Michael Katleman is a prolific director and executive producer celebrated for high-octane action, visually dynamic storytelling, and a strong focus on character. He made his directorial debut in 1990 on the critically acclaimed series China Beach, quickly establishing himself by directing some of television’s most iconic dramas, including The X-Files, ER, Scandal, Justified, Dark Angel, and Northern Exposure.

In 2006, Katleman directed his first feature film, Primeval, for Disney and Hollywood Pictures. The visual-effects-driven action-horror film, starring Orlando Jones and Dominic Purcell, was shot entirely on location in South Africa.

Since then, Katleman has become a premier executive producer/director, with credits including FBI: International, Cowboy Bebop, The Last Ship, Zoo, Life on Mars, and Gilmore Girls. Over the course of his career, he has collaborated with many acclaimed showrunners, including Scott Rosenberg, Jeff Pinkner, André Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, David Goyer, Derek Haas,Matt Olmstead, and Noah Hawley, among others.

An accomplished pilot director, Katleman has seen five of his pilots ordered to series.

Most recently, he served as executive producer/director of FBI: International for CBS/Universal. Based in Budapest and filmed across Europe, the series spanned four seasons and shot in 13 countries — including Japan — bringing an ambitious, global scope to network television.