Douglas Aarniokoski (born August 25, 1965) is an American television director and producer.

Doug Aarniokoski
Born
Douglas Aarniokoski

(1965-08-25) August 25, 1965 (age 59)
Other namesArnold Cassius
Occupation(s)Television director, television producer
Years active1991–present

He is well known for his work on the CBS series Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T., and The CW superhero drama Arrow. He has also worked on FOX supernatural series Sleepy Hollow.

Career

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Aarniokoski got his start as a production assistant on Turner & Hooch and as a personal assistant to Tom Cruise on his 1990 film Days of Thunder. He then worked on the 1992 horror feature Doctor Mordrid, as the first assistant director. He went on to serve as assistant director on several other films such as From Dusk till Dawn, Living Out Loud, The Faculty, and Spy Kids.[1]

Later he began serving as a second unit director for features such as The Medallion, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Resident Evil: Extinction.[1]

His directorial debut was with the 2000 action film Highlander: Endgame. His other credits include Animals and The Day.[1]

He co-wrote and directed the 2013 horror Nurse 3D.[1]

Aarniokoski has directed 8 installments of the CBS series Criminal Minds since 2011, while directing two episodes of The CW's Green Arrow origin series Arrow and one of its sister-series, The Flash.[1][2]

Sleepy Hollow

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During the first season of the FOX series Sleepy Hollow, Aarniokoski directed the 7th episode, "The Midnight Ride". In winter 2014, he joined as supervising producer and main director on the show. He has since directed the second-season episodes "Go Where I Send Thee...", "And the Abyss Gazes Back", "Kali Yuga" and "Awakening".[2]

Limitless

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In 2015, he joined the new CBS series Limitless, as supervising producer and director. The show will be run by former Sleepy Hollow co-worker Mark Goffman.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Notes
1993 Puppet Master 4 No Yes Direct-to-video
1994 Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter No Yes
2000 Highlander: Endgame Yes No
2009 Animals Yes No Credited as Arnold Cassius
2011 The Day Yes No
2014 Nurse 3D Yes Yes

Television

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Year Title Notes
2011–2014 Criminal Minds 8 episodes
2013–2015 Sleepy Hollow 6 episodes
2013 Hungry
2014–2015 Arrow Episodes "Seeing Red" and "Broken Arrow"
2015 The Flash Episode "Rogue Air"
2015–2016 Limitless 4 episodes
2016 American Gothic Episode "The Oxbow"
2016–2017 Bull 4 episodes
2017–2024 Star Trek: Discovery 5 episodes
2018 Timeless Episode "Mrs. Sherlock Holmes"
Instinct 3 episodes
Salvation Episode "White House Down"
Star Trek: Short Treks Episode "The Brightest Star"
2018–2023 S.W.A.T. 5 episodes
2019-2020 Blue Bloods 3 episodes
2020 Charmed Episode "Curse Words"
2020–2023 Star Trek: Picard 5 episodes
2021 Clarice 2 episodes
2024 Tracker 2 episodes

Acting credits

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery Dr. Evil's Telephone Voice, Uncredited
1998 The Faculty Brun Coach
2000 Highlander: Endgame Kirk

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "*EXCLUSIVE* Interview with CM Director Doug Aarniokoski!". Criminal Minds fansite. February 3, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Douglas Aarniokoski". TV.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "LIMITLESS: Heather Kadin on Bradley Cooper's Involvement, and Why It's 'SLEEPY HOLLOW 2.0'". Give Me My Remote. May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
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