Ron Underwood is a multifaceted director who has made a significant impact in both television and feature films. Born in Southern California, Underwood's passion for filmmaking began at a young age, with his first films dating back to his 5th grade days. By the time he was a teenager, he was already winning Eastman Kodak filmmaking awards.
Underwood's academic background includes a degree from the University of Southern California, where he also completed a fellowship at the American Film Institute. He began his professional career in educational films, directing over 100 productions before transitioning to children's television.
One of Underwood's most notable television projects is the ABC Weekend Special, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, which earned both a Peabody Award and an Emmy nomination in 1986.
Underwood made his feature film debut in 1990 with the science fiction comedy Tremors, which starred Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward and became a sleeper hit, spawning six sequels and a USA TV series. The film's success was followed by the blockbuster comedy City Slickers, starring Billy Crystal and Jack Palance, which earned Palance an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Underwood's subsequent film projects include the bittersweet fantasy-comedy Heart and Souls, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Charles Grodin, as well as the romantic comedy Speechless, starring Michael Keaton and Geena Davis.
In 1998, Underwood directed a remake of the classic 1949 adventure film Mighty Joe Young, starring Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton, alongside a larger-than-life gorilla, which earned the film an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.
Underwood's other notable feature film projects include The Adventures of Pluto Nash, starring Eddie Murphy, and the romantic comedy In the Mix, starring Usher Raymond and Chazz Palminteri.
In addition to his feature film work, Underwood has also directed several television movies, including the Showtime feature Stealing Sinatra, starring David Arquette and William H. Macy, who received an Emmy nomination for his performance.
Underwood has also re-teamed with Jack Palance on the Hallmark Hall of Fame production Back When We Were Grownups, based on the popular Anne Tyler book and starring Blythe Danner, who received both Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance.
Throughout his career, Underwood has demonstrated his versatility as a director, working on a wide range of projects, from children's television to feature films, and from science fiction comedies to romantic comedies. His impressive body of work has earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
