Directed credits
29
Established
Strong directing catalog.
Director
Dennis Dugan
Acting
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
1.3
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 16Directed series: 13All crew credits: 32
TMDB ID: 17494
IMDb ID: nm0240797
Known for: Acting
Born: September 5, 1946
Age: 79
Place of birth: Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1962 - 2025
Years active: 64
Average TMDB rating: 6.45
Wikidata: Q518868
Also known as
Walter Bishop
Frequent jobs
Director (29)Executive Producer (2)Story (1)
Biography
Dennis Dugan (born September 5, 1946) is an American director, comedian, and actor. He started his acting career after appearing in the 1973 made-for-TV movie” The Girl Most Likely to...” He is well known for his frequent collaborations with comedic actor Adam Sandler, directing several films including “Happy Gilmore” and “Grown Ups.” Dennis has also made a career as a television and film director, and appears in cameo parts in many of his films. Dugan has directed episodes of such television series as Moonlighting (was also a guest star in some episodes), Ally McBeal, and NYPD Blue. Dugan married actress Joyce Van Patten in 1973 and divorced her fourteen years later. Now he is married to Sharon O'Connor and has a son named Kelly Dugan.
Photos
Movies
Directed Movies
Movies directed by Dennis Dugan.
6.1
Grown Ups 2
Director
2013 Movie
4.4
Jack and Jill
Director
2011 Movie
6.7
Just Go with It
Director
2011 Movie
6.4
Grown Ups
Director
2010 Movie
5.7
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Director
2008 Movie
6.1
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Director
2007 Movie
5.8
The Benchwarmers
Director
2006 Movie
4.4
Karroll's Christmas
Director
2004 Movie
6.0
National Security
Director
2003 Movie
5.7
Saving Silverman
Director
2001 Movie
6.5
Big Daddy
Director
1999 Movie
5.7
Beverly Hills Ninja
Director
1997 Movie
6.7
Happy Gilmore
Director
1996 Movie
4.9
The Shaggy Dog
Director
1994 Movie
6.1
Brain Donors
Director
1992 Movie
6.2
Problem Child
Director
1990 Movie
Series
Directed Series
Series directed by Dennis Dugan.
5.3
Hope & Faith
Director • 2 eps
2003 Series
5.3
Shasta McNasty
Director • 5 eps
1999 Series
5.0
Love Boat: The Next Wave
Director • 1 eps
1998 Series
6.5
Ally McBeal
Director • 1 eps
1997 Series
4.0
Marker
Director • 1 eps
1995 Series
7.2
Chicago Hope
Director • 1 eps
1994 Series
4.5
The Byrds of Paradise
Director • 2 eps
1994 Series
6.7
Burke's Law
Director • 2 eps
1994 Series
6.5
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Director • 1 eps
1989 Series
6.5
Wiseguy
Director • 1 eps
1987 Series
7.5
Moonlighting
Director • 5 eps
1985 Series
7.1
Hunter
Director • 1 eps
1984 Series
8.1
Columbo
Director • 1 eps
1971 Series
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Dennis Dugan.
7.1
Father There is Only One 4
as Director Película
2024 Movie
7.0
Knox Goes Away
as Philo Jones
2024 Movie
6.9
Can't Buy Me Love
as David Miller
1987 Movie
6.7
Just Go with It
Director
2011 Movie
6.7
Night Moves
as boy
1975 Movie
6.7
Happy Gilmore
Director
1996 Movie
6.7
Parenthood
as David Brodsky
1989 Movie
6.6
The Howling
as Chris
1981 Movie
6.6
The Hospital
as E.R. Doctor (uncredited)
1971 Movie
6.6
Happy Gilmore 2
Executive Producer
2025 Movie
6.5
Big Daddy
Director
1999 Movie
6.4
The Day of the Locust
as Apprentice #3
1975 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Dennis Dugan.
