Biography

Bruce is one of the most recognized directors in the industry, lauded for his work with music and live events.  From his landmark music video of Bohemian Rhapsody  to his Emmy and DGA Award Winning work on 9 seasons of American Idol, Bruce is known for creating visually exciting television.

His credits include Presidential Inaugurals, The Emmys, The MTV Awards and dozens of other premier award shows, the biggest global live events including Live 8 and Live Earth, comedy specials with legends like Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Eddie Murphy, concerts ranging from the spectacular for The Rolling Stones, Prince and Michael Jackson, to the intimate: Queen performing in a barn and Justin Timberlake in a Memphis blues club.

He began his career in his native England working as a cable puller, a camera man and a production manager before sliding into the director’s chair.

Bruce has been awarded 3 Emmys, a Grammy, a Directors Guild of America Award, a BAFTA, The NAACP Image Award and a MTV Video Music Award. He has been nominated for 7 Emmys and 3 DGA Awards.

Selected Credits

Television Series:

• American Idol(FOX) 2002 – 2010
  • Winner: 2009 Emmy Award – Best Director, Musical/Variety
  • Nominee: 5 Emmy Awards, 2006 DGA Award
• Celebrity Duets (FOX) 2006
• Your Mama Don’t Dance (Lifetime) 2008
• So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) 2005
• Pepsi Smash (WB) 2004
• American Juniors (FOX) 2003
• Whose Line Is It, Anyway? (ABC) 1998 – 2000
• All That (Nickelodeon) 1999
• The Amanda Show (Nickelodeon) 1999
• Penn & Teller’s Variety Series (F/X) 1998
• *The Kidsongs TV Show (PBS) – 5 seasons
  • Winner: 1988 ACT Award & 1988 Monitor Award
• Roundhouse (Nickelodeon) 1993 – 1994
• Big Break (Syndication) 1990
• *The Spectacular World of Guinness Records (Syndication) 52 episodes
• Dancin’ to the Hits (Syndication) 30 episodes
• Dick Clark Live (CBS)
• Solid Gold (Paramount)
• Rock of the 80′s(Showtime)
  • Nominee: 1984 Ace Award
• This Is Your Life (NBC) 1983
• We Interrupt This Week (PBS)
• Jukebox (Syndication)
• Headliners with David Frost (NBC)

Television Specials & Events:

