Linda Gail Day

Day, Linda Gail
August 12, 1938 - October 23, 2009
Linda Day, one of the most loved and respected television directors of more than 350 television series episodes has died on October 23rd. She was 71 years old.
The LA born director succumbed to Leukemia and breast cancer in Georgetown Texas where she had resided with her husband for the past 5 years in retirement.
Among her voluminous credits and successes were audience favorites such as "Married with Children," "Archie Bunker's place," and the last years of the series "Kate and Allie."
Ms. Day was the first female director to have steady work directing sitcoms.
She was nominated for an Emmy for "Archie Bunker's Place", she received a Humanitas Prize, and she was honored by the DGA for being a trailblazer for women in television.
Day made her directorial debut with the hit series "WKRP in Cincinnati."
Prior to attaining her creative status she had worked her way up starting as an assistant to long time TV personality Ralph Story on the "Story in Hollywood" show. She then freelanced as a script supervisor, associate director, and finally her ultimate goal of director via "WKRP".
In 20 years of directing, she acquired no enemies; only friends. Ms Day was loved and revered by the stage crews, writers, producers, actors, and directorial peers of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Gracious and loving by nature, she always made the set happier; the stories more warm and human.
Born to the business, her father Roy Brickner had led the film trailer division at Warner Bros and MGM, and her uncle was Gordon Douglas, long-time director of dozens of films including many of Frank Sinatra's.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Lorraine Day in 2002.
Her memory will be carried on by her husband Steve Varnum of Georgetown TX, a daughter Heidi Gutman of New York, a sister Nancy Riley of Oceanside, CA, and countless friends who will all miss her.
A memorial service in LA is pending.