career

Nicolella began his career working as an assistant director on the Ivan Passer-directed film Born to Win (1971). Other films soon followed, the Paul Newman-directed film The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972), Crazy Joe (1974) starring Peter Boyle, Sweet Revenge (1976) starring Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston and Time Square (1980). He was also as a production manager on the films Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983).

In 1984, he joined the production crew of Miami Vice directing a number of episodes til 1987. He continued working with the show's star Don Johnson directing the music video short film for Johnson's song "Heartbeat" from the album of the same name. They reunited again when Nicolella served as executive producer for three episodes of Nash Bridges.

Nicolella's other directorial television credits include M.A.N.T.I.S., Crime Story, Leg Work, Gabriel's Fire, Dark Justice, Melrose Place, Key West, Marker and Super Force.

He also directed a number of television films, most notably Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All (1989) and Rock Hudson (1990),[1] as well as all four of the Vanishing Son films. He also directed the theatrical features Sunset Heat (1992) and Kull the Conqueror (1997).

Death

Nicolella died in 1998. He is survived by his wife, Patti Kent Nicolella, daughters Jennifer, Cynthia and Sofia, a son, Nicholas and sister Loretta Bruccoleri.[2]

References
  1. Stephen Tropiano The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV, p. 149, at Google Books
  2. Obituaries John Nicolella, A Producer On The Television Series "miami Vice" And The Film "Saturday Night Fever," Died Feb. 21 At His Home In Los Angeles. He Was 52. Archived March 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine – AllBusiness.com
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