J. Rupert Thompson (born July 14, 1964) is an American director and producer of reality television.
His credits include Fear Factor,[1] Wipeout, Kid Nation, American Gladiators, America's Next Top Model, and Estate of Panic.
Thompson won the 2005 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Reality Programs for the premiere of Fear Factor, Season 6.
Thompson started his career as an electrician on horror films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and The Blob (1988).
He then became a freelance director/cameraman and shot segments for many clients, including the second season of MTV's The Real World based in Los Angeles.