Career
Among programs that he directed were National Broadcasting Company"s The Dennis Day Show, Columbia Broadcasting System"s sitcoms The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, starring Dwayne Hickman, Mister Editor, The Bob Cummings Show, starring Robert Cummings, and The New Philosophy Silvers Show, an unsuccessful attempt by comedian Philosophy Silvers to return to a regular series. He was producer of television shows such as My Mother the Carolina and Supertrain, and wrote the story for the 1988 film Sunset. Amateau also directed a few episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, and appeared in a handful of episodes as an actor as well.
In 1987, he directed, produced, and co-wrote the The Garbage Pail Kids Movie, which is considered to be one of the worst films ever made.
Amateau died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 2003.