The Directors Guild of America mourns the loss of veteran Stage Manager Robert N. Van Ry, who passed away July 2, 2024.
A DGA member since 1964, Van Ry served three terms on the National Board as a member or an alternate from 1977-1987. He was also elected five times to serve on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council between 1975 and 1988, and he also served on the BA/FLTTA Negotiating Committee in 1984. In recognition of his service to the industry and the Guild, Van Ry was named the recipient of the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award in 2001.
Throughout his career, Van Ry demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication in his role as a Stage Manager, contributing to the smooth operation of numerous productions across various genres. His long-standing commitment to the DGA and his extensive work in television will be missed.
Van Ry’s Stage Manager credits stretch from early variety programs like Hullabaloo and The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show; to daytime dramas including The Doctors and Another World; quiz shows such as What’s My Line? and To Tell the Truth; talk shows including Donahue and Late Night with David Letterman; and nearly 300 episodes of Saturday Night Live.
