Prolific television director Kim Manners (59), who brought a distinct visual style to “The X-Files” and “Supernatural” as well as dozens of other television programs, has passed away after a long fight with cancer according to our partners over at TV Guide On-Line.
Manners was a producer and director for “The X-Files” and on the CW’s “Supernatural.” Manners directed 53 hours of “The X-Files” including the series finale and several other pivotal episodes during the series nine year run. He has worked the past several years on “Supernatural” where he directed the third-season premiere.  He final work as director for “Supernatural” aired on Thursday, January 15 according to reports.
Manners’ career included “Charlie’s Angels”, “Automan”, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr”., “MANTIS” and “Harsh Realm.”
“Everyone at ‘Supernatural’ is walking around in a daze, shocked and absolutely devastated,” said “Supernatural” creator and producer, Eric Kripke. “Kim was a brilliant director; more than that, he was a mentor and friend. He was one of the patriarchs of the family, and we miss him desperately. He gave so much to ‘Supernatural’, and everything we do on the show, now and forever, is in memory of him.”
Among those surviving Manners is sister and longtime assistant director Tana Manners who has worked on “Deadly Whispers.” A brother, Kelly Manners, was a producer on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” and currently serves as a producer on the upcoming Fox series “Dollhouse.”
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Unless the credits on the episode “Family Remains” are wrong (and I seriously doubt that they are – wouldn’t they catch something like that?), Phil Sgriccia is actually the director of that episode.
So, “Metamorphosis” would actually be Kim Manners’ last directed episode.
None the less… 59 isn’t that that old, and to perish from lung cancer. I feel for the agony he went through in his final days becasue I had to quit smoking because of lesser inflictions.
I wish for the best for those cloeset to him, and know that his legacy will live on in the works he has given us.
I could always which episodes Kim directed on SN and The X Files. A director extroadinaire.