Ralph Senensky

Ralph Senensky
Born (1923-05-01) May 1, 1923
Mason City, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television director and writer
Years active1940–1988, 2001, 2013
Known forStar Trek, The Waltons
Websitesenensky.com

Ralph Senensky (born May 1, 1923)[1] is an American retired television director and screenwriter.

Biography

Senensky was born in Mason City, Iowa and attended Mason City High School. He studied at the Pasadena Playhouse[2] and worked as a stage director and a production supervisor before directing for television. Senensky directed multiple episodes for dozens of television shows, as well as made for TV films from 1958 to 1988, including The Fugitive,[3] the original series of Star Trek, The Partridge Family and The Waltons.[4]

He retired in 1988, but has had small stints directing since including a theatre production and film short[2] He turned 100 on May 1, 2023.[5] With the death of Robert Butler on November 3, 2023, Senensky is the last surviving person to have directed an episode of Star Trek (1966).[6]

Filmography

Films

Year Film Credit Notes
1970 The Cliff Director Television Movie
1973 A Dream for Christmas Director Television Movie
Winesburg, Ohio Director Television Movie
1974 The Family Kovac Director
Death Cruise Director Television Movie
1975 The Family Nobody Wanted Director Television Movie
1976 Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck Director Television Movie
1978 Harper Valley PTA Director (Uncredited)
The New Adventures of Heidi Director Television Movie
1980 Dan August: Once Is Never Enough Director Edit of his prior TV work for movie form
Dan August: Murder, My Friend Director Edit of his prior TV work for movie form
Treachery and Greed on the Planet of the Apes Director
1981 Big Bend Country Director Television Movie
2013 The Right Regrets Director Short

Television

Year TV Series Credit Notes
1958-59 Playhouse 90 Production Supervisor, Production Coordinator 4 Episodes
1961-65 Dr. Kildare Director 5 Episodes
1962 Checkmate Director 1 Episode
1963 Channing Director 1 Episode
East Side/West Side Director 1 Episode
Naked City Director 3 Episodes
Route 66 Director 2 Episodes
The Twilight Zone Director 1 Episode
1963-64 Arrest and Trial Director 2 Episodes
Breaking Point Director 3 Episodes
The Doctors and The Nurses Director 2 Episodes
1963-65 Kraft Suspense Theatre Director 3 Episodes
1964-65 The Fugitive Director 4 Episodes
1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Director 1 Episode
The Long, Hot Summer Director 1 Episode
Slattery's People Director 1 Episode
12 O'Clock High Director 4 Episodes
1966 The Big Valley Director 1 Episode
The Wild Wild West Director 2 Episodes
1966-72 The F.B.I. Director 16 Episodes
1967 The High Chaparral Director 1 Episode
Judd, for the Defense Director 1 Episode
Mission: Impossible Director 1 Episode
1967-68 Ironside Director 2 Episodes
Star Trek Director 6 Episodes
1968 I Spy Director 1 Episode
Mannix Director 1 Episode
The Name of the Game Director 1 Episode
1969 Then Came Bronson Director 1 Episode
1969-70 The Bill Cosby Show Director 4 Episodes
The Courtship of Eddie's Father Director 6 Episodes
1969-80 Insight Director 15 Episodes
1970 The Interns Director 1 Episode
Matt Lincoln Director 1 Episode
1970-71 Nanny and the Professor Director 6 Episodes
The Partridge Family Director 7 Episodes
1971 Dan August Director 5 Episodes
Getting Together Director 3 Episodes
1972 Banyon Director 3 Episodes
Night Gallery Director 1 Episode
1972-73 The Rookies Director 2 Episodes
1973 Search Director 1 Episode
1973-75 Barnaby Jones Director 3 Episodes
1973-78 The Waltons Director 12 Episodes
1974 Planet of the Apes Director 1 Episode
1975 The Blue Knight Director 1 Episode
The Family Holvak Director 2 Episodes
Medical Story Director 1 Episode
Three for the Road Director 2 Episodes
1976 City of Angels Director 1 Episode
1977 Eight Is Enough Director 1 Episode
Family Director 1 Episode
Westside Medical Director 1 Episode
1978 James at 16 Director 1 Episode
1979 How the West Was Won Director 1 Episode
Trapper John, M.D. Director 1 Episode
1979-84 Hart to Hart Director 7 Episodes
1980 Lou Grant Director 1 Episode
Young Maverick Director 1 Episode
1981 Dynasty Director 4 Episodes
1983 Casablanca Director 2 Episodes
1984 Paper Dolls Director 3 Episodes
1985-86 The Paper Chase Director 7 Episodes

See also

References

  1. ^ Kaplan, Mike (1983). Variety International Show Business Reference, 1983. Garland Pub. p. 271. ISBN 9780824090890 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b "Ralph Serensky Directing Little Theater Production". Globe-Gazette. Mason City, IA. January 5, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved June 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Nicklay, Deb (November 19, 2001). "Early Direction Led to Life in Show Business". Globe-Gazette. Mason City, IA. p. 3. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Directing The Waltons - Ralph Senensky". www.allaboutthewaltons.com. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  5. ^ Berman, Marc (May 1, 2023). "Celebrating 100 Years: Ralph Senensky, TV Director, Reaches The Century Mark". Forbes. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Berman, Marc (May 1, 2024). "Legendary TV Director Ralph Senensky Turns 101". Forbes. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

Further reading


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