8.1
Columbo
Director • 1 eps
1971 Series
7.9
M*A*S*H
as Bob Wilson • 2 eps
1972 Series
7.6
Hill Street Blues
4 eps
1981 Series
7.6
The Rockford Files
as Richie Brockelman • 2 eps
1974 Series
7.5
Moonlighting
Director • 5 eps
1985 Series
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self • 1 eps
1962 Series
7.2
The Waltons
1 eps
1972 Series
7.1
Hunter
Director • 1 eps
1984 Series
6.5
Ally McBeal
Director • 1 eps
1997 Series
6.5
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Director • 1 eps
1989 Series
5.6
St. Elsewhere
as Corky • 1 eps
1982 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Dennis Dugan.
6.4
Grown Ups
Director
2010 Movie
6.1
Grown Ups 2
Director
2013 Movie
6.6
Happy Gilmore 2
Executive Producer
2025 Movie
6.7
Just Go with It
Director
2011 Movie
6.7
Happy Gilmore
Director
1996 Movie
5.8
That's My Boy
Executive Producer
2012 Movie
4.4
Jack and Jill
Director
2011 Movie
5.7
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Director
2008 Movie
6.5
Big Daddy
Director
1999 Movie
5.8
Smile
as Logan
1975 Movie
6.9
Can't Buy Me Love
as David Miller
1987 Movie
6.2
Problem Child
Director
1990 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Dennis Dugan.
8.1
Columbo
Director • 1 eps
1971 Series
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self • 1 eps
1962 Series
7.9
M*A*S*H
as Bob Wilson • 2 eps
1972 Series
7.2
The Waltons
1 eps
1972 Series
7.6
The Rockford Files
as Richie Brockelman • 2 eps
1974 Series
7.2
Chicago Hope
Director • 1 eps
1994 Series
5.6
St. Elsewhere
as Corky • 1 eps
1982 Series
7.6
Hill Street Blues
4 eps
1981 Series
7.1
Alice
as Joel Snedeger • 1 eps
1976 Series
7.0
L.A. Law
as Roy Tomba • 1 eps
1986 Series
6.6
Cannon
1 eps
1971 Series
7.1
Hunter
Director • 1 eps
1984 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Dennis Dugan.
Movies
Acting Appearances in Movies
Movie cast credits for Dennis Dugan.
6.6
Happy Gilmore 2
as Doug Thompson
2025 Movie
7.1
Father There is Only One 4
as Director Película
2024 Movie
7.0
Knox Goes Away
as Philo Jones
2024 Movie
6.0
Love, Weddings & Other Disasters
as Eddie Stone
2020 Movie
6.1
Grown Ups 2
as Dr. Larry
2013 Movie
5.8
That's My Boy
as School Janitor
2012 Movie
4.4
Jack and Jill
as Al Pacino's Standby
2011 Movie
6.4
Grown Ups
as Referee
2010 Movie
5.7
You Don't Mess with the Zohan
as Homeless Guy
2008 Movie
6.1
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
as Cab Driver
2007 Movie
5.8
The Benchwarmers
as Coach Bellows
2006 Movie
4.4
Karroll's Christmas
as Door Knocker
2004 Movie
Series
Acting Appearances in Series
Series cast credits for Dennis Dugan.
7.0
L.A. Law
as Roy Tomba • 1 eps
1986 Series
6.5
Shadow Chasers
as Edgar "Benny" Benedek • 14 eps
1985 Series
5.0
Scene of the Crime
1 eps
1985 Series
7.5
Moonlighting
as Cy • 1 eps
1985 Series
5.0
Empire
as Ben Christian • 6 eps
1984 Series
5.6
St. Elsewhere
as Corky • 1 eps
1982 Series
7.6
Hill Street Blues
4 eps
1981 Series
5.0
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
as Richie Brockleman • 6 eps
1978 Series
7.1
Alice
as Joel Snedeger • 1 eps
1976 Series
5.5
Good Heavens
1 eps
1976 Series
7.8
Rich Man, Poor Man
as Claude Tinker • 12 eps
1976 Series
7.6
The Rockford Files
as Richie Brockelman • 2 eps
1974 Series