Lesli Linka Glatter

Lesli Linka Glatter is an American television and film director and producer, renowned for her prolific and critically acclaimed work in prestige dramatic television. A former dancer, she transitioned to filmmaking after studying at the American Film Institute, where her student film caught the attention of Steven Spielberg. She is a key creative figure behind several landmark series, most notably her long-standing collaboration on *Homeland* and her role as an executive producer and director on *Mad Men*. Glatter has received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations and is a respected leader within the Directors Guild of America.

Early life and education

Born in Dallas, Texas, Glatter initially pursued a career in modern dance, performing and choreographing both in the United States and internationally, including a period in Tokyo. Her interest in visual storytelling led her to study at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Her AFI Conservatory thesis film, *The Tale of the Frog Prince*, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1985 and was executive produced by Steven Spielberg, who became an early mentor and champion of her work.

Career

Glatter's early career included directing the HBO film *The Promise* and the CBS Schoolbreak Special *A Matter of Conscience*, which earned her a Directors Guild of America Award. She transitioned successfully to television, directing episodes for seminal series such as *Twin Peaks*, *NYPD Blue*, and *ER*. Her reputation for handling complex character-driven material grew through work on *The West Wing*, *Gilmore Girls*, and *The O.C.*. A major career milestone was her association with Matthew Weiner's AMC period drama *Mad Men*, where she served as a producer and directed numerous pivotal episodes, earning several Emmy nominations. She later forged a defining partnership with Showtime's thriller *Homeland*, ascending to executive producer and directing over twenty episodes, which solidified her status as a master of suspense and psychological drama. She has also directed for series like *The Walking Dead*, *Ray Donovan*, and *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*, and served as an executive producer on *The Newsroom*.

Filmography

A selected list of television series for which Glatter has directed episodes includes *Twin Peaks* (1990), *NYPD Blue* (1993), *ER* (1995