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Photo of Bruce Gowers

Bruce Gowers

Director, Producer, Additional Credits
Born December 21, 1940Died January 15, 2023 (82 years)
Bruce Gowers was an English television director and producer, best known for work on large scale live music and event productions. He started his career in his native England where his landmark music video for Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" brought him international recognition leading to his relocation to the U.S. in the late 1970s.

Bruce’s varied career includes credits for the live episodes of American Idol (2001–2010) which he has directed from the start, and awards shows including the Emmys, The MTV Awards, the Billboard Awards and the American Music Awards, event specials including Live Earth, Live 8 and President Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial and music specials for Michael Jackson and The Jacksons, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Britney Spears. See credits below.

HBO and Showtime provided the opportunity to direct comedy specials with the biggest names in the business: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy and Jerry Seinfeld. For Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and PBS Bruce turned his attention to the popular kids series’ Roundhouse, The Kidsongs TV Show (co-creator), The Amanda Show, All That and the Teen Choice Awards.

In the first wave of reality shows, Bruce executive produced and directed The Spectacular World of Guinness Records, America’s Funniest People (co-creator) and This is Your Life.

Along the way Bruce has directed documentaries (for the Rolling Stones and Salvador Dali), ice shows, magic shows (Penn and Teller), comedy series (Whose Line is it Anyway), sports (wrestling, soccer and horse racing), talk shows (Tony Tenille), game shows (Family Feud), sitcoms (The Life and Times of Edgar Briggs) and interviews specials (David Frost with various heads of state).

Known For

  • American Idol
  • Whose Line Is It Anyway? (US)
  • Eddie Murphy: Delirious
  • George Carlin: What Am I Doing in New Jersey?
  • The Amanda Show
  • Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met
  • Live 8
  • Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration
  • Fleetwood Mac: The Dance
  • All That
  • Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
  • Madonna: The Immaculate Collection
  • Michael Jackson: Number Ones
  • Queen: Live at the Rainbow
  • The Challenge
  • Roundhouse

Filmography

2009
2009
2008
2008
2008
2007
2007
2007
2007
2006
2006
Celebrity Duets (TV Series)
2006
2006
2006
2005
2005
2005
2005
2005
2004
2004
2004
2004
2004
2003
2003
2003
2003
2003
2003
2003
American Juniors (TV Series)
2003
2002
2002
2002
American Idol (TV Series)
2002
2002
2002
2002
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2001
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
2000
1999
1999
The Amanda Show (TV Series)
1999
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
1998
The Challenge (TV Series)
1998
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1996
1995
1995
1995
1995
1994
1994
All That (TV Series)
1993
1993
1993
1992
1992
1992
Roundhouse (TV Series)
1992
1992
1992
1992
1991
1991
1991
1991
1990
1990
1990
1990
1988
1987
Kidsongs (TV Series)
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1982
1981
1980
Solid Gold (TV Series)
1978
1974
1973
1971
1971
Great Performances (TV Series)
1950

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