Meet the Interviewer: Cheryl Downey
Born and raised in Minnesota, Cheryl Downey majored in theater and English at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She continued her education at UCLA, earning a master’s and a PhD in theater history in 1971. A chance dinner with Production Designer George Jenkis, a guest professor at UCLA, led her to secure a job at Tomorrow’s Enterprises. After working on The Glass House (Tom Gries, 1972) and Lady Ice (Tom Gries, 1973), she was encouraged to apply to the Assistant Directors Training Program and was accepted into the program on her second attempt.
As a DGA Trainee, Downey worked on the movie for television Death Race (David Lowell Rich, 1973) and the feature The Great Waldo Pepper (George Roy Hill, 1975), as well as the television series Planet of the Apes (1974). As an Assistant Director, she has worked on features including The Choirboys (Robert Aldrich, 1977); Viva Knievel! (Gordon Douglas, 1977); Freaky Friday (Gary Nelson, 1976), The Missouri Breaks (Arthur Penn, 1976); Four Friends (Arthur Penn, 1981); and Welcome to Eighteen (Terry Carr, 1986). She also served as an AD on movies for television and TV pilots such as The Winds of Kitty Hawk (E. W. Swackhamer, 1978); The Girls in the Office (Ted Post, 1979); Fugitive Family (Paul Kransny, 1980); Mistress of Paradise (Peter Medak, 1981); Ghost Dancing (David Greene, 1983); The Prototype (David Greene, 1983); Consenting Adult (Gilbert Cates, 1985); Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (David Green, 1991); Broadway Bound (Paul Bogar, 1992); as well as on the television series Crisis Center, ChiPs; and Hawaii 5-0. As Unit Production Manager, Downey worked on the TV series Dear John; Eisenhower & Lutz; Duck Factory; Ripley’s Believe it or Not; Built to Last; and the movie for television It’s Nothing Personal (Bradford May, 1993).
Downey has served on the Western AD/UPM Council for 16 terms, including stints as Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, First Vice Chairperson and Second Vice Chairperson. She has also served on the National Board for 10 terms. In addition, Downey has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Assistant Directors Training Program and has been a DGA Foundation Trustee. Downey was a founding AD/UPM member of the DGA’s Women’s Steering Committee and has also served on many Guild committees including Negotiating, Internal Complaints, Equal Opportunity and Safety Committees.
Downey was awarded the Frank Capra Achievement Award in 2000 in recognition of her career achievement and service to the Guild. She has been a Guild member since 1975.