---
name: "Craig Zisk"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/craig-zisk"
fi1m_id: "craig-zisk"
imdb_id: "nm0957197"
tmdb_id: 154521
wikidata_id: "Q3696475"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "1 January 1950"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 22
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "director"
average_over: 21
updated: "2026-10-07T15:06:59.092344+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Craig Zisk

## Identity

Craig Zisk

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/craig-zisk
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** craig-zisk
- **IMDb ID:** nm0957197
- **TMDB ID:** 154521
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3696475
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Zisk, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3696475, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0957197/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/154521

Director and producer. Born 1 January 1950 in United States.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 1 January 1950, United States
- **Active:** 1992–present
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 22: 21 directing, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Tucker Gates](https://film.one/person/tucker-gates.md), [Elodie Keene](https://film.one/person/elodie-keene.md), [Ken Whittingham](https://film.one/person/ken-whittingham.md), [Tristram Shapeero](https://film.one/person/tristram-shapeero.md), [Adam Bernstein](https://film.one/person/adam-bernstein.md), [David Nutter](https://film.one/person/david-nutter.md), [Jamie Babbit](https://film.one/person/jamie-babbit.md), [Jesse Peretz](https://film.one/person/jesse-peretz.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as director, over 21 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (2), 2000s 74 (10), 2010s 76 (8), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 70 across 18 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 14 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 14, Comedy 10, Action & Adventure 3, Crime 3, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 3, War & Politics 3
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Zisk, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3696475, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0957197/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/154521

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*New Girl*](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) (80), [*My Name Is Earl*](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md) (77), [*This Is Us*](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md) (76), [*Alias*](https://film.one/tv/alias.md) (74)
- **AMC+:** [*Halt and Catch Fire*](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md) (84), [*Dark Winds*](https://film.one/tv/dark-winds.md) (79)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Good Wife*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) (84), [*Weeds*](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md) (76)
- **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83), [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md) (77)
- **HBO Max:** [*Veep*](https://film.one/tv/veep.md) (82)
- **Netflix:** [*Brooklyn Nine-Nine*](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Craig Zisk

> Craig Zisk gives ensemble casts room to be funny and keeps the direction out of their way. We value that television craft, though his feature debut suggests he needs sharper material to make a lasting impression.

In *The Office* (2005), Steve Carell makes an exhausting boss worth watching by letting his painful neediness show. We laughed at that neediness, though the occasional overplaying wore us down. Craig Zisk is one of the series’ directors, so its success cannot sensibly be laid at his feet alone. But it offers a useful introduction to an actor-led approach that puts script and performance ahead of heavy coverage. The pleasure comes from spending time with the cast, even when the boss makes us consider the advantages of working alone.

Zisk began directing series with *Brooklyn Bridge* (1991), then built a television career across comedy and drama. On *Weeds* (2005), his responsibilities included directing and executive producing. His collaborations with writer-producer Michael Schur also run through *Parks and Recreation* (2009) and *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013). Those single-camera comedies allow for improvisation and leave alternative takes available for the edit. There is value in a director who can give actors that freedom while getting an ensemble through a television schedule, particularly when the actors need time to find the joke rather than simply deliver it.

His feature debut, *The English Teacher* (2013), has Julianne Moore and Nathan Lane, brisk pacing and lively banter. The familiar material gives that capable cast too little to work against. It hints at deeper concerns without pursuing them far enough, and the result fades from memory. We would have liked Zisk to demand more of the script before making it run so smoothly.

We are wary of treating every successful programme on a director’s credits as evidence of a personal style. With *The Office*, the important achievement is that Carell’s difficult boss remains worth spending time with, and that the surrounding cast gives us reasons to stay despite the borrowed beginnings. Zisk’s documentary-influenced approach is a sensible fit for such ensembles, where watching how people behave is much of the pleasure. Start with the television work; there is no need to make the feature your introduction.

## Biography

Craig Zisk is an American director and producer. He grew up in Dallas and graduated from the St. Mark's School of Texas and the University of Southern California. He produced the series *Cop Rock* and directed his first television series, *Brooklyn Bridge*, at the age of 26.

Zisk has directed episodes of many series, including *The Office*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Parks and Recreation*, *Weeds*, *Shameless*, *American Horror Story* and *Halo*. His first feature film was *The English Teacher* (2013). He has executive-produced series including *Weeds*, *United States of Tara* and *The Larry Sanders Show*, and received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his work. His brother Randy Zisk is also a director.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (22)

### Directed (21) — the average rests on these

- *Dark Winds* (2022), Fi1m 79, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/dark-winds.md)
- *Halo* (2022), Fi1m 52, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/halo.md)
- *For All Mankind* (2019), Fi1m 66, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/for-all-mankind-2019.md)
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), Fi1m 70, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *This Is Us* (2016), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Halt and Catch Fire* (2014), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *Veep* (2012), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Shameless* (2011), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *The Good Wife* (2009), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), Fi1m 77, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *The Office* (2005), Fi1m 77, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Weeds* (2005), Fi1m 76, Executive Producer, Director, Co-Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *Entourage* (2004), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)
- *Alias* (2001), Fi1m 74, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md)
- *Smallville* (2001), Fi1m 66, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)

### Produced (1)

- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), Fi1m 91, Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)

## Complete filmography (86)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Vampire Lestat* (2026), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Tulsa King* (2022), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Interview with the Vampire* (2022), series, Director
- *Dark Winds* (2022), series, Director — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/dark-winds.md)
- *Halo* (2022), series, Director — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/halo.md)
- *American Rust* (2021), series, Director
- *The Mysterious Benedict Society* (2021), series, Director
- *Brave New World* (2020), series, Director
- *For All Mankind* (2019), series, Director — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/for-all-mankind-2019.md)
- *Emergence* (2019), series, Director
- *Wu-Tang: An American Saga* (2019), series, Director
- *Tell Me a Story* (2018), series, Director
- *New Amsterdam* (2018), series, Director
- *Manifest* (2018), series, Director
- *The Looming Tower* (2018), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-looming-tower.md)
- *Timeless* (2016), series, Director
- *The Exorcist* (2016), series, Director
- *This Is Us* (2016), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/this-is-us.md)
- *Preacher* (2016), series, Director
- *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015), series, Director
- *Sneaky Pete* (2015), series, Director
- *Battle Creek* (2015), series, Director
- *Marvel's Agent Carter* (2015), series, Director
- *Kingdom* (2014), series, Director
- *Halt and Catch Fire* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/halt-and-catch-fire.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *The English Teacher* (2013), Director
- *Elementary* (2012), series, Director
- *Veep* (2012), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *Bent* (2012), series, Director
- *Smash* (2012), series, Director
- *The Unprofessional* (2012), Director
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, Director
- *New Girl* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Shameless* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Big C* (2010), series, Director
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Hung* (2009), series, Director
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *United States of Tara* (2009), series, Director, Producer
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Head Cases* (2005), series, Director
- *Weeds* (2005), series, Director, Co-Executive Producer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)
- *The Closer* (2005), series, Director
- *The Office* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Dr. Vegas* (2004), series, Director
- *LAX* (2004), series, Director
- *Medical Investigation* (2004), series, Director
- *Entourage* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Wonderfalls* (2004), series, Director
- *Miss Match* (2003), series, Director
- *Las Vegas* (2003), series, Director
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)
- *Mr. St. Nick* (2002), Director
- *Birds of Prey* (2002), series, Director
- *American Dreams* (2002), series, Director
- *Without a Trace* (2002), series, Director
- *Monk* (2002), series, Director
- *My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star* (2002), series, Director
- *Watching Ellie* (2002), series, Director
- *The Tick* (2001), series, Director
- *Smallville* (2001), series, Director — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/smallville.md)
- *Scrubs* (2001), series, Director
- *Alias* (2001), series, Director — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/alias.md)
- *Grounded for Life* (2001), series, Director
- *Secret Agent Man* (2000), series, Director
- *Shasta McNasty* (1999), series, Director
- *Popular* (1999), series, Director
- *Oh, Grow Up* (1999), series, Director
- *Payne* (1999), series, Director
- *Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane* (1999), series, Director
- *Providence* (1999), series, Director
- *Charmed* (1998), series, Director
- *Felicity* (1998), series, Director
- *Love Boat: The Next Wave* (1998), series, Director
- *For Your Love* (1998), series, Director
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, Director
- *Suddenly Susan* (1996), series, Director
- *The Single Guy* (1995), series, Director
- *NYPD Blue* (1993), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/nypd-blue.md)
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, Producer — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *Brooklyn Bridge* (1991), series, Director, Producer
- *Cop Rock* (1990), series, Producer
- *My First Love* (1988), Associate Producer
- *Less Than Zero* (1987), Editorial Coordinator

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/craig-zisk