# Marty Callner

Marty Callner (born 1946 dead March 17 2025) is an American director who has made music videos, comedy specials, concert specials, and television shows. He is the creator of HBO's Hard Knocks and has been nominated and won numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards, CableACE Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.
Marty Callner was born in Chicago, Illinois to Bernard Callner and Ethel Jane Callner. Marty spent his formative years growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He excelled at baseball, and went on to play pitcher for Kentucky University. He discovered his creativity and got his start in television as a prop boy on the Nick Clooney show. He also worked at the local news station, where he got the chance to direct, and excelled. He then went to Cleveland to direct commercials. He then went on to direct the Boston Celtics from 1975-1977, as well as other sports programming. Marty was then hired as one of the first core employees at HBO, where he was tasked to cultivate the creative ethos of the company, direct all of their specials, and discover talent. He directed and produced Wimbledon, Camelot, Liza Minellie, Gladys Knight and Ray Charles from the Greek Theater, Dianna Ross from Caesers Palace, and Fleetwood Mac, amongst others. He was also tasked with starting HBO stand up comedy specials, where he directed the very first one, An evening with Robert Klein. He directed many of the On Locations, including George Carlin Live from Phoenix. He teamed with Mitzy Shore and the comedy store to discover up and coming talent and give them specials or showcase them on HBO young comedians. Marty was pivotal in bringing and directing the first Pee-Wee’s playhouse for HBO.
In 1984, Marty Callner directed his first music video, Twisted Sister “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” His second music video was Pat Benatar “We Belong.” He then went on to direct music videos for Aerosmith, Cher, Stevie Nicks, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, Poison, Ratt, Lita Ford, Lone Justice, Sam Kinison, Bon Jovi, Chaka Kahn, and Adina Howard amongst others.
During the run of music videos Marty began his work with producer Randall Gladstein. Marty formed Cream Cheese Films.
Marty, Randy and Cream Cheese Films went on to direct and produce concert and comedy specials, primarily for HBO. Madonna “The Girlie Show”, Garth Brooks “Live from Central Park”, Marc Anthony “Live from MSG”, Britney Spears “Live from Las Vegas”, *NSYNC “Live from Las Vegas”, Justin Timberlake “Future/Sex/Love/Show”, Whitney Houston “A Concert for a New South Africa”, Robin Williams “Live from Broadway”, Will Ferrel “You’re Welcome America”, John Leguizamo “Sexaholics”, Dane Cook “Vicious Circle”, Whitney Cummings “I’m Your Girlfriend” among others.
In the early 2000’s Marty created Hard Knocks for HBO.
Marty, also created and directed The Hall “Honoring The Greats of Stand-up” for Netflix.
Marty is the husband Of Aleeza Callner, father of Dax, Chad, Lin Swenson, Oriel Zelcer, Jazz Callner and Tess Levi. And at the time of his passing, had 8 grandchildren.

## Work

Callner's directorial credits on music videos include videos for Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Chaka Khan, Cher, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Heart, Kiss, Poison, Ratt, Lita Ford, The Cranberries, Scorpions, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake and ZZ Top.
His music video specials include Bette Midler's Diva Las Vegas, Pat Benatar's In Concert, Britney Spears: Live from Las Vegas, Diana Ross Live at Caesar's Palace, Fleetwood Mac's Mirage Tour, Garth Brooks Live from Central Park, Gladys Knight Live at the Greek Theatre, Gloria Estefan's Caribbean Soul: The Atlantis Concert, Justin Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveShow, Marc Anthony's Concert from Madison Square Garden, Paul Simon Live at the Tower Theatre, Rolling Stones' Four Flicks, Stevie Nicks's Bella Donna, and Whitney Houston's Whitney: The Concert for a New South Africa.
He has also directed recordings of performances by comedians including Pee-wee Herman, Sam Kinison, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Dane Cook, John Leguizamo, Billy Crystal, George Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Whitney Cummings, and Will Ferrell.

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1979 | CableACE Awards | Entertainment | On Location | Nominated |
| 1979 | CableACE Awards | Entertainment | Standing Room Only | Won |
| 1981 | CableACE Awards | Single Program – General Entertainment or Variety: Music | Standing Room Only | Won |
| 1981 | CableACE Awards | Single Program – General Entertainment or Variety: Unclassified | Standing Room Only | Nominated |
| 1983 | CableACE Awards | Directing a Theatrical-Music Program | Camelot | Nominated |
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Music Special | Madonna: The Girlie Show – Live Down Under | Nominated |
| 1999 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety | Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time | Nominated |
| 2003 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety | Robin Williams: Live on Broadway | Nominated |
| 2004 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical/Variety | Rolling Stones: Forty Licks World Tour Live at Madison Square Garden | Nominated |
| 1994 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Direction in a Video | "Amazing" – Aerosmith | Nominated |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries or a Special | Cher... at the Mirage | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Diva Las Vegas | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program | Diva Las Vegas | Nominated |
| 1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program | Garth: Live from Central Park | Nominated |
| 1999 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Jerry Seinfeld: I'm Telling You for the Last Time | Nominated |
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Robin Williams: Live on Broadway | Nominated |
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Rolling Stones: Forty Licks World Tour Live at Madison Square Garden | Nominated |
| 2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger | Nominated |
| 2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush | Nominated |
| 2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush | Nominated |
| 2010 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction | Nominated |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special | The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway | Nominated |