---
name: "Michael Fresco"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-fresco"
roles: ["Director"]
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 79
updated: "2026-09-17T00:20:15.124685+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."
---

# Michael Fresco

Director. Born in United States.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Active:** 1982–2011
- **Works often with:** Adam Davidson, Bethany Rooney, Bill D'Elia, Charles Braverman, Eric Overmyer, Gail Mancuso

## Biography

Michael Fresco is an American television director and producer. He began his career as a first assistant director on *St. Elsewhere* in 1986 before directing five episodes of the series in 1987 and 1988. He went on to direct episodes of series including *Northern Exposure* (1990), *Law & Order* (1990), *The O.C.* (2003), *My Name Is Earl* (2005), *Monk* (2002) and *Dead Like Me* (2003).

Fresco directed nine episodes of *Better Off Ted* (2009–10) and three episodes of *Suburgatory* (2011), for which he also served as executive producer on the pilot. He worked as a producer on *Northern Exposure*, receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, and on *Providence* and *Murder One*. His brother, Victor Fresco, created *Better Off Ted*. Fresco's directing and producing credits span from the late 1980s to 2017.

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

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Better Off Ted* (2009), Fi1m 80, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/better-off-ted.md)
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)

## Also credited on (not yet reviewed)

- *Suburgatory* (2011), Director
- *Law & Order* (1990), Director
- *Northern Exposure* (1990), Director

## Also known for

- *Monk* (2002), Director
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), Director
- *The O.C.* (2003), Director
- *Dead Like Me* (2003), Director
- *JAG* (1995), Director
- *Raising Hope* (2010), Director
- *Joan of Arcadia* (2003), Director
- *L.A. Law* (1986), Director

---
© 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/michael-fresco