• The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! (CBS) 2009, 2010
• The Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (ABC) 2005, 2007
• People’s Choice Awards (CBS) 2005-2009
• Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (ABC) 2007, 2008
• Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis 2007
• The Billboard Awards (Fox) 1995 – 2006
• Kid’s Choice Awards (Nickelodeon & MTV Networks) 1994, 1995, 2005 – 2007
• Teen Choice Awards (Fox) 2004-2009
• The World Music Awards (ABC) 2004, 2005
• Miss America (CMT) 2006, 2008
• I Walk the Line: A Night for Johnny Cash (CBS) 2005
• All-Star Salute to Patti LaBelle: Live From Atlantis (UPN) 2005
• Live 8 Philadelphia (MTV/VH1, ABC) 2005
• Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (CBS) 2004 –
  • Winner: 2004 DGA Award: Best Musical Variety Director.
  • Nominee: Emmy Award, Best Director
• Prince Musicology (PPV) 2004
• Tributo A Nuestros Heroes (Telemundo Network) 2004
• Spike Video Game Awards (Spike TV) 2004
• Justin Timberlake: Down Home in Memphis (NBC) 2003
• Harry Connick Jr.: Harry for the Holidays (NBC) 2003
• The American Music Awards (ABC) 2001 – 2003,
• Academy of Country Music Awards (CBS) 2001, 2002
• MTV Movie Awards 1992 – 2002
• Ulitmate Manilow (CBS) 2002
• Muhammad Ali 60^th Birthday Celebration (CBS) 2002
• Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS) 2002
• The 72^nd Annual Academy Awards Pre-Show (ABC) 2000, 2002
• Michael Jackson: 30^th Anniversary Celebration, The Solo Years (CBS) 2001
• All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (TNT) 2001
• NSYNC – Atlantis Concert 2001
• The MTV Video Music Awards(MTV & Syndication) 2000, 1994-1995, 1988-1992
  • Winner: 1990 Monitor Award for Best Director
  • Nominee: multiple Ace & Monitor Award
• Women Rock: Girls with Guitars (Lifetime) 2000, 2001
• Experience Music Project (VH1) 2000 (2 nights)
• Arista’s 25^th Anniversary (NBC) 2000
• Sarah Brightman: La Luna Concert (PBS) 2000
• Britney Spears in Hawaii (FOX) 2000
• Britney Spears: There’s No Place Like Home (FOX) 2000
• A Home for the Holidays (CBS) 2000, 2001
• My VH1 Awards (VH1) 2000
• The Blockbuster Awards (UPN) 1996-2001
• Radio City Grand Re-Opening (FOX) 1999
• Ricky Martin: One Night Only (CBS) 1999
• American Express Concert in Central Park (UPN) 1999
• MTV’s Fashionably Loud (MTV) 1995-1998
• VH1 Fashion Awards (VH1) 1996 – 1998
• The AFI Salutes… (ABC) 1999, 2000
• The American Comedy Awards (ABC) 1995, 1998 – 2000
• Fleetwood Mac: The Dance(MTV) 1997
  • Nominee: DGA & EMMY Awards, Best Director
• Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon (Pay Per View) 1997
• 1998 Skate, Rattle and Roll Championships (Fox) 1998
• 3 Cats From Miami (HBO) 1998
• Explosion! (ABC) 1997
• *The Essence Awards(CBS & Fox) 1992-1997
  • Winner: 1995 NAACP Image Award for Best Special
• The Espy Awards (ESPN, ABC) 1997, 1996 & 1995
• L’Oreal Summer Music Mania (UPN) 1999
• Rodney Dangerfield’s 75th Birthday Toast (HBO) 1997
• VH1 Honors (VH1) 1995, 1994
• MTV European Music Awards (MTV) 1996, 1995, 1994
• Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard (HBO) 1995
• City Kids All-star Celebration (ABC) 1995
• Woodstock (Pay Per View) 1994
• *TV’s All Time Classic Comedy (Fox) 1994
• An American Reunion: The Lincoln Memorial Inaugural Concert (HBO) 1993
• MTV’S Inaugural Gala Ball (MTV) 1993
• Up-close: Paul McCartney (MTV & ABC) 1993
• Dame Edna’s Hollywood I, II & III (NBC) (Three 1 Hour Specials) 1992, 1991
• Rod Stewart Valentine Vagabond (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1992
• Paul Rodriguez Special (Fox) 1992
• Dwight Yokum (Live Pay Per View Concert) 1991
• MTV Unplugged With Paul McCartney(MTV) 1991–
  • Ace Award Nominee
• The 14th Annual Young Comedians Show (HBO) 1991 with Richard Lewis
• All Star Pro Sports Awards (ABC) 1990
• Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops and Stuff(HBO) 1990 –
  • Ace Award Nominee
• Richard Lewis “I’m Doomed”(HBO) 1990 –
  • Ace Award Nominee
• Arista’s 15th Anniversary “That’s What Friends Are For” (CBS) 1990
• Harry Anderson’s Sideshow (NBC)
• This Is Your Life, 30th Anniversary Special (NBC)
• American Video Awards — 1985 & 1986
• Richard Lewis: “I’m Exhausted” (HBO)
• George Carlin’s “What Am I Doing in New Jersey?” (HBO)
• The 11th Annual Young Comedian’s Special (HBO)
• Soul Session: James Brown & Friends(Cinemax) –
  • Winner: 1987 Ace Award for Best Director
• Robin Williams, an Evening at The Met(HBO) –
  • Nominee: Best Director: 1988 Monitor Award
  • Nominee: Best Director: 1987 Ace Award
• World of Entertainment (Syndication)
• Mother’s Day Special (NBC)
• The II, III, IV & V International Guinness Book of World Records(ABC)
  • Nominee: EMMY Award
• David Frost with The Shah of Iran (ABC)
• Huey Lewis And The News(Showtime) –
  • Winner: Grammy Award winner for Best Director Musical Program
• Greater Tuna(HBO) –
  • Winner: Monitor Award Winner for Best Cable Program
  • Nominee Ace Award Nominee for Best Director
• Billy Crystal “A Comic’s Line”(HBO)
• Harry Anderson “Hello Sucker” (Showtime)
• Jerry Seinfeld Special (HBO)
• Men at Work “Live in San Francisco”(HBO) –
  • Winner: Monitor Award
• Harry Belafonte (HBO)
• Richard Belzer
• Caught in the Act (Cinemax)
• Eddie Murphy “Delirious” (HBO)
• The Doobie Brothers Farewell Concert (Showtime)
• American Video Awards (ABC)
• Rod Stewart “Tonight I’m Yours” (Syndication)
• Legends of Rock ‘N Roll (Cinemax)

