Marty Kalner, Renowned Director of Iconic Music Videos, Passes Away

Marty Kalner: A Legacy in Music and Comedy

Marty Kalner, a beloved music video director and television comedian, has passed away.

Kalner died at the age of 78 from natural causes, his son Jazz confirmed, according to Hollywood Reporter. Kalner was a 12-time Emmy nominee, renowned for his iconic music videos and for creating the HBO series Hard Knocks.

Notable Works in Music Videos

Among the early music videos he directed were “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher, and “We Belong” by Pat Benatar. Other well-known clips he directed include Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” Stevie Nicks’ “Back to the Garden,” and Britney Spears’ “Lucky,” among many others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9abEalnvkk

Comedy Specials and Television Achievements

Marty Kalner collaborated with a range of artists including Heart, Bon Jovi, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Scorpions, Kiss, ZZ Top, and more. He also directed musical specials and concert films featuring Whitney Houston, The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, and many others.

He became well-known for leading comedy specials for television, including various episodes of HBO’s In Pieces featuring talents such as Steve Martin, George Carlin, Chevy Chase, and Norm Crosby. He later moved on to HBO films like Young Comedians, which showcased Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel, and others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N3A_-HRFFC

Following the success of these episodes, Kalner began receiving offers to direct full-scale television specials for stars like Seinfeld, Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Dane Cook, and many more.

In 2001, Kalner created HBO’s Hard Knocks, which is regarded as the “first sports reality series” and remains a cornerstone of HBO’s programming to this day.