Edwin (Ed) Sherin, an Emmy winner and Tony nominee, died May 4 at the age of 87, according to the Directors Guild of America.
Mr. Sherin attended Brown University and then served in the armed forces before beginning his career in the theatre, both acting and directing on Broadway.
His Main Stem acting credits include Measure for Measure, A Desert Incident, Lysistrata, Peer Gynt, Henry IV, Face of a Hero, and Romulus. His first directorial credit, The Great White Hope, earned him a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director. He subsequently directed An Evening with Richard Nixon and…, 6 Rms Riv Vu, Find Your Way Home (which earned him a Tony nomination), Of Mice and Men, Sweet Bird of Youth, Rex, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Do You Turn Somersaults?, First Monday in October, Goodbye Fidel, The Visit, and his final Broadway credit: 2004's Prymate.
After his success on Broadway, Mr. Sherin was hired to direct the film Valdez is Coming with Burt Lancaster, followed by Glory Boy (aka My Old Man’s Place) starring Michael Moriarty. For television, he directed King Lear as well as such subsequent TV films as Lena: My 100 Children and The Father Clements Story.
He was perhaps best known for executive producing over 160 Law & Order episodes, of which he directed more than 35 and acted in over 20. The series brought him an Emmy Award and eight additional nominations. Mr. Sherin also helmed TV favorites Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Medium.
Edwin Sherin was born January 15, 1930 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He joined the Directors Guild of America in 1969 and served on the DGA National Board for 15 years, including three terms as National Vice President from 1997 to 2003 and two terms as Second Vice President from 2003 to 2007. In recognition of his service to the Guild, Mr. Sherin was awarded the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 2002 and the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in 2012.
“We are deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of Ed Sherin, whose membership in this Guild spanned more than five decades and whose service was immeasurable,” said DGA President Paris Barclay in a statement. “Many of us worked with Ed for decades, either in Guild leadership or on Law & Order, the seminal New York-based television show he directed and produced for years. Ed loved the Guild, and though he was passionate about the East Coast and revitalizing New York production in particular, his tireless advocacy was always on behalf of all our members. Above all, Ed believed deeply that the more unified we were as a Guild, and the more we reached out and supported each other, the stronger we would become, and he was absolutely right. We will miss him greatly.”
“Our hearts are heavy today as we remember our dear friend and colleague Ed, whose legacy as a director, commitment to our Guild, and strength and fervor in his service were an example for us all,” added Secretary-Treasurer Michael Apted, who was DGA President when Mr. Sherin was National Vice President. “Through Law & Order and his passion for mentorship, he gave critical first-break opportunities to more episodic directors, assistant directors and UPMs than perhaps any other member in the Guild’s history. And during his tenure as National Vice President, our presence on the East Coast grew immensely through his work to embed our Guild in the business, culture and landscape of New York including our revitalized New York headquarters and DGA Honors, our signature New York event. Ed was the rising tide that lifted all the boats around him. His ability to make the tough calls and tough decisions prioritized the unity of our membership and greater good. When he was by your side, you knew there was nothing you couldn’t accomplish.”
Mr. Sherin's wife, actor Jane Alexander, survives him.
