Michael Uppendahl

Directing

Michael Uppendahl

Credits
32 titles

Biography

Michael Uppendahl is an American television and film director.

He is well known for his work on the AMC period drama Mad Men; FX's horror anthology series American Horror Story, and Marvel's Legion; and the Fox musical/dramedy Glee.

His first television credit came from directing 4 episodes of the CBS sitcom Becker, from 2003-2004. He wrote, directed and produced the 2009 short film A Hundred & Forty-Six Questions, starring Jamie Anne Allman.

Since 2008, Uppendahl has directed 7 hours of the AMC drama Mad Men, for which he has received critical acclaim. In 2011 and 2012, Uppendahl joined the crews of Fox's Glee and FX's American Horror Story, directing 2 episodes of the former and 3 of the latter.

In 2013, Uppendahl made his feature film directorial debut with Grounded (formerly under the working title, Quad), a drama about a salesman that becomes a quadriplegic. It was co-written by Michael Burke, Mike Young, Robin Veith, and Brett Johnson. Jeff Daniels, Lena Olin, Aaron Paul, and Tom Berenger star.

Uppendahl serves as co-executive producer and director on Marvel's Legion; which airs on FX. The series centers on David Haller, possibly the most powerful mutant on the planet.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 2

YearTitleRole
2014 The Lion's Mouth Opens Film
2013 Are You Here Film Officier Norbey

Crew credits 30

YearTitleJob
2026 The Shards TV Executive Producer, Director (9 ep)
2026 The Beauty TV Executive Producer, Director (11 ep)
2025 The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox TV Executive Producer, Director (8 ep)
2024 Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story TV Director (3 ep)
2024 American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez TV Director (1 ep)
2024 The Decameron TV Executive Producer, Director (8 ep)
2023 Mayfair Witches TV Director, Executive Producer (2 ep)
2022 Candy TV Director, Executive Producer (2 ep)
2020 Ratched TV Director (2 ep)
2020 Adam Film Director
2020 Hollywood TV Director (2 ep)
2020 Hunters TV Director (2 ep)
2019 The Hot Zone TV Executive Producer, Director (3 ep)
2018 Castle Rock TV Director, Co-Executive Producer (3 ep)
2017 Legion TV Director (3 ep)
2016 Waffles and Bullet Holes: A Return to Sioux Falls Film Director
2016 American Crime Story TV Executive Producer, Director (10 ep)
2015 Scream Queens TV Director (3 ep)
2015 Fear the Walking Dead TV Director (1 ep)
2015 Marvel's Daredevil TV Director (1 ep)
2014 Manhattan TV Director (2 ep)
2014 Fargo TV Director (6 ep)
2014 TURN: Washington's Spies TV Director (2 ep)
2013 Ray Donovan TV Director (9 ep)
2011 American Horror Story TV Director (9 ep)
2011 Shameless TV Director (1 ep)
2010 The Walking Dead TV Director (1 ep)
2009 Glee TV Director (2 ep)
2007 Mad Men TV Director (11 ep)
2005 Weeds TV Director (1 ep)
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