Gabrielle Beaumont

Gabrielle Beaumont
Born(1942-04-07)7 April 1942
Gerrards Cross, UK
Died8 October 2022(2022-10-08) (aged 80)
Fornalutx, Spain
OccupationDirector
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1982; div. 1993)​
  • Michael J Davis
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1994; died 2008)​
Children1

Gabrielle Beaumont (born Gabrielle Toyne; 7 April 1942 – 8 October 2022) was a British-American film and television director. She is regarded as one of the most prolific female television directors of the 80s and 90s,[1] breaking into the industry at a time when there were "fewer than 100 professional female directors in the US."[2] She was the first woman to work on numerous series, including being the first female director of a Star Trek episode.[3]

Early life

Beaumont was born Gabrielle Toyne[2] on 7 April 1942[4][5] in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire[2] to producer and stuntman Gabriel Toyne and actress Diana Beaumont. Her brother was actor and producer Christopher Toyne.[1][3] She attended Our Lady of Sion School in London. Following her graduation, she took her mother's maiden name, Beaumont, as her surname.[2]

Career

Beaumont began her career as an actress, before moving to theatre production and stage management.[2][4] In 1964, she was hired as an editor for the BBC.[2][3] She transitioned in the company to directing and production management,[3][4] before leaving the company to pursue film production. In 1971, she made her directorial debut with the horror films The Johnstown Monster and Crucible of Horror.[2][3] From 1973 to 1980, she worked for Thames Television where she directed daytime television programs.[2]

In 1980, Beaumont produced and directed the horror film The Godsend. After its American release, Beaumont was able to secure a meeting with American television producer Aaron Spelling.[3] Following the meeting, she moved to America and began a decades-long working relationship with Spelling, who hired her to direct shows such as Vega$, Hart to Hart, Glitter, and Beverly Hills, 90210. While working with Spelling on Dynasty, she recommended that he cast her friend Joan Collins as Alexis Colby.[1][3]

When Beaumont first moved to California, she was one of less than 100 professional female directors working in the film and television industry.[2] Despite this, Beaumont stated that the US provided more opportunities for woman than the UK,[4] choosing to stay in America for the remainder of her directorial career.[2] In 1986, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her direction on the set of Hill Street Blues.[5] In 1989, she became the first woman to direct an episode of Star Trek, working on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Booby Trap".[3]

She received criticism from media outlets in 1998, after she directed the TV movie Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess. The film focused on Princess Diana's relationship with Dodi Fayed prior to their death and was described by reviewers as "tacky."[2] Beaumont retired from directing in 2000.[2]

Later life

Following her retirement, Beaumont moved to Mallorca,[4] where she had owned a vacation home since 1969.[6] She took up screenwriting and adapted The King's General into a miniseries script.[1] She later opened up a restaurant in the village of Fornalutx.[4][6]

Beaumont died of cancer at her home in Fornalutx on 8 October 2022, at the age of 80.[3][2]

Personal life

Beaumont was married to actor and screenwriter Olaf Pooley from 1982[7] until their divorce in 1993.[2] The couple had a daughter, Amanda Pooley, who died in 1989.[1][4] In 1994, Beaumont married cinematographer Michael J Davis. The two remained together until Davis' death in 2008.[2]

Beaumont was the cousin of Daphne du Maurier.[3]

Filmography

Year Title Notes Ref.
1971 The Johnstown Monster Producer [3]
Crucible of Horror
1973–1976 Good Afternoon! [2]
1974 Marked Personal 8 episodes
1975 Couples 2 episodes
1977 Rooms 3 episodes
1978 Shadows Episode: "The Silver Apple"
The Tomorrow People 2 episodes [2]
1978–1980 Rainbow
1980 The Godsend [3]
Vega$ Episode: "Sudden Death"
1980–1981 Secrets of Midland Heights 2 episodes
1981 The Waltons Episode: "The Tempest" [3]
M*A*S*H Episode: "The Red/White Blues"
The Greatest American Hero 2 episodes
Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story [3]
Knots Landing 2 episodes
1981–1982 Dynasty 4 episodes
1982 The Dukes of Hazzard Episode: "Bad Day in Hazzard"
Archie Bunker's Place Episode: "The Second Time Around" [1]
Private Benjamin 6 episodes
1982–1983 Hart to Hart 5 episodes [3]
1983 Zorro and Son 2 episodes
Secrets of a Mother and Daughter TV movie
1983–1986 Hill Street Blues 7 episodes [3]
1984 AfterMASH Episode: "By the Book"
Gone Are the Dayes TV movie
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense Episode: "The Corvini Inheritance"
Cagney & Lacey Episode: "Lady Luck" [3]
1984–1985 Glitter 2 episodes
1985–1986 Remington Steele 3 episodes [1]
Hotel 4 episodes [3]
1986 The Colbys 2 episodes
1987 Miami Vice 2 episodes
Duet Episode: "Elegy"
He's My Girl [8]
Beauty and the Beast Episode: "A Children's Story" [2]
1988 A Year in the Life 2 episodes
1988 ABC Afterschool Special Episode: "Tattle: When to Tell on a Friend"
1988–1992 L.A. Law 4 episodes [2]
1989 Beverly Hills Buntz 2 episodes
Dirty Dancing Episode: "Don't Make Me Over"
Studio 5-B Episode: "The Aftermath"
Nightmare Classics Episode: "Carmilla"
The Paradise Club 2 episodes
1989–1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. 3 episodes [3]
1989–1994 Star Trek: The Next Generation 7 episodes
1990 TECX 2 episodes
Screen One Episode: "One Last Chance" [1]
1991 Palace Guard Episode: "Eye of Newt"
1992 The Fifth Corner Episode "Women at her Toilette"; Unaired
1993 Riders TV movie [3]
Law & Order Episode: "Apocrypha"
seaQuest DSV Episode: "SeaWest"
Fatal Inheritance TV movie
1994 Moment of Truth: Cradle of Conspiracy TV movie
The Other Woman TV movie [3]
1994–1998 Beverly Hills, 90210 2 episodes
1995 Vanishing Son 2 episodes
1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman 2 episodes [3]
Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus TV movie
The Pretender Episode: "The Paper Clock"
1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episode: "In Purgatory's Shadow" [3]
Pacific Palisades Episode: "Best Laid Plans"
7th Heaven 3 episodes [3]
Touched by an Angel 3 episodes [1]
1998 Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess TV movie [3]
Melrose Place Episode: "Suddenly Sperm
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Episode: "Blink of an Eye"
Baywatch 2 episodes [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tapp, Tom (16 December 2022). "Gabrielle Beaumont Dies: Trailblazing Director On 'M*A*S*H,' 'Hill Street Blues' And Countless Aaron Spelling Hits, Was 80". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Hayward, Anthony (19 December 2022). "Gabrielle Beaumont obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Barnes, Mike (14 December 2022). "Gabrielle Beaumont, Pioneering TV Director, Dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Gabrielle Beaumont obituary". The Sunday Times. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 30 July 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Gabrielle Beaumont". Television Academy. n.d. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b "From the Hollywood hills to the Majorcan hills". Majorca Daily Bulletin. 15 August 2001. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  7. ^ Farquhar, Simon (6 September 2015). "Olaf Pooley: Versatile character actor, especially adept at portraying restrained menace, who also wrote, directed and painted". The Independent. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  8. ^ Maslin, Janet (11 September 1987). "Film: 'He's My Girl,' A Comedy". New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
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