---
name: "Michael Uppendahl"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-uppendahl"
fi1m_id: "michael-uppendahl"
imdb_id: "nm0881461"
tmdb_id: 1223187
wikidata_id: "Q6835024"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "1 January 2000"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "director"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-09-23T12:13:08.707133+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 Uppendahl

## Identity

Michael Uppendahl

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-uppendahl
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-uppendahl
- **IMDb ID:** nm0881461
- **TMDB ID:** 1223187
- **Wikidata ID:** Q6835024
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Uppendahl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6835024, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881461/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1223187

Director and producer. Born 1 January 2000.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 1 January 2000
- **Active:** 2005–present
- **Also known as:** Mike Uppendahl
- **Frequently works with:** [Ryan Murphy](https://film.one/person/ryan-murphy.md), [Alexis Martin Woodall](https://film.one/person/alexis-martin-woodall.md), [Anthony Hemingway](https://film.one/person/anthony-hemingway.md), [Phil Abraham](https://film.one/person/phil-abraham.md), [Adam Bernstein](https://film.one/person/adam-bernstein.md), [Craig Zisk](https://film.one/person/craig-zisk.md), [Crystle Roberson Dorsey](https://film.one/person/crystle-roberson-dorsey.md), [Daisy von Scherler Mayer](https://film.one/person/daisy-von-scherler-mayer.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as director, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 77 (3), 2010s 76 (6), 2020s 60 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 73 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 8 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Crime 4, Action & Adventure 3, Comedy 3, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 3, Mystery 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Uppendahl, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6835024, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881461/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1223187

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*American Crime Story*](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) (78), [*Marvel's Daredevil*](https://film.one/tv/marvels-daredevil.md) (78), [*Legion*](https://film.one/tv/legion.md) (77), [*Glee*](https://film.one/tv/glee.md) (68), [*The Beauty*](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md) (65), [*The Shards*](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md) (56)
- **Netflix:** [*Shameless*](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md) (70), [*The Walking Dead*](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md) (68)
- **AMC+:** [*Mad Men*](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md) (88)
- **Hulu:** [*Fargo*](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) (82)
- **Paramount+:** [*Weeds*](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md) (76)

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

## Biography

Michael Uppendahl, also credited as Mike Uppendahl, is an American television and film director. He began his career directing theatre in Los Angeles, including at the Actors' Gang, and founded the Namaste Theatre Company in 1996. His first television directing credits were episodes of the CBS sitcom Becker (2003–2004).

Uppendahl is known for directing episodes of Mad Men (2008–2015), American Horror Story (2011–2016), Fargo, Legion, Glee and Shameless. He directed his feature debut Adam (formerly Grounded) in 2020. He has also directed episodes of The Walking Dead, Ratched and other series, and served as executive producer on projects including The Beauty.

In 2026 he directed several episodes of the FX series The Beauty and the pilot of Prime Video's Bishop.

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

## On Fi1m (11)

- *The Beauty* (2026), Fi1m 65, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md)
- *The Shards* (2026), Fi1m 56, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md)
- *Legion* (2017), Fi1m 77, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/legion.md)
- *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Marvel's Daredevil* (2015), Fi1m 78, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/marvels-daredevil.md)
- *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *Shameless* (2011), Fi1m 70, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *Glee* (2009), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md)
- *Mad Men* (2007), Fi1m 88, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *Weeds* (2005), Fi1m 76, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)

## Complete filmography (32)

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

- *The Shards* (2026), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md)
- *The Beauty* (2026), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md)
- *The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story* (2024), series, Director
- *American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez* (2024), series, Director
- *The Decameron* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Mayfair Witches* (2023), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Candy* (2022), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Ratched* (2020), series, Director
- *Adam* (2020), Director
- *Hollywood* (2020), series, Director
- *Hunters* (2020), series, Director
- *The Hot Zone* (2019), series, Director, Executive Producer
- *Castle Rock* (2018), series, Director, Co-Executive Producer
- *Legion* (2017), series, Director — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/legion.md)
- *Waffles and Bullet Holes: A Return to Sioux Falls* (2016), Director
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, Executive Producer, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Scream Queens* (2015), series, Director
- *Fear the Walking Dead* (2015), series, Director
- *Marvel's Daredevil* (2015), series, Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/marvels-daredevil.md)
- *Manhattan* (2014), series, Director
- *Fargo* (2014), series, Director — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md)
- *TURN: Washington's Spies* (2014), series, Director
- *The Lion's Mouth Opens* (2014), Actor
- *Are You Here* (2013), as Officier Norbey
- *Ray Donovan* (2013), series, Director
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, Director
- *Shameless* (2011), series, Director — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/shameless-2011.md)
- *The Walking Dead* (2010), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-walking-dead.md)
- *Glee* (2009), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md)
- *Mad Men* (2007), series, Director — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *Weeds* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/weeds.md)

---
© 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-uppendahl