John Patterson

Who was John Patterson?

John Tiffin Patterson was a television and film director. He is notable as the director of thirteen episodes of The Sopranos, including the first five season finales. Patterson was born in Cooperstown, New York.

John Patterson joined the United States Air Force after a few semesters at Williams College and flew for the Strategic Air Command. He resumed his college studies while a reservist and graduated from the University at Buffalo. He then earned a master's degree at Stanford University in 1970, where he was a classmate of Sopranos showrunner David Chase.

He was nominated for the Emmy award in 2002 and 2003 for his work on The Sopranos and won The Directors Guild of America award for the show in 2002. As a director, Patterson directed for a number of television studios, including HBO and CBS. He directed episodes of The Sopranos, Providence, The Practice, Carnivàle, Family Law, Six Feet Under, CSI, CHiPs, Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, The Guardian, and the pilot episode of Law & Order. He also directed television movies, including A Deadly Silence and Seduced By Madness.

He was married to Casey Kelley, but they later divorced; they had two children.