- - Bruce Bilson, Emmy-Winning TV Director and Rachel Bilson's Grandfather, Dies at 97

Julia MooreJanuary 22, 2026 at 11:35 PM

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Bruce Bilson (left); Rachel Bilson -

Emmy-winning TV director Bruce Bilson has died

Bruce was 97 when he died peacefully at his L.A. home on Friday, Jan. 16, per The Hollywood Reporter

Grandfather to Rachel Bilson, Bruce was a prolific director who worked on hit shows including The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart and Hogan's Heroes

Bruce Bilson has died.

The Emmy-winning director died on Friday, Jan. 16, at his home in L.A., according to his daughter, Julie Bilson Ahlberg, who told The Hollywood Reporter.

Bruce died "peacefully," she told the outlet. He was 97.

The grandfather of Rachel Bilson, Bruce was an award-winning director best known for directing episodes of hit series, including The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart and Hogan's Heroes

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Bruce Bilson (left) and Rachel Bilson in 2004

Rachel, 44, shared a screenshot of THR's obit for her grandfather on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Jan. 21. "This is really nice," she wrote of the obit, adding "🙏🏻🤍."

Rachel's father, screenwriter Danny Bilson, was Bruce's son, who he shared with his ex-wife Mona Weichman, along with daughter Julie. Danny shares Rachel with his ex-wife, Janice Stango.

Bruce's first directing credit came in 1956 for the TV series, Science Fiction Theatre, where he was second assistant director. He then served as assistant director for over 50 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 to 1962, and followed that up with Route 66.

By 1965, he was earning director credits for TV shows, like The Patty Duke Show.

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Karen Valentine (left) and Bruce Bilson in 1974

In 1968, Bruce won an Emmy for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy for an episode of Get Smart, which starred Don Adams, David Ketchum and Barbara Feldon. He was also nominated for a Directors Guild Award in 1972 for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Comedy Series for The Odd Couple.

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Bruce's resume also includes directing credits on episodes of many major TV shows from the '70s and '80s, including The Doris Day Show, M*A*S*H, The Brady Bunch, The Fall Guy, Hawaii Five-O and Dynasty.

The '90s series Viper marked Bruce's final directing job, and he directed 10 episodes of the NBC series from 1994 to 1999.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Renne Jarrett, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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