# Thomas Schlamme
**Thomas Schlamme** (full name Thomas David Schlamme; born 1950 in Houston, Texas) is an American television director and producer best known for his partnership with writer [Aaron Sorkin](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-sorkin) on *Sports Night*, *The West Wing*, and *Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip*, and for the fast-moving [Steadicam](https://www.edgepedia.org/steadicam) "walk-and-talk" camera style he developed on those series. He was elected President of the [Directors Guild of America](https://www.edgepedia.org/directors-guild-of-america) in June 2017.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1950, Houston, Texas; full name Thomas David Schlamme[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr97039497) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) |
| Signature Sorkin series | Directed and executive produced *Sports Night* (ABC, 1998–2000), *The West Wing* (NBC, 1999–2003), and *Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip*[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) |
| Major awards | Nine Emmy Awards and three DGA Awards from eight nominations[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) |
| Directing awards | Emmy and DGA Award for the *Sports Night* pilot (1999); Emmy for *The West Wing* pilot (2000) and for "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Parts 1 & 2" (2001)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) |
| DGA service | Member since 1978; National Board since 2005; elected DGA President in June 2017[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) |
| Production company | Shoe Money Productions, of which he is president[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) |
| Family | Married actress Christine Lahti on September 4, 1983; three children, Wilson, Joseph, and Emma[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) |
## Early life and education
Schlamme was born in 1950 in Houston, Texas, and his full name is Thomas David Schlamme.[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr97039497) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) The Library of Congress authority record lists his occupation as television producer and director.[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr97039497) He attended the University of Texas.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) In his Television Academy oral history he describes choosing directing over working in his father's business.[4](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme)
## Early career: music videos, comedy specials, and episodic television
**From music videos to HBO.** Schlamme began his career directing music videos and concert films for [Bette Midler](https://www.edgepedia.org/bette-midler) in the 1980s, then moved to directing comedy specials for HBO, including programs with [Whoopi Goldberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/whoopi-goldberg) and [Robert Klein](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-klein).[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) He founded Schlamme Productions in 1980, a company that produced commercials for stage plays.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) His early jobs, as he recounts in his three-and-a-half-hour Television Academy oral history, included advertising, commercials, and music videos.[4](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme)
**Episodic television.** He produced and directed [Tracey Ullman](https://www.edgepedia.org/tracey-ullman)'s *Tracey Takes On...*, for which he received an Emmy Award, and directed episodes of *Mad About You*, *Friends*, *Ally McBeal*, *The Practice*, *Chicago Hope*, and *ER*, earning an Emmy nomination for *ER*'s live episode.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) His oral history also credits him with directing *It's Garry Shandling's Show*, *The Wonder Years*, and [David E. Kelley](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-e-kelley) shows.[4](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme) The 1998 Emmy nomination was specifically for the *ER* episode "Ambush".[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) In his oral history he gives his perspective on directing the two competing medical dramas *ER* and *Chicago Hope*.[4](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme)
## The Sorkin partnership: Sports Night, The West Wing, and Studio 60
Schlamme's collaboration with Aaron Sorkin produced three series that he both directed and executive produced: *Sports Night*, *The West Wing*, and *Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip*.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) His executive producer credits run *Sports Night* (ABC, 1998–2000), *The West Wing* (NBC, 1999–2003), and *Jack & Bobby* (The WB, 2004–2005).[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) In 2021 he directed *A West Wing Special To Benefit When We All Vote* on [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max), an unscripted reunion special produced in association with Casey Patterson Entertainment and Shoe Money Productions, which brought him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special.[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/thomas-schlamme)
