Marty Callner, a trailblazing director famed for shaping the comedy special genre on HBO in the late ’70s, and later for his groundbreaking music videos during MTV’s golden age, passed away on March 17 at his home in Malibu, California. He was 78 years old.
His son, Jazz Callner, mentioned that the cause of his death remains unknown.
Throughout his extensive career spanning over five decades, Callner collaborated with cultural icons such as Jerry Seinfeld, Madonna, Robin Williams, George Carlin, the Rolling Stones, and Chris Rock. Despite his inclination to keep a low profile, he was hardly reticent. As noted by Jason Zinoman of The New York Times in 2022, Callner could be “the most successful director you have never heard of.”
One fateful day in the early ’80s, Callner experienced a revelation as he sat watching TV in his Beverly Hills home. He became mesmerized by Kim Carnes’s music video for “Bette Davis Eyes” and couldn’t tear his gaze away.
“This is unbelievable,” he reminisced during a 2021 episode of the “HawkeTalk” podcast. “It was the most artistic and entertaining thing I’ve ever seen,” and at that moment, he knew, “I’ve got to go do this.”
MTV was still in its infancy back then, yet Callner was ready to leave his successful comedy special work at HBO for the thrill of music video production.
In a meeting with Atlantic Records chairman Ahmet Ertegun, Callner was offered a choice among three bands to make a video for. He opted for the heavy metal outfit Twisted Sister and turned their 1984 hit “We’re Not Gonna Take It” into a comedic tale of teenage defiance.
In the iconic video, a young boy, played by Callner’s son Dax, strums a guitar sending his irate father flying through a window, declaring — with Callner’s own voice-over — “I want to rock!”
“Whatever Marty earned for that, it wasn’t enough,” remarked Rob Tannenbaum, co-author of “I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution” (2011). “He made Twisted Sister who they are.”
For over a decade, Callner crafted memorable videos for artists like Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, and ZZ Top. His collaboration with Aerosmith led to 18 music videos, including “Sweet Emotion” and “Dream On.”
An unforgettable video production involved filming Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” aboard the battleship Missouri in 1989, amidst jubilant sailors. Encouraged by Callner to straddle a cannon, Cher delivered an iconic performance clad in a daring black catsuit that she designed herself.
During rehearsals, the Navy’s liaison expressed concern about the outfit’s appropriateness, fearing he could be reprimanded. Callner’s quick response was, “You go tell her she can’t wear it,” leaving the liaison to back down.
Born on August 25, 1946, in Chicago, Martin Henry Callner grew up in Cincinnati under the care of his mother, Etheljane (Hirsch) Callner, following his father’s departure. Despite his challenging beginnings, he was later embraced by his father’s wealthy family in Chicago, spending summers surrounded by fine art.
He attended several colleges, including the University of Kentucky, but never graduated, as partying took precedence over academics. His creative spark ignited after a psychedelic experience in his late teens.
His mother, who worked at TV Guide, suggested a job at a Cincinnati television station in 1969, where Callner first fell in love with television production. Rapidly advancing to directing several shows, he eventually left due to a stagnant salary — attributed to his long hair and left-leaning views, according to him.
He directed commercials in Cleveland before moving to Boston to helm Celtics games at WBZ-TV. In 1975, he joined the then-fledgling HBO, establishing a name for himself with the debut stand-up special, “An Evening With Robert Klein.” His dynamic use of multiple cameras captured Klein’s live performance with innovative flair.
That success birthed a lucrative series of comedy specials at HBO featuring Robin Williams, George Carlin, and Steve Martin, among others. He also co-directed “The Pee-wee Herman Show” alongside Paul Reubens, a precursor to the popular children’s series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”
Mr. Callner shared with The Times his approach: “Comedy directs me. If a comedian is physical, it’s a head-to-toe shot. If it’s a poignant moment, it’s a close-up. It’s reportage.”
Callner’s HBO career also included covering Wimbledon, filming concerts for stars like Liza Minnelli, Paul Simon, Diana Ross, and Stevie Nicks, and capturing a 1982 “Camelot” revival featuring Richard Harris.
In 2001, his creative vision produced “Hard Knocks,” HBO’s reality series documenting an NFL team’s preseason pursuit, initially focusing on rookies struggling to secure their spot.
Callner once pointed out to The Ringer’s readers in 2022, “Everyone wants to go inside the locker room and see what happens when guys get cut.” Former HBO Sports president, Ross Greenburg, praised the expanded series for unfolding team and veteran stories that captivated audiences. Although Callner wasn’t directly involved, his executive production won him two Sports Emmys.
Marty Callner leaves behind a large family including his children Jazz and Tess Levi from his marriage to Aleeza (Zelcer) Callner, sons Dax and Chad from his marriage to Jan Mussara, a stepdaughter Lin Swenson, a stepson Oriel Zelcer, and eight grandchildren.
In 1998, Callner directed Jerry Seinfeld in his live HBO special “I’m Telling You for the Last Time.” Before the broadcast, he explained to The Times, “Once the show starts, I’m taking the lights down to black — nothing’s worse than a comedian seeing a lit-up audience.”
He had learned this from directing a Steve Martin show in 1976 when he opted against the advice, only to later hear from Martin himself that “Cold and dark is how comedy should be.”