Television Pilots:

• George Lopez: Lopez Tonight (Warner TV) 2009
• Glam Me Up (CW Network) 2008
• Roundhouse (Nickelodeon) 1992
• *America’s Funniest People (ABC) 1990
• *The Kidsongs TV Show(Syndication) –
  • Winner: 1988 ACT Award Winner
  • Nominee:1988 Monitor Award Nominee
• *Dancin’ to The Hits (Syndication)
• *Footlight Follies
• *Double Takes

Home Video:

• *Kidsongs(Together Again Productions) 24 half-hour episodes
  • Winner: 3 Parents Choice Awards
  • Winner: 5 National Parenting Publications Association Awards
  • Winner: The 1987 ViRA Award for Best Live-Action Children’s Video
  • Nominee: 1988 ViRA Award for Best Live-Action Children’s Video
  • Certified 12 times Gold RIAA

Music Videos:

Over 350 for artists that include:

• The Bee Gees
• Michael Jackson
• Rush
• Pat Benatar
• Chaka Khan
• Pat Simmons
• George Benson
• Kansas
• Ringo Starr
• Blondie
• The Kinks
• Rod Stewart
• Alice Cooper
• Van Morrison
• Styxx
• John Cougar
• Peaches & Herb
• Supertramp
• Doobie Brothers
• Prince
• Thin Lizzy
• ELO
• Queen
• The Tubes
• Genesis
• The Rolling Stones
• Ron Wood

Live Concert Specials:

Many, including the following artists:

• Justin Timberlake
• Harry Connick Jr.
• Michael Jackson
• Ricky Martin
• Culture Club
• Rod Stewart
• The Rolling Stones
• Neil Diamond
• Ted Nugent
• Van Halen
• Journey
• Queen
• Barry Manilow
• Paul McCartney
• Cheryl Crow

Documentaries:

• Hello Dali–
  • Winner: EMMY Award
• Finnan Games–
  • Winner: Golden Harp Award

Awards:

3 EMMYs: American Idol(2009) Hello Dali (1973), a Grammy: Huey Lewis and the News, a DGA Award: Genuis: A Night for Ray Charles (2004), multiple Ace and Monitor Awards, ViRA Award, an NAACP Image Award, Golden Harp Award, 3 Parents Choice Awards and 5 National Parenting Publications Association Awards. Bruce has been honored with nominations for ten other Ace Awards, 3 DGA Awards, 3 Monitor Awards, 8 EMMYs, a B.A.F.T.A. and 5 NAACP Image Awards.

Bruce’s biography on Filmreference