Michael Uppendahl

Directing

Michael Uppendahl

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.

Known for

Highlights

The Walking Dead2010 · Series · Director
American Horror Story2011 · Series · Director
Marvel's Daredevil2015 · Series · Director
Fargo2014 · Series · Director
Shameless2011 · Series · Director
Fear the Walking Dead2015 · Series · Director

Filmography

Movies

4 films

Adam2020 · Film · Director
Waffles and Bullet Holes: A Return to Sioux Falls2016 · Film · Director
The Lion's Mouth Opens2014 · Film
Are You Here2013 · Film · Officier Norbey

Filmography

Series

28 shows

The Shards2026 · Series · Director
The Beauty2026 · Series · Director
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox2025 · Series · Director
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story2024 · Series · Director
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez2024 · Series · Director
The Decameron2024 · Series · Director
Mayfair Witches2023 · Series · Director
Candy2022 · Series · Director
Ratched2020 · Series · Director
Hollywood2020 · Series · Director
Hunters2020 · Series · Director
The Hot Zone2019 · Series · Director
Castle Rock2018 · Series · Director
Legion2017 · Series · Director
American Crime Story2016 · Series · Director
Scream Queens2015 · Series · Director
Fear the Walking Dead2015 · Series · Director
Marvel's Daredevil2015 · Series · Director
Manhattan2014 · Series · Director
Fargo2014 · Series · Director
TURN: Washington's Spies2014 · Series · Director
Ray Donovan2013 · Series · Director
American Horror Story2011 · Series · Director
Shameless2011 · Series · Director
The Walking Dead2010 · Series · Director
Glee2009 · Series · Director
Mad Men2007 · Series · Director
Weeds2005 · Series · Director