Kim Manners was a renowned television producer, director and actor who worked on some of the most popular and influential shows of the 1990s and 2000s, such as The X-Files and Supernatural. He was known for his creative vision, his passion for storytelling and his mentorship of young talent. He was also a beloved friend and colleague to many in the industry. Sadly, he passed away on January 25, 2009, at the age of 58, due to complications from lung cancer. Here is a brief overview of his life, his career and his tragic death.
Early Life and Career
Kim Manners was born on January 13, 1951, in the United States. He came from a show business family, as his father, Sam Manners, was a producer and director who worked on shows such as The Wild Wild West and Route 66. Kim Manners started acting as a child, appearing in a Chevrolet commercial when he was only three years old. He also watched and occasionally participated in his father’s work, as well as the work of William Beaudine, director of The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin. It was Beaudine who inspired Manners to become a director himself.
Manners made his directorial debut in 1978, at the age of 27, directing an episode of Charlie’s Angels. Prior to that, he had worked as a unit production manager on the show and as an assistant director on several other projects. He went on to direct episodes of other notable shows, such as 21 Jump Street, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Baywatch and The Commish. He also had two siblings who followed him into the television industry: his brother Kelly, who worked on Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dollhouse; and his sister Tana, who also became a director.
The X-Files and Supernatural
Manners’ career took a major turn in 1993, when he joined the production team of The X-Files, a sci-fi drama series created by Chris Carter that followed the investigations of FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) into paranormal phenomena. Manners signed on to produce and direct the show in its second season, after being recommended by Rob Bowman, another director who had worked on the show’s first season, and James Wong and Glen Morgan, two writers who had previously collaborated with Manners on 21 Jump Street.
Manners quickly became one of the most prolific and influential directors on The X-Files, directing a total of 52 episodes out of the show’s 202 episodes. He also served as an executive producer for most of the show’s run. He was nominated for four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series along with his fellow producers in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. He was also referenced in one of the show’s episodes, “Jose Chung’s From Outer Space”, with a foul-mouthed police detective named after him.
Manners was praised by Carter, Duchovny and Anderson for his creative input, his technical skills and his ability to bring out the best performances from the actors. He was also known for his close-ups of faces that often excluded the top of the subject’s head, creating a distinctive visual style for the show. He directed some of the most memorable and acclaimed episodes of The X-Files, such as “Home”, “Bad Blood”, “The Post-Modern Prometheus” and “The Truth”.
After The X-Files ended in 2002, Manners directed a few small projects before joining another sci-fi drama series in 2005: Supernatural. Created by Eric Kripke, Supernatural followed the adventures of two brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), who hunted demons, ghosts and other supernatural creatures across America. Manners became an executive producer and director on Supernatural, directing 17 episodes out of the show’s first four seasons. He also mentored many young directors who worked on the show.
Manners brought his experience and expertise from The X-Files to Supernatural, helping to shape its tone, its mythology and its characters. He was especially close to Padalecki and Ackles, who considered him as a father figure. He directed some of the most important episodes of Supernatural’s early seasons, such as “Pilot”, “All Hell Breaks Loose: Part Two”, “Lazarus Rising” and “Metamorphosis”.
Death and Legacy
Manners was diagnosed with lung cancer in late 2008. He continued to work on Supernatural until he was hospitalized in January 2009. He died on January 25th at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife, Kelly, and his two daughters, Lily and Zoe.
Manners’ death was mourned by his family, friends and colleagues, who expressed their shock and sadness at losing him. Kripke issued a statement saying, “Everyone at Supernatural is walking around in a daze, shocked and absolutely devastated. Kim was a brilliant director; more than that, he was a mentor and friend. He was one of the patriarchs of the family, and we miss him desperately. He gave so much to Supernatural, and everything we do on the show, now and forever, is in memory of him.”
The Supernatural season four episode “Death Takes a Holiday”, which aired on March 12, 2009, showed two photos of Manners at the end of its closing credits, along with the caption “We dedicate the entire season to Kim Manners” and a message stating, “We miss you, Kim.” The episode also featured a scene where Sam and Dean visited Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver), a character who was named after Manners’ brother. Bobby told them, “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not checking out any time soon.” This was seen as a tribute to Manners’ courage and optimism in facing his illness.
Manners was also honored by other shows that he had worked on or had connections with. The Breaking Bad episode “Breakage”, which aired on April 5, 2009, contained a dedication to him. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan had known Manners from their days working together on The X-Files. The X-Files revival series that aired in 2016 also paid homage to Manners by naming a character after him: Agent Einstein (Lauren Ambrose).
Manners’ legacy lives on through his work, his influence and his inspiration. He is widely regarded as one of the best television directors of his generation, and one of the key figures behind the success of The X-Files and Supernatural. He is remembered for his creativity, his passion, his professionalism and his kindness. He is also celebrated for his mentorship of young talent, his support of female directors and his advocacy for animal rights. He is dearly missed by his fans and his peers.
