Reza Badiyi was born in Tehran, Iran on April 17th 1930. He is the father of Mina Badie and the stepfather of Jennifer Jason Leigh. Badiyi is well known for directing episodes of many popular (and quite distinct) television series.
Early in his career, he directed episodes of Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Mannix, The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files and Police Squad!. His credits also include developing the memorable opening montages for Hawaii Five-O and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He also directed the definitive "fashion show" sequence of the third season of the popular "Doris Day Show". There were lowlights, as well, including directing the unsold pilot for "Inside O.U.T.", starring Farrah Fawcett and a chimp for Colombia/Screen Gems in 1971.
In the 1980s and 1990s, he directed episodes of Falcon Crest, Cagney and Lacey, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"), Nikita and Sliders.
Stepfather of Jennifer Jason Leigh and Carrie Morrow.
Directed the title sequence of "Hawaii Five-O" (1968).
Father of Mina Badie
Father of Alexis And Tashi Badiyi
Good friends with Robert Altman (I), and the two collaborated frequently early in their careers.
According to Mary Tyler Moore herself, he came up with the idea of having her throw her hat into the air at the end of the opening credits of "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970).
