Joseph “Joe” Dea, a three-time Emmy Award-winning music video and reality TV director, passed away on Sunday at the age of 71 due to glioblastoma in Alameda, California.
Ever on the lookout for advanced visual tech innovations, Dea’s passion for combining painting and cinematic methods took root during his time at the University of Hartford’s Art School. His initial steps into video art in the late ’70s were showcased at New York’s Whitney Museum, The Kitchen, and Global Village; subsequently, he became a part of San Francisco’s Optic Nerve video collective.
In San Francisco, he joined the team that established Videowest, a pioneering company specializing in comedy, music videos, and alternative news. Dea played a significant role at Videowest, producing content for shows like USA’s “TakeOFF” and ABC’s “Backstage Pass,” as well as OnTV’s “Rock ONTV” and segments for MTV’s music news.
This individual has created, designed, and overseen the production of over 30 music videos. Five of these have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 100 All-Time Music Videos list. Among them are Greg Kihn’s “Jeopardy” and “Happy Man,” as well as Krokus’ “Screaming in the Night,” which was the first heavy metal video to receive regular rotation on MTV. The 1980 Emmy-winning video for Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, titled “Two Triple Cheese, Side Order of Fries,” is also on this list. This video, with its innovative visual effects of dancing French fries and flying cheeseburgers synchronized to energetic rock and roll, has been inducted into Rolling Stone Magazine’s Music Video Hall of Fame and added to the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
By the late 1980s, Dea relocated to Los Angeles, a city where he went on to direct numerous TV episodes for networks, cables, and syndication. These shows spanned various genres including documentaries, reality series, stunt performances, live music programs, animation, and even dramatized recreations of history and crime events. His notable works in prime-time network specials for NBC and Fox include “Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects” and “The World’s Greatest Stunts.
He held the position of a senior director for the long-running success, “A Wedding Story” at TLC. Additionally, he made on-screen appearances as co-host for the History Channel’s show, “What Went Down,” and acted as an extra on “The Young and the Restless.” His work has been exhibited at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art and the Museum of Neon Art.
Dea leaves behind his wife, Melissa Force, as well as his stepdaughter Tamara Miller, stepson Dylan Miller, six adoring grandchildren, and his two sisters, Elaine Dea and Maureen Dea.
Contributions can be sent to UCSF Foundation at the following address: P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145. This is in memory of Joseph C. Dea (7001220).
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You can make a donation to honor Joseph C. Dea (7001220) by sending it to UCSF Foundation at their post office box: P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145.
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2025-04-17 01:46