Bethany Rooney started her illustrious directing career in the 1980s by serving as Associate Producer on the iconic television show St. Elsewhere. Since then, she has successfully directed over 250 episodes of prime-time narrative shows, including Law & Order, Chicago PD, Law & Order SVU, The Rookie, Criminal Minds Evolution, and Chicago Med.
In addition to her impressive directing credits, Bethany also served as Producing Director on two notable series, Bull and The Originals. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of talented actors, including Oscar winners and Emmy contenders such as Denzel Washington, Hilary Swank, Mariska Hargitay, Angela Bassett, George Clooney, Alfre Woodard, Felicity Huffman, Sally Field, and Robert Downey, Jr.
Bethany's expertise in episodic directing is also reflected in her co-authored textbook, "Directors Tell the Story," which has become a trusted authority on the subject and is widely used in university film programs and studio/network diversity education programs.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Bethany has been actively involved with the Directors Guild of America, serving as a member of the National Board, co-chair of the Women's Steering Committee, and member of the Western Directors Council. She has also co-created two industry-leading diversity director training programs, Warner Bros. (2012) and the DGA's Directors Development Initiative (DDI, 2015).
As a dedicated educator, Bethany continues to teach rising directors, which she believes is an essential part of her own learning and love for storytelling. In her personal life, Bethany is a wife and mother who resides in Los Angeles.
