Jeff Kanew

Jeffrey Roger Kanew, born on December 16, 1944 in New York City, New York, USA, is a versatile American filmmaker whose career spans over five decades. Beginning in the early 1970s, Kanōw cut his teeth on the fast‑paced world of movie trailers, assembling promotional sequences for a wide array of 1970s releases, a skill set that sharpened his sense of pacing and visual storytelling. His breakthrough as a director arrived with the cult classic Revenge of the Nerds (1984), a comedy that cemented his reputation for blending humor with an underdog spirit, and it remains a touchstone of 1980s cinema. Kanew’s editorial prowess was on full display when he served as the editor for Ordinary People (1980), a film that won the Academy Award for Best Picture, highlighting his ability to shape emotionally resonant narratives.

Beyond these highlights, Kanew directed a diverse slate of projects: the adventure‑thriller Gotcha! (1985), the buddy‑action film Tough Guys (1986) which famously paired veteran stars Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster, and the light‑hearted Troop Beverly Hills starring Shelley Long. He also helmed the crime‑drama V.I. Warshawski with Kathleen Turner, the psychological drama Natural Enemies, and the poignant Holocaust documentary Babij Jar. In 1972 he documented the historic first all‑Black rodeo at Triborough Stadium in the short Black Rodeo, evidencing his interest in socially significant subjects.

Kanew’s later work includes directing episodes for television series and staging video adaptations of Kirk Douglas’s one‑man show Before I Forget (2009). On a personal note, his son Justin Kanew gained fame as a contestant on The Amazing Race and pursued a political career as a Democratic congressional candidate in Tennessee. Jeff Kanew’s enduring contributions to both mainstream and independent cinema underscore his status as a multifaceted creative force.