John C. Zak

John Carl Zak was born in Washington D.C. but lived in and traveled to many places during his childhood, as his father worked for TWA. Those early experiences of travel to Africa, Europe, Asia, South America put a mark on him. After graduating from Canyon High School in Canyon Country California, Zak studied film and television at UCLA, graduating Magna cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduation, Zak began work as a lighting director with ABC Television in Hollywood, earning an Emmy Award and six Emmy nominations for work on series including General Hospital (1963) and Benson (1979). Zak left ABC after nine years to pursue freelance opportunities. He worked for Universal Studios as Director of Photography on situation comedies including Silver Spoons (1982) and Diff'rent Strokes (1978) as well as designing looks for several Universal pilots. Zak then continued in the directing area, directing for various soap operas in the 1980s before joining The Bold and the Beautiful (1987) as p