Michael Spiller, a renowned television director and cinematographer, was born and raised in the vibrant city of Brooklyn, New York. He initially attended SUNY Purchase, where he crossed paths with long-time collaborator Hal Hartley.
Throughout his illustrious career, Spiller has had the privilege of photographing numerous feature films for Hal Hartley and other esteemed directors. In addition, he has traveled the world, capturing the essence of various documentaries, commercials, and music videos.
Spiller's journey as a director began on the second season of HBO's Sex and the City, where he had previously worked as a cinematographer since the first season. After dedicating four years to his role as director of photography and directing seven episodes, Spiller and his family made the bold decision to relocate to Los Angeles to further pursue his directing ambitions.
Since then, Spiller has directed over a hundred episodes of television, including over 20 episodes of the critically acclaimed series Modern Family and Scrubs. His impressive resume also boasts multiple episodes of The New Girl, The Middle, The Bernie Mac Show, Kitchen Confidential, as well as directing the pilot of Jake in Progress and Big Day. Furthermore, Spiller has served as producer/director on both of those series for ABC.
In the realm of dramatic television, Spiller has directed five episodes of Ugly Betty, two episodes each of Life as We Know It and the HBO series Big Love. His exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades, including the DGA award and the Primetime Emmy for directing the Halloween episode of Modern Family in 2014.
Currently, Spiller serves as an Executive Producer/Director on The Mindy Project for NBC Universal and Fox Network. When he's not busy with his professional endeavors, Spiller is a devoted husband, father, and reluctant urban farmer.
