Mark Rydell was an Emmy Award-nominated actor and director who worked on television series and films. He played Jeff Baker on As the World Turns and could also be seen on The Phil Silvers Show, Naked City, and Wanted: Dead or Alive.

In addition to his work as an actor, Rydell also had a career as a television director. He directed "James Dean," "Crime of the Century," the pilot of Family, as well as episodes of Gunsmoke and Ben Casey.

In addition to his work on television, Rydell also had a long and celebrated career as an actor and director in film. He can be seen in "The Long Goodbye," "A Man is Mostly Water," and "Cinderella Liberty." Rydell also directed such acclaimed films as "The Cowboys," "The Rose," and "The Fox."

Rydell also directed Henry Fonda to his only competitive Academy Award-winning performance in "On Golden Pond," a film for which Rydell also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Director.