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Joyce Chopra

Known For
Directing
Born
October 27, 1936 in New York City, New York, USA
Active Years
1962–2022 (61 Years)
Total Credits
54 credits in database
Directing Born Oct 27, 1936 New York City, New York, USA 54 credits
54
Total Credits
1962–2022
61 Years Career Span
12
Vault Titles
0
Key Co-Stars

Biography

Joyce Chopra is an American director, writer, and producer of feature films, television, and documentaries. Born on October 27, 1936, in New York City, she is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chopra transitioned into fiction filmmaking during the mid-1980s. Her first narrative feature film, Smooth Talk, was released in 1985 and won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival as well as the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. The film was an adaptation of a short story by Joyce Carol Oates and was written by Chopra’s husband, the stage and screenwriter Tom Cole. Chopra remained married to Cole until his death on February 23, 2009. Her directing credits include The Lemon Sisters and Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front.

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Career

Career overview

Joyce Chopra is an American director, writer, and producer of feature films, television, and documentaries. Born on October 27, 1936, in New York City, she is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chopra transitioned into fiction filmmaking during the mid-1980s after beginning a professional collaboration with her husband, the stage and screenwriter Tom Cole. One of their early projects together was the 1982 PBS American Playhouse production Medal of Honor Rag.

Chopra gained recognition for her first narrative feature-length film, Smooth Talk, released in 1985. The film, which was adapted by Tom Cole from the 1966 Joyce Carol Oates short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, received the Grand Jury Prize at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director. Throughout her career, Chopra has directed and produced various projects, including the 1989 film The Lemon Sisters and the 2006 production Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front. She remained married to Tom Cole until his death on February 23, 2009. Her body of work spans over forty known credits in the film and television industry.

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Career timeline

This Is a Film About My Mother
Gramercy Stories · Director
Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front · Director
Hollywood Wives: The New Generation · DirectorThe Last Cowboy · Director
Everwood · Director
Law & Order: Criminal Intent · DirectorCrossing Jordan · DirectorBlonde · DirectorBlonde · Creator
Rip Girls · Director
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · DirectorMurder in a Small Town · DirectorThe Lady in Question · DirectorReplacing Dad · Director
L.A. Johns · DirectorConvictions · Director
My Very Best Friend · Director
Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan · Director
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face · Director
Angel Falls · DirectorThe Disappearance of Nora · Director
The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story · DirectorBaby Snatcher · Director
Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story · Director
The Lemon Sisters · Director
Calling the Shots
Smooth Talk · Director
American Playhouse · Director
Music Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom · EditorMusic Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom · DirectorMusic Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom · Producer
Martha Clarke Light & Dark: A Dancer’s Journal · Director
That Our Children Would Not Die · DirectorThat Our Children Would Not Die · WriterThat Our Children Would Not Die · EditorThat Our Children Would Not Die · ProducerSally Garcia and Family · Director
Girls at 12 · DirectorGirls at 12 · EditorGirls at 12 · ProducerClorae and Albie · ProducerClorae and Albie · Editor
Matina Horner: Portrait of a Person · Director
Joyce at 34Joyce at 34 · DirectorJoyce at 34 · Writer
Marathon · Director
Dead Birds · Sound EditorA Happy Mother's Day · DirectorThe Chair · Editor
Blackie · EditorNehru · Editor

Full Filmography

54 titles
  • This Is a Film About My Mother (2022) as Anne
  • Gramercy Stories (2008) Director
  • Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front (2006) Director
  • Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (2003) Director
  • The Last Cowboy (2003) Director
  • Everwood (2002) Director
  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) Director
  • Crossing Jordan (2001) Director
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  • Blonde (2001) Director
  • Blonde (2001) Creator
  • Rip Girls (2000) Director
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) Director
  • Murder in a Small Town (1999) Director
  • The Lady in Question (1999) Director
  • Replacing Dad (1999) Director
  • L.A. Johns (1997) Director
  • Convictions (1997) Director
  • My Very Best Friend (1996) Director
  • Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan (1995) Director
  • The Corpse Had a Familiar Face (1994) Director
  • Angel Falls (1993) Director
  • The Disappearance of Nora (1993) Director
  • The Danger of Love: The Carolyn Warmus Story (1992) Director
  • Baby Snatcher (1992) Director
  • Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story (1991) Director
  • The Lemon Sisters (1989) Director
  • Calling the Shots (1988) as Self
  • Smooth Talk (1985) Director
  • American Playhouse (1982) Director
  • Music Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom (1981) Editor
  • Music Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom (1981) Director
  • Music Lessons: The Kodaly Method in the American Classroom (1981) Producer
  • Martha Clarke Light & Dark: A Dancer’s Journal (1980) Director
  • That Our Children Would Not Die (1978) Director
  • That Our Children Would Not Die (1978) Writer
  • That Our Children Would Not Die (1978) Editor
  • That Our Children Would Not Die (1978) Producer
  • Sally Garcia and Family (1978) Director
  • Girls at 12 (1975) Director
  • Girls at 12 (1975) Editor
  • Girls at 12 (1975) Producer
  • Clorae and Albie (1975) Producer
  • Clorae and Albie (1975) Editor
  • Clorae and Albie (1975) Director
  • Matina Horner: Portrait of a Person (1973) Director
  • Joyce at 34 (1972) as Self
  • Joyce at 34 (1972) Director
  • Joyce at 34 (1972) Writer
  • Marathon (1965) Director
  • Dead Birds (1963) Sound Editor
  • A Happy Mother's Day (1963) Director
  • The Chair (1963) Editor
  • Blackie (1962) Editor
  • Nehru (1962) Editor

Frequently Asked Questions

What movies or TV shows is Joyce Chopra best known for?

Joyce Chopra is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front (2006), Hollywood Wives: The New Generation (2003), Everwood (2002), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001).

When and where was Joyce Chopra born?

Joyce Chopra was born on October 27, 1936 in New York City, New York, USA.

How many credits does Joyce Chopra have?

Joyce Chopra has accumulated over 54 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1962 to 2022.

What is Joyce Chopra's background in cinema and television?

Joyce Chopra is an American director, writer, and producer of feature films, television, and documentaries. Born on October 27, 1936, in New York City, she is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Chopra transitioned into fiction filmmaking during the mid-1980s. Her first narrative feature film, ...

Joyce Chopra by the numbers

54credits
46films
8TV series
1962–2022active years

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