Michael Lehmann


Michael Stephen Lehmann is an American film and television director known for directing the dark comedy Heathers.

Early life and education

In 1978, Lehmann graduated from Columbia University.
Lehmann is of Jewish descent.

Career

Lehmann's first job in the film industry was answering phones at Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope film company. Later he supervised cameras on films that included 1983's The Outsiders. Lehmann attended film school at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and graduated in 1985. While at USC he made a student film, The Beaver Gets a Boner, the title of which he believes helped get the attention of film executives who would later hire him.
A short film by Lehmann, titled "Ed's Secret Life ", was shown on Saturday Night Live. Purportedly about Mister Ed's post-career life, William Schallert, Mick Fleetwood, and Heather Locklear appeared in it.
Lehmann is most known for directing the dark comedy Heathers. He also directed 40 Days and 40 Nights, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, Hudson Hawk, Meet the Applegates, Airheads and Because I Said So.
Lehmann directed his first television commercial through the Leo Burnett Company in June 1996 for McDonald's. Lehmann also directs for television, and has worked on The Comeback and The West Wing. Lehmann directed episodes of The Larry Sanders Show, Watching Ellie, Century City, Big Love, True Blood, Californication, Wonderfalls, White Famous, Betas, American Horror Story, Snowfall, Veronica Mars, and 68 Whiskey.
Lehmann said that he never would make a sequel to Heathers and that Winona Ryder wanted to do Heathers set in Washington, D.C., but he saw no potential for the project.

Filmography

Film
  • Heathers
  • Meet the Applegates
  • Hudson Hawk
  • Airheads
  • The Truth About Cats & Dogs
  • My Giant
  • 40 Days and 40 Nights
  • Because I Said So
  • Flakes
Television
YearTitleDirectorExecutive
Producer		Notes
1993Homicide: Life on the StreetEpisode "Night of the Dead Living"
1994-1997The Larry Sanders Show5 episodes
1995Fallen AngelsEpisode "Good Housekeeping"
1999The West WingEpisode "Five Votes Down"
2002Watching EllieEpisode "Aftershocks"
2002PasadenaEpisode "Run Lily Run"
2003TrashTV movie
2004Century CityEpisodes "Pilot" and "The Face Was Familiar"
2004WonderfallsEpisode "Caged Bird"
2005The Comeback4 episodes
2006-2009Big LoveEpisodes "The Baptism", "Good Guys and Bad Guys" and
"Outer Darkness"
2007Family of the YearEpisode "Pilot"
2008Miss GuidedEpisodes "Rebel Yell" and "Pool Party"
200812 Miles of Bad RoadEpisode "Moon-shadow"
2008-2009Worst WeekEpisodes "The Wedding" and "The Sex"
2008-2013True Blood15 episodes
2008-2014Californication7 episodes
2009The Beautiful LifeEpisode "The Beautiful Aftermath"
2009-2010Bored to Death7 episodes
2010OutsourcedEpisode "Bolloween"
2010The Big CEpisodes "Divine Intervention" and "New Beginnings"
2011Nurse JackieEpisodes "Play Me" and "Mitten"
2011-2012DexterEpisodes "Ricochet Rabbit" and "The Dark… Whatever"
2011-2013American Horror StoryEpisodes "Smoldering Children", "Unholy Night" and
"The Name Game"
2012Cassandra French's
Finishing School for Boys		Episode "Pilot"
2013Go OnEpisodes "Win at All Costas" and "Double Down"
2013Betas4 episodes
2014-2016Tyrant4 episodes
2015House of LiesEpisode "Praise Money! Hallowed be Thy Name"
2015The Brink4 episodes
2015Scream QueensEpisode "Thanksgiving"
2015-2016Blunt Talk6 episodes
2016ChanceEpisodes "Hiring It Done", "Unlocking Your Hidden Powers" and
"Fluid Management"
2017White FamousEpisodes "Wolves" and "Make Believe"
2017-2019SnowfallEpisodes "A Long Time Coming", "The Offer" and "The Bottoms"
2018DeceptionEpisodes "Forced Perspective", "Getting Away Clean" and
"Transposition"
2019Jessica JonesEpisode "A.K.A. The Perfect Burger"
2019Veronica MarsEpisode "Spring Break Forever"
2019The TerrorEpisodes "Gaman" and "The Weak Are Meat"
202068 Whiskey5 episodes
2022The Woman in the House Across
the Street from the Girl in the Window		Miniseries
2023HeelsEpisodes "Discord" and "Heavy Heads"
2024American RustEpisodes "Iron Sky" and "The Hand You're Delt"
2024Will TrentEpisode "Have You Never Been to a Wedding?"
2024-2025Dexter: Original Sin6 episodes