Lathan, Stan (1945–)

LATHAN, STAN (1945–). Director, producer. He is a notable director of television and film with an impressive list of credits who began his career working on Sesame Street in 1969. He quickly became a sought-after director working on such series as Say Brother, Sanford and Son , and Barney Miller . His early film productions include Save the Children , 1973, and Amazing Grace , 1974. He worked mostly in television throughout the 1980s and 1990s with credits on shows like Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, A Man Called Hawk, Roc, Martin, Moesha , and The Steve Harvey Show . He teamed with rap music mogul Russell Simmons to produce Def Poetry Jam and various other television movies and specials. He is the father of actress Sanaa Lathan.

Filmography: Statues Hardly Ever Smile , 1971; Save the Children , 1973; Amazing Grace , 1974; Almos’ A Man , 1976; The Cotton Club , 1982; A House Divided: Denmark Vessey’s Rebellion , 1982; Beat Street , 1984; Go Tell It On the Mountain , 1985; The Child Saver , 1988; Heart and Soul , 1989; It’s Black Entertainment , 2002.