October 1, 2006
As an actor, Vincent Sherman appeared in films like Counselor at Law, and a as writer he penned films like the Humphrey Bogart/Dead End Kids vehicle Crime School, but it was as a director that he made his indelible mark. With well over 50 projects to his credit, Sherman was always known as a director with the ability to pull strong performances out of his actors. His features include the classics Mr. Skeffington (1944), The Adventures of Don Juan (1948) and The Young Philadelphians (1959). He later carved out a second career as a successful television director on series like Medical Center, The Waltons, and Baretta; and movies for television such as The Last Hurrah (1977), Women at West Point (1979) and The Dream Merchants (1980). Sherman retired following his last directing job on an episode of Trapper John, M.D. in 1983.
On June 18, 2006 Sherman passed away in the Motion Picture & Television Fund's (MPTF) retirement community for members of the entertainment industry. A member of the DGA since 1943, Sherman adopted the MPTF's credo of "giving back to take care of our own," and bequeathed $10,000 to the Directors Guild Foundation (DGF), which provide much needed assistance to Guild members since its inception in 1945 and is a major contributor to the MPTF.
"Vincent was amazing, both as a director and as an individual" said DGF Treasurer Gene Reynolds. "I used to see him at Feature Directors Night and he was always so dapper, with a mischievous gleam in his eye even at 95. He was always so delighted to be there in the company of the younger directors. I also had the opportunity to visit him at the MPTF just prior to his passing and he hadn't changed a bit. His generous gift to the Foundation is reflective of the kind of person he truly was."
"The Foundation's main purpose is to provide confidential interest free loans to Guild members in good standing who are in need of emergency financial assistance," said DGF Chairman John Rich. "These temporary financial setbacks can happen to any of us. Work dries up for a time, a show is cancelled, a contract ends and we're faced with a situation of being in between paychecks. But that doesn't stop the rent payment, food bills or medical insurance. Thankfully, the DGF is there to step in and lend a hand when it's needed the most, and does so in a way that respects personal anonymity."
In order to fund its mission, the DGF conducts an annual appeal to the members of the Guild, and also raises money through activities like the Annual DGA Golf and Tennis Tournaments. Other contributions have come via the beneficiary bequests of deceased DGA Members. These acts of generosity have allowed the DGF to continue its mission of providing assistance to Guild members in need as it did last fall for members affected by Hurricane Katrina. Foundation funding has also gone toward the construction of more MPTF hospital rooms and living facilities, and to underwrite the DGA-Motion Picture Industry Conservation Collection at UCLA, ensuring that the work of our members is preserved for future generations.
"During the period 2002-2006, the Foundation responded to very heavy demands from fellow members, and issued loans totaling more than three quarters of a million dollars," said Rich. "But we're separate from the Guild itself, so the Foundation is dependent upon the contributions of our membership and help is urgently needed to continue this important program."