David Kendall is writer/producer/director who has worked in both television and
film for decades. His credits include series for the broadcast networks, cable outlets,
and streaming services. He has created shows, run shows, and directed pilots. He’s
been a member of the Writers Guild of America since 1985 and a member of the
Directors Guild of America since 1990.
He has produced and written for iconic situation comedies like ABC’s Growing Pains
and Boy Meets World and has directed classic kids’ programs like Nickelodeon’s
iCarly and Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. For five years, he Executive Produced
a series he co-created for ABC Family/Freeform entitled Melissa & Joey, a romantic
comedy which concluded its run in 2015 after 104 episodes. He wrote and directed
episodes of the series as well.
In 2020 he Executive Produced The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, a half hour
coming-of-age comedy for Netflix, directing their memorable musical Christmas
episode. More recent directing credits include Erin & Aaron for Nickelodeon, Sydney
to the Max for the Disney Channel, and Katharine McPhee’s Netflix series Country
On the feature side, David directed Steppin’ Into the Holiday, a musical Christmas
movie starring Mario Lopez, which premiered in November of 2022 on the Lifetime
Network. Previously, he directed the teen comedy Dirty Deeds, starring Milo
Ventimiglia, Zoë Saldana, and Charles Durning. In that same genre, David wrote The
New Guy, a Sony Pictures release which opened in 2600 theaters. He has co-written
and/or produced several movies for television, including The Growing Pains Reunion
Movie - a reunion for David as well, since that show was his very first television
In terms of actors, David has worked with Oscar Winners, Emmy Winners, Tony
Winners, Grammy Winners, Professional Wrestlers, Adult Film Actors, Olympic Gold
Medalists, and NFL Hall of Famers. With many family shows to his credit, he’s
directed scores of talented young actors, from A (Ariana Grande) to Z (Zendaya). He
has credits on over 40 different series. All told, that’s over 600 episodes of television
- 200 plus of them as director.
He has been a guest speaker for classes and workshops at USC and the American
Film Institute. Since 2023, David has been a Visiting Instructor at Wesleyan
University (his alma mater) where he teaches a directing workshop. He continues
his freelance directing career while also developing scripts for television and film. A
Philadelphia native, David resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their three
Television Series Credits (Partial List):
Growing Pains - 1985-1991- writer, producer
Just the Ten of Us - 1988-1990 - writer, director
Boy Meets World - 1994-1999 - writer, producer, director
Clueless - 1999 - director
Even Stevens - 2003 - director
That’s So Raven - 2003 - director
Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide - 2004-2007 - director
Hannah Montana - 2006 - director
iCarly - 2007-2012 - director
Zoey 101 - 2007-2008 - director
Melissa & Joey - 2009-2015 - co-creator, writer, producer, director
Victorious - 2010-2013 - director
Big Time Rush - 2010-2012 - director
The Thundermans - 2013-2015 - director
Kirby Buckets - 2014-2016 - director
Bizaardvark - 2016-2019 - director
Henry Danger - 2016-2019- director
K.C. Undercover - 2016 - director
Stuck in the Middle - 2016-2018 - director
Andi Mack - 2018 - director
Coop and Cami Ask the World - 2018-2019 - pilot director plus episodes
Sydney to the Max - 2019-2021 - pilot director plus episodes
The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia - 2020- writer, producer, director
Side Hustle - 2021-2022 - director
Erin & Aaron - 2023 - director
Film Credits (Partial List):
Steppin’ Into the Holiday (Lifetime Television) 2022 - director
Teen Spirit (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2011- co-writer/producer
Revenge of the Bridesmaids (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2010 - co-writer/producer
Nature of the Beast (ABC Family/ Freeform) 2007- co-writer/producer
Dirty Deeds (Green Diamond Productions) 2005 - director
The New Guy (Sony Pictures) 2002 - writer
The Growing Pains Reunion Movie (ABC Television) 2000 - co-writer/producer
Actors Worked With (Partial List):
Austin Butler
Kirk Cameron
Mario Cantone
Gary Cole
Tim Conway
Tim Curry
Miley Cyrus
William Daniels
Phyllis Diller
Charles Durning
Robert Goulet
Ariana Grande
Valerie Harper
Melissa Joan Hart
Robert Hays
James Hong
The Jonas Brothers
Victoria Justice
Joanna Kerns
Shia LaBeouf
Joey Lawrence
Shelley Long
Mario Lopez
Katharine McPhee
Kel Mitchell
Jenna Ortega
Cheri Oteri
Matthew Perry
Brad Pitt
Jane Powell
Faith Prince
Doris Roberts
Olivia Rodrigo
Sherri Shepherd
Alan Thicke
Milo Ventimiglia
Maitland Ward
Tom Wilson
Marissa Jaret Winokur
Zendaya
Education:
Wesleyan University, BA, graduated Cum Laude, double major: Film (High Honors)
and Government, 1979
Techniques for the Director - Jack Garfein, Jack Garfein Studio, New York City, 1983