---
name: "Ken Whittingham"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ken-whittingham"
fi1m_id: "ken-whittingham"
imdb_id: "nm0926526"
tmdb_id: 1212689
wikidata_id: "Q1986502"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "15 January 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 19
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "director"
average_over: 19
updated: "2026-10-07T14:32:39.133111+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."
---

# Ken Whittingham

## Identity

Ken Whittingham

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ken-whittingham
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ken-whittingham
- **IMDb ID:** nm0926526
- **TMDB ID:** 1212689
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1986502
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Whittingham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1986502, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926526/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1212689

Director. Born 15 January 1959 in United States.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 15 January 1959, United States
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** Ken D. Whittingham
- **Frequently works with:** [Gail Mancuso](https://film.one/person/gail-mancuso.md), [Beth McCarthy-Miller](https://film.one/person/beth-mccarthy-miller.md), [Claire Scanlon](https://film.one/person/claire-scanlon.md), [Linda Mendoza](https://film.one/person/linda-mendoza.md), [Victor Nelli, Jr.](https://film.one/person/victor-nelli-jr.md), [Jeff Melman](https://film.one/person/jeff-melman.md), [Tucker Gates](https://film.one/person/tucker-gates.md), [Adam Davidson](https://film.one/person/adam-davidson.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as director, over 19 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 77 (12), 2010s 74 (6), 2020s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 75 across 13 titles
- **Score spread:** 7 at 80+, 12 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Comedy 19, Drama 6, Action & Adventure 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Whittingham, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1986502, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0926526/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1212689

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Good Place*](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md) (84), [*Abbott Elementary*](https://film.one/tv/abbott-elementary.md) (82), [*Gilmore Girls*](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) (81), [*Everybody Hates Chris*](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md) (80), [*Desperate Housewives*](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md) (78), [*Modern Family*](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md) (77), [*My Name Is Earl*](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md) (77)
- **Hulu:** [*30 Rock*](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md) (86), [*Community*](https://film.one/tv/community.md) (83)
- **Peacock:** [*Parks and Recreation*](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md) (83), [*The Office*](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md) (77)
- **Netflix:** [*Brooklyn Nine-Nine*](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md) (78)

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

## Fi1m on Ken Whittingham

> Ken Whittingham favours subtle performances and gives the mockumentary camera a part to play. We rate his approach to ensemble comedy, particularly when an exhausting character needs to remain someone worth spending time with.

In *The Office* (2005), Steve Carell makes an exhausting boss worth watching by showing how badly he needs other people’s approval. We found that neediness painful, and it kept us interested when the behaviour threatened to become too much. Ken Whittingham directed nine episodes of the series, working in territory he favours: ensemble comedy with room for subtle performances. We rate that preference for restraint. A performer can make a character exhausting without making us want to leave, and this series often gets the distinction right.

His first directing credit came on *Malcolm & Eddie* in the late 1990s; the mid-2000s brought regular work in network comedy. Alongside *The Office*, his credits include six episodes of *30 Rock* (2006) and eight of *Parks and Recreation* (2009). He has worked across single-camera and multi-camera formats, so this is not a career defined by mockumentary alone. *Abbott Elementary* (2021) nevertheless brings him back to a comedy in which he treats the camera as a character.

Whittingham puts emphasis on tone meetings and clear communication with actors, establishing what a scene needs before giving performers room to work. That matters on a programme such as *The Office*, where Carell’s painful neediness has to remain funny enough to sustain our interest. The supporting cast is another reason we recommend the series, though its borrowed beginnings and occasional overplaying remain drawbacks. We cannot sensibly allocate each of those strengths and weaknesses to Whittingham’s episodes. His preference for subtlety is useful precisely because this sort of comedy can so easily become a competition to look awkward.

The most persuasive part of his method is the balance between giving actors freedom and offering direction when they need it. With a performance such as Carell’s, we want the discomfort preserved rather than softened into something amiable. We do not need every comedy director to announce himself through the camera, especially when the people in front of it already demand so much attention. Start with *The Office*, allowing for a boss whose company remains hard work even when the jokes land.

## Biography

Ken Whittingham is an American television director. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from California State University, Northridge, and has been active since the late 1990s.

His directing credits include multiple episodes of *The Office* (2005), *Parks and Recreation*, *30 Rock*, *Modern Family*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Community*, *Desperate Housewives*, *The Good Place*, *Californication*, *Gilmore Girls* and *2 Broke Girls*. He has also served as a producer on series including *Suburgatory*.

Whittingham has won five NAACP Image Awards for his work on *The Office*, *30 Rock* and *Parks and Recreation*.

