David McFadzean
Encyclopedia
David McFadzean is an American
television producer
, writer, film producer
and playwright
. He is best known for co-creating the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement along with Carmen Finestra
and Matt Williams
.
, later earning a Master's degree in theater at Illinois State University
. He later moved to California
where he was once the benefactor of the Christian-based Lamb's Players Theater Company in San Diego. While attending the University of Evansville
in Indiana
, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in theater, it was there he met Matt Williams
. McFadzean would be the first person that Williams hired for the writing staff of the first season of the sitcom Roseanne
. McFadzean and Williams together with Carmen Finestra
formed the production company Wind Dancer Productions in 1989. They went on to create and produce Carol & Company
, Thunder Alley
, Buddies
, Soul Man
and their most successful creation, the sitcom Home Improvement starring Tim Allen
.
McFadzean's film credits include Where the Heart Is
and What Women Want
. He continues to executive produce short films to this day.
with his wife Elizabeth and two children, Meredith and Cort. He is of Christian
faith.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, writer, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
. He is best known for co-creating the 1990s sitcom Home Improvement along with Carmen Finestra
Carmen Finestra
Carmen Finestra is an American producer and TV writer who currently is partnered with Matt Williams and David McFadzean in Wind Dancer Productions, a firm which Finestra also co-owns...
and Matt Williams
Matt Williams (producer)
Matt Williams is a television writer, creator and producer. He was the producer of the TV series Roseanne and Home Improvement and films such as What Women Want, and has written for The Cosby Show and A Different World as well as writing the screenplay for Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken...
.
Career
McFadzean began his career as a playwright in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, later earning a Master's degree in theater at Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
. He later moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he was once the benefactor of the Christian-based Lamb's Players Theater Company in San Diego. While attending the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in theater, it was there he met Matt Williams
Matt Williams (producer)
Matt Williams is a television writer, creator and producer. He was the producer of the TV series Roseanne and Home Improvement and films such as What Women Want, and has written for The Cosby Show and A Different World as well as writing the screenplay for Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken...
. McFadzean would be the first person that Williams hired for the writing staff of the first season of the sitcom Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
. McFadzean and Williams together with Carmen Finestra
Carmen Finestra
Carmen Finestra is an American producer and TV writer who currently is partnered with Matt Williams and David McFadzean in Wind Dancer Productions, a firm which Finestra also co-owns...
formed the production company Wind Dancer Productions in 1989. They went on to create and produce Carol & Company
Carol & Company
Carol & Company is a comedy program airing on NBC-TV in the United States during 1990 and 1991.Carol & Company applied an unusual repertory approach to television comedy. Every week, Carol Burnett and her fellow players performed a different half-hour comedy playlet...
, Thunder Alley
Thunder Alley
Thunder Alley is an American sitcom which aired from March 9, 1994 to July 4, 1995 on ABC.-Premise:The show stars Edward Asner as retired race-car driver Gil Jones. The unaired original pilot episode featured Felicity Huffman in the role of Bobbi Turner, Gil's daughter. When ABC picked up the...
, Buddies
Buddies (TV series)
Buddies is the name of a short-lived sitcom starring Dave Chappelle that aired on ABC in 1996.-Home Improvement connection:Comedians Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer attracted the attention of TV network executives with their guest appearance in the March 14, 1995 episode of ABC's highly rated sitcom...
, Soul Man
Soul Man (TV series)
Soul Man is an American sitcom that aired on ABC in 1997 that lasted two seasons and starred Dan Aykroyd.The series premiered on April 15, 1997, and was picked up for a second season of 22 episodes after only three episodes aired for the first season...
and their most successful creation, the sitcom Home Improvement starring Tim Allen
Tim Allen
Tim Allen is an American comedian, actor, voice-over artist, and entertainer, known for his role in the sitcom Home Improvement...
.
McFadzean's film credits include Where the Heart Is
Where the Heart Is (2000 film)
Where the Heart Is is a 2000 drama/romance film directed by Matt Williams and produced by Susan Cartsonis, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher and Matt Williams. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and Waco, Texas at Baylor University. The movie stars Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd...
and What Women Want
What Women Want
What Women Want is a 2000 American romantic comedy film, directed by Nancy Meyers and starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. The movie was a box office success with a domestic gross of $182,811,707 and a worldwide gross of $374,111,707, against a budget of $70 million.-Plot:Nick Marshall, a Chicago...
. He continues to executive produce short films to this day.
Personal life
McFadzean currently lives outside Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his wife Elizabeth and two children, Meredith and Cort. He is of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith.