Howard Storm, the veteran television director who helped shape some of America’s most beloved sitcoms, has died. He was 94.
Storm died Tuesday in Beverly Hills from natural causes, his publicist confirmed to Variety.
For generations of TV fans, Storm’s name was tied to some of the most recognizable comedies on the small screen. He directed episodes of Taxi, Full House, Mork & Mindy, Everybody Loves Raymond and more, leaving behind a career that stretched across decades of classic television.
Storm discovered his love for directing in 1975 while working closely with two sitcom giants, James L. Brooks and Garry Marshall. From there, he built a long résumé behind the camera.
He directed six episodes of Rhoda, 59 episodes of Mork & Mindy, two episodes of Taxi, three episodes of The Redd Foxx Show, two episodes of Better Days, three episodes of Full House and three episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond.
His work helped bring some of TV’s biggest comedy stars into American living rooms, including Robin Williams, Christopher Lloyd, Valerie Harper and Redd Foxx.
Before becoming a television director, Storm started his career on stage as a stand-up comedian. He toured with Andy Williams as an opening act and appeared on The Merv Griffin Show more than a dozen times.
His comedy background later helped him understand timing, characters and performers in a way that made him a natural fit for sitcom directing.
Storm also worked with Woody Allen in the 1970s, serving as an assistant on Bananas and Take the Money and Run. He later wrote scripts for The Partridge Family and Bob Newhart programs.
In 1985, Storm moved into film directing with Once Bitten, the vampire comedy starring Jim Carrey, Lauren Hutton and Karen Kopins. The movie became one of Carrey’s early starring roles before he later became one of Hollywood’s biggest comedy names.
Storm continued working in entertainment for years. After directing a 1999 episode of Kenan & Kel, he later appeared as an actor in the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine’s Day and the 2012 film An Old Man’s Gold.
Though he worked across stand-up, writing, television and film, Storm will likely be best remembered for his role in shaping a golden era of sitcoms.
From the wild charm of Mork & Mindy to the family-friendly warmth of Full House, his work became part of the background of American pop culture.
Storm is survived by his two sons, Anthony and Casey, his daughter-in-law Julia, and his grandsons Leo and Sidney.