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

## On Fi1m (19)

- *Abbott Elementary* (2021), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/abbott-elementary.md)
- *The Good Place* (2016), Fi1m 84, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *About a Boy* (2014), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/about-a-boy-2014.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), Fi1m 72, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Suburgatory* (2011), Fi1m 70, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/suburgatory.md)
- *Community* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Modern Family* (2009), Fi1m 77, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), Fi1m 83, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Californication* (2007), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *Chuck* (2007), Fi1m 73, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), Fi1m 86, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.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)
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Entourage* (2004), Fi1m 63, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)

## Complete filmography (97)

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

- *Scrubs* (2026), series, Director
- *St. Denis Medical* (2024), series, Director
- *Bookie* (2023), series, Director
- *Maggie* (2022), series, Director
- *Abbott Elementary* (2021), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/abbott-elementary.md)
- *The Wonder Years* (2021), series, Director
- *The Upshaws* (2021), series, Director
- *Big Shot* (2021), series, Director
- *Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!* (2021), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Kenan* (2021), series, Director
- *Bless This Mess* (2019), series, Director
- *The Neighborhood* (2018), series, Director
- *Single Parents* (2018), series, Director
- *I Feel Bad* (2018), series, Director
- *Good Girls* (2018), series, Director
- *White Famous* (2017), series, Director
- *Atypical* (2017), series, Director
- *Great News* (2017), series, Director
- *Trial & Error* (2017), series, Director
- *Superior Donuts* (2017), series, Director
- *American Housewife* (2016), series, Director
- *Speechless* (2016), series, Director
- *The Good Place* (2016), series, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md)
- *Uncle Buck* (2016), series, Director
- *Telenovela* (2015), series, Director
- *Superstore* (2015), series, Director
- *Dr. Ken* (2015), series, Director
- *Grandfathered* (2015), series, Director
- *Life in Pieces* (2015), series, Director
- *Grace and Frankie* (2015), series, Director
- *HAPPYish* (2015), series, Director
- *Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt* (2015), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt.md)
- *Fresh Off the Boat* (2015), series, Director
- *The McCarthys* (2014), series, Director
- *Survivor's Remorse* (2014), series, Director
- *black-ish* (2014), series, Director
- *Surviving Jack* (2014), series, Director
- *About a Boy* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/about-a-boy-2014.md)
- *Parts of Disease* (2013), Consulting Producer
- *The Michael J. Fox Show* (2013), series, Director
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *1600 Penn* (2012), series, Director
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, Director — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Guys with Kids* (2012), series, Director
- *Go On* (2012), series, Director
- *Suburgatory* (2011), series, Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/suburgatory.md)
- *2 Broke Girls* (2011), series, Director
- *Happy Endings* (2011), series, Director
- *Raising Hope* (2010), series, Director
- *Parenthood* (2010), series, Director
- *Blue Mountain State* (2010), series, Director
- *The Middle* (2009), series, Director
- *Modern Family* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/modern-family.md)
- *Cougar Town* (2009), series, Director
- *Community* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/community.md)
- *Royal Pains* (2009), series, Director
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Kath & Kim* (2008), series, Director
- *Lipstick Jungle* (2008), series, Director
- *Cavemen* (2007), series, Director
- *Chuck* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *Californication* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *Rules of Engagement* (2007), series, Director
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, Director — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *The Game* (2006), series, Director
- *Ugly Betty* (2006), series, Director
- *'Til Death* (2006), series, Director
- *Freddie* (2005), series, Director
- *Everybody Hates Chris* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/everybody-hates-chris.md)
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Barbershop* (2005), series, Director
- *Living with Fran* (2005), series, Director
- *The Office* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-office-2005.md)
- *Jake in Progress* (2005), series, Director
- *Cuts* (2005), series, Director
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Entourage* (2004), series, Director — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited* (2004), Director
- *Eve* (2003), series, Director
- *Still Standing* (2002), series, Director
- *Baby Bob* (2002), series, Director
- *The Bernie Mac Show* (2001), series, Director
- *Raising Dad* (2001), series, Director
- *Scrubs* (2001), series, Director
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Yes, Dear* (2000), series, Director
- *Girlfriends* (2000), series, Director
- *The Amanda Show* (1999), series, Director
- *The Parkers* (1999), series, Director
- *Becker* (1998), series, Director
- *The Hughleys* (1998), series, Director
- *The King of Queens* (1998), series, Director
- *Hitz* (1997), series, Director
- *Malcolm & Eddie* (1996), series, Director
- *Kenan & Kel* (1996), series, Director
- *Moesha* (1996), series, Director
- *All That* (1994), series, Director

## Gallery

- ![Ken Whittingham](https://film.one/media/person/100922/gallery-0a60b2000107.jpg) Ken Whittingham — Image via TMDB
- ![Ken Whittingham](https://film.one/media/person/100922/gallery-3e4410ff7b30.jpg) Ken Whittingham — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/ken-whittingham