## Directing style: the walk-and-talk
**What the walk-and-talk is.** The "walk-and-talk" is a sequence in which characters move through corridors and rooms while delivering dialogue, often using Steadicam tracking shots, and it became the visual signature of *The West Wing*. Schlamme has explained that the famous opening shot of the pilot, following [Leo McGarry](https://www.edgepedia.org/leo-mcgarry) through the White House, was actually many shots done on two different sets that were not even connected, with the whole thing worked out and choreographed in rehearsal; he notes that Sorkin himself acknowledges it became the show's visual signature.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme)
**How it was shot.** The style depended on a multi-camera hybrid. Schlamme kept three cameras in almost every scene: while a Steadicam shot followed the characters, two other cameras could sneak in for over-the-shoulder shots when the characters stopped, for example in a doorway. That setup let him shoot roughly 40 pages in two-and-a-half or three days.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme) He describes the intent of the style as creating the energy and adrenaline of live television, using Steadicam motion, many cuts, and connected sets so the space felt like a real place.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme) The technique, he says in his oral history, has been employed on each of his Sorkin series.[4](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme)
## Later television work and producing
Schlamme directed pilots including *Parenthood*, *Mr. Sunshine*, and *Pan Am*, and around 2012 was developing a series about the men who developed the atomic bomb at the Los Alamos Laboratory, which became *Manhattan*.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme) The DGA credits him with directing and creating the look of series including *Spin City*, *The Larry Sanders Show*, *Parenthood*, *Jack & Bobby*, *Pan Am*, and *Manhattan*, alongside the Sorkin shows.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen)
**Shoe Money Productions.** He develops projects under his company Shoe Money Productions, of which he is president.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) A 2012 DGA Quarterly interview placed his Shoe Money office on the [Sony Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/sony-pictures) lot,[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme) while Encyclopedia.com lists the company's location as [Burbank, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/burbank-california); the two records do not agree on a single location.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950)
## Awards and recognition
Schlamme has won nine [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards) and three DGA Awards from eight nominations.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) His specific directing honors include the 1999 Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and a DGA Award for the pilot of *Sports Night*; the 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot of *The West Wing*; and the 2001 Emmy for "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Parts 1 & 2" of *The West Wing*.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) In 1999 he received DGA Award nominations in both the comedy and drama categories in the same year, an unprecedented occurrence, winning for *Sports Night*.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme) As part of *The West Wing* producing team he shared Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950) In 2021 he was nominated for Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special for the *West Wing* reunion special.[5](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/thomas-schlamme)
## Role in the Directors Guild of America
Schlamme became a DGA member in 1978, and starting in 2005 he has held a seat on the Guild's National Board, where his latest role was Third Vice President, having earlier held the office of Fifth Vice President.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) He was Co-Chair of the DGA's 2014 and 2017 Negotiating Committees together with [Michael Apted](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-apted), and in 2017 the Guild honored him with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) In June 2017 he was elected President of the DGA by acclamation at the Guild's National Biennial Convention in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen) As of 2012 he was also a longtime member of the Western Directors Council and the Television Creative Rights Committee, advocating for episodic directors' creative rights.[6](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme)
## Personal life
Schlamme married actress [Christine Lahti](https://www.edgepedia.org/christine-lahti) on September 4, 1983; they have three children, Wilson, Joseph, and Emma.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950)
## References
1. [Thomas Schlamme Elected DGA President: National Board and Officers Chosen, Directors Guild of America press release (June 2017)](https://www.dga.org/News/PressReleases/2017/170624-Schlamme-Elected-DGA-President-and-National-Board-and-Officers-Chosen)
2. [Schlamme, Thomas, LC Linked Data Service authority record, Library of Congress](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr97039497)
3. [Schlamme, Thomas 1950–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/schlamme-thomas-1950)
4. [Thomas Schlamme, Television Academy Interviews oral history](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/thomas-schlamme)
5. [Thomas Schlamme, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/thomas-schlamme)
6. [DGA Interview: Thomas Schlamme, DGA Quarterly, Fall 2012](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/1204-fall-2012/dga-interview-thomas-schlamme)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of the United States and Canada › Television directors › Live-action scripted television directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license