Television director, writer, script editor and producer.
James Davern's television career began in the early to mid-1960s as a writer and script editor with ABC Television. He was later employed in the areas of drama and music programmes as both producer and director, and helped establishing a script production line. Among his early career highlights with the ABC was as the director and producer of the very first Bellbird (q.v.) episode. He continued to be associated with the series in a number of positions for seven years and later became the creator and driving force behind the Seven Network's highly popular series A Country Practice (q.v.).
Among Davern's career credits as a writer are episodes for Homicide (1970, 1972, 1974), Alpha Scorpio (1974), Rush (1974, 1976 - as Jennifer Cooley), Patrol Boat (1979), A Country Practice (1981-93) and Warming Up (1985). His credits as a producer and/or executive producer include: Rush (1974), Alpha Scorpio (1974), Barnaby and Me (1977), No Room to Run (1978), Patrol Boat (1979), A Country Practice (1981), Queen of the Road (1984), Warming Up (1985), Hector's Bunyip (1986), Land of Hope (1986), Whipping Boy (1996), The Hostages (1997), Reprisal (1997), Without Warning (1999).
In 1990 Davern and his wife Philippa bought a vineyard in the Lovedale area of the lower Hunter Valley (NSW). Originally called the Millstone Vineyard, they renamed it Wandin Valley in tribute to the fictional town from A Country Practice. They eventually sold the business in the early 2002.
James Davern's influence on Australian television was recognised in 1991 when he was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame.