Director of Music Videos, Stand-Up Specials Was 78

Marty Callner, the 12-time Emmy nominee who created HBO’s Hard Knocks and directed and/or produced music videos and TV specials featuring the likes of Cher, Garth Brooks, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, has died. He was 78.

Callner died Monday at his home in Malibu, his rep Gail Parenteau announced.

The first music videos he directed were ones in 1984 for Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Going to Take It” and Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” and he also handled Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”; Aerosmith’s “Cryin’,” “Crazy,” “Amazing,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “Love in an Elevator”; Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has a Thorn,” Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back,” Bon Jovi’s “Lie to Me” and many more.

His music/concert specials included Bette Midler’s Diva Las Vegas, 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’s Live at the Greek Theatre, Gloria Estefan’s Caribbean Soul: The Atlantis Concert, Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow, Paul Simon’s Live at the Tower Theatre, the Rolling Stones’ Four Flicks, Stevie Nicks’ Bella Donna and Whitney Houston’s Concert for a New South Africa.

Callner also created Hard Knocks, the first sports-based TV reality series; in collaboration with NFL Films, it has taken viewers inside a team’s training camp every year since 2001.

Callner was born in Chicago on Aug. 25, 1946, and raised in Cincinnati. His mother, Ethel Jane, got him his first job in show business as a prop man on The Nick Clooney Show. He was working at a local TV station news when he got his first chance to direct.

He helmed commercials in Cleveland and worked with the NBA’s Boston Celtics through the mid-1970s until he was noticed by HBO, where his early assignments included directing Richard Harris in Camelot on Broadway and producing Wimbledon matches.

Callner is also credited with creating the template for what is the stand-up comedy special, having directed HBO’s first one, 1975’s An Evening With Robert Klein. He then went on to direct many in the series of HBO On Location specials, including the iconic George Carlin: Live From Phoenix in 1978.

Callner teamed with Mitzi Shore and her Comedy Store nightclub to discover up-and-coming talent to showcase on HBO’s Young Comedians shows. These included the likes of Williams, Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Howie Mandel, Mike Binder and Jim Carrey.

He also discovered Paul Ruebens at The Groundlings in Hollywood and was the driving force behind the original Pee-wee Herman Show, which was taped at the Roxy in West Hollywood to air on HBO in 1981.

Callner, along with his production company, Cream Cheese Films, and longtime producing partner Randall Gladstein did lots of live music specials and concerts for HBO.

Survivors include his wife, Aleeza, his kids and grandkids.