Gary Halvorson is a graduate of Julliard's Music Academy. His directorial roots are in made-for-television event and variety shows. He made his debut with "Leonard Bernstein's Great Performances" and continued on to direct, among others, "Solid Gold," "Adventures in Wonderland," and the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," for which he has won four Emmys®.

Gary made the decision several years ago to transition into television sitcoms. In a very short time, Gary has arrived as an A-list pilot and sitcom director. He is currently the primary show director on "Two and a Half Men," and has been the primary show director on both "Friends" and "Everybody Loves Raymond." Casts and producers adore him for his talent at finding the visual side of a joke and for his ability to direct an episode in a short period of time.

While enjoying huge success in the sitcom world, Gary has also kept his hand in musical and variety television, continually building his extensive list of credits. In addition to the Thanksgiving Parade, which he does every year, he also directed "Paul Simon: Live in Paris," the first annual "Latino Laugh Festival," and several operas for the Metropolitan Opera in San Francisco, which airs on PBS.