Gary Sherman, a renowned filmmaker, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1945. He pursued his passion for design and photography at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Sherman's early career as a filmmaker began in the mid-1960s, creating music clips and short movies that served as precursors to the music videos that would later become popular on MTV.
During his teenage years, Sherman worked as a session musician for the legendary Chess Records label, providing backup and harmony vocals. His work on the hit song "Shapes of Things" alongside Eric Clapton is a notable highlight. Additionally, Sherman was an active participant in the 1960s Civil Rights movement, as his uncle served in the Army Photographic Corps.
Sherman's early work in television commercials led to his feature film debut with the documentary "The Legend of Bo Diddley" in 1966. His subsequent films are characterized by their dark, edgy, and unsettling subject matter, often paired with well-acted, briskly paced, and highly entertaining storytelling.
The critically acclaimed "Death Line" (1972) showcased Sherman's ability to craft a scary and potent horror film that also explored heart-wrenching pathos. After a nine-year hiatus, Sherman returned with the original and thrilling zombie shocker "Dead & Buried" (1981). His subsequent films, including the gritty crime thriller "Vice Squad" (1982) and the action-packed "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1987),further solidified his reputation as a masterful filmmaker.
While "Poltergeist III" (1988) and "Lisa" (1989) were less successful, Sherman rebounded with the intense and disturbing low-budget serial killer film "39: A Movie by Carroll McKane" in 2006. Throughout his career, Sherman has also directed episodes of TV shows such as "Wind on Water," "Poltergeist: The Legacy," and "Sable." He created the TV series "Missing Persons" in the mid-1990s and has written and produced several made-for-TV movies and television show episodes.
