John Rich directed and produced some of the best-loved comedies in television history. Among them are All in the Family (1971-1974); The Jeffersons (1975); Maude (1972); Good Times (1974); Barney Miller (1975);Newhart (1982); Benson (1980-1982); The Brady Bunch (1969); and Gilligan's Island (1964). Rich won a DGA Award and an Emmy in 1972 for directing in All in the Family, and was twice nominated in 1971 and 1973. As a producer for All in the Family, he won an Emmy in 1973, received an Emmy nomination in 1974, and won two Golden Globes.

He also directed other popular series including Our Miss Brooks (1955-1956); I Married Joan (1953-1954); Bat Masterson (1958-1960); The Twilight Zone; Gomer Pyle (1967-1969); The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966) for which he was Emmy-nominated in 1961, winning the award in 1963; Bonanza (1960-1968); and Gunsmoke (1957-1969). His feature film credits include Wives and Lovers (1963); The New Interns (1964); Roustabout (1964); Boeing Boeing (1965); and Easy Come, Easy Go (1967). 

A member of the Screen Directors Guild since 1953, Rich was instrumental in the 1960 merger between the Screen Directors Guild and the Radio and Television Directors Guild, which later became the Directors Guild of America. He served on the DGA National Board and Western Directors Council for over 50 years in many capacities, including Secretary (1958-59), Treasurer (1965-67), and several terms as a Vice President. He also was as a member of nine Negotiating Committees, serving twice as co-chair, and was as a longtime Trustee of the Directors Guild Foundation, serving as chair from 2005-12. He was a founding member of DGA-Producer Pension Plan and chaired its Board of Trustees for seven terms. 

In 1993, Rich received the Robert B. Aldrich Award for Extraordinary Service to the Guild. He was honored again in 2003 with the DGA Honorary Life Member Award. 

Rich passed away in January 2012.