Biography
John Whitesell is an American television and film director. Born in Iowa Falls, Iowa, he attended Simpson College and studied acting and directing at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City. He began his career in daytime television, directing and producing on series including Another World and Guiding Light, for which he shared a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding direction.
Whitesell directed episodes of primetime series including Roseanne (from 1990), Law & Order (from 1990), Coach and The John Larroquette Show. He moved into feature films with Calendar Girl (1993), followed by See Spot Run (2001), Malibu's Most Wanted (2003), Big Momma's House 2 (2006), Deck the Halls (2006) and Holidate (2020). He has also directed episodes of Chicago P.D. and Girl Meets World.
