Rich Correll

Richard Thomas Correll (born May 14, 1948) is an American television actor, director, writer, and producer. After working as an actor during his childhood and teenage years, he transitioned to directing in the 1990s, and he has gone on to direct episodes for series such as That's So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, Cory in the House, The Suite Life on Deck, I'm in the Band, How to Rock, A.N.T. Farm, Jessie, Austin & Ally, Liv and Maddie, K.C. Undercover, Bunk'd, and Raven's Home. Correll also co-created Hannah Montana, alongside Michael Poryes and Barry O'Brien.

Born in Los Angeles County, California,^{[citation needed]} Correll is the son of Charles Correll, who starred as Andy Brown on the radio program Amos 'n' Andy. He is the brother of Barbara Correll, Dottie Correll and Charles Correll Jr., who worked on Animal House as cinematographer and directed episodes of Without a Trace; CSI: Miami; CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place and Stargate SG-1.^[2]

As a child actor, Correll played the role of Beaver's friend Richard Rickover during the last three seasons of Leave It to Beaver (1960–63). He also appeared in multiple episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Lassie and National Velvet. As a teenager, Correll became a close friend of legendary silent film comedian Harold Lloyd and his family, and volunteered to assist Lloyd in preserving and archiving Lloyd's extensive films while he was an undergraduate at the University of Southern California. He is credited as the chief archivist for the Lloyd Trust and has shared his encyclopedic knowledge of Lloyd's work and life in interviews and commentary tracks for the 2005 DVD release of Lloyd's films, and in the 1991 documentary The Third Genius.^[1]

In 1983, as a result of a revival of the Leave It to Beaver series on television and film, Correll appeared on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour as a game show participant / celebrity guest star.^{[citation needed]}

Correll made his film directorial debut with Ski Patrol.^[3]

Correll has directed episodes of The Suite Life on Deck; The Suite Life of Zack & Cody; Family Matters; What I Like About You; That's So Raven; So Little Time; The Amanda Show; The Hogan Family; Yes, Dear; Two of a Kind; Fuller House and many other series. He is also the co-creator of the Disney Channel original series, Hannah Montana.^[4]

Correll owns an extensive collection of science-fiction, fantasy, and horror film artifacts, which are shown at his Icons of Darkness exhibit in Hollywood.^[5] A noted fan of The Beatles, he was hired to choregraph the climatic sequence of the 1978 film I Wanna Hold Your Hand that recreates the February 1964 performance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show (specifically the look-alike actors playing the group).^[6]

In 2010, Correll sued Disney for unfair termination and alleged non-payment of creative royalties for Hannah Montana.^[7]

• Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV^[8]

• Rich Correll at IMDb