Will Mackenzie

Will Mackenzie is an American actor and television director born on July 24, 1938, in Providence, Rhode Island. His professional career spans both stage and screen, beginning with a sustained presence on Broadway between 1964 and 1972.

Mackenzie's Broadway career opened with the original production of the musical Half a Sixpence in 1965. He subsequently took on the role of Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly!, stepping into a part originally created by Charles Nelson Reilly during the production's run. Additional Broadway credits include the play Scratch, written by Archibald MacLeish, Sheep on the Runway by Art Buchwald, a revival of Much Ado About Nothing, and Promises, Promises. Off Broadway, Mackenzie appeared in As You Like It and directed a revival of I Do! I Do! featuring David Garrison and Karen Ziemba.

His television acting work included guest appearances on Route 66, ABC Stage 67, That Girl, The Mod Squad, Rhoda, Maude, Baretta, and All in the Family, along with a recurring role on The Bob Newhart Show. His single feature film acting credit was in The Landlord.

Mackenzie transitioned into directing with The Bob Newhart Show and built an extensive career behind the camera. He directed multiple episodes of numerous series, among them WKRP in Cincinnati, Bosom Buddies, Too Close for Comfort, The Stockard Channing Show, Gimme a Break!, Newhart, Family Ties, Moonlighting, Day by Day, Major Dad, Phenom, The Boys Are Back, Dharma & Greg, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs, and Reba. In 1989 he directed the theatrical feature Worth Winning.

Mackenzie received six Emmy Award nominations for directing, five in the Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series category and one for Outstanding Direction of a Drama Series. He won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Direction of a Drama Series twice for his work on Moonlighting, and earned the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series for the Family Ties episode "A, My Name Is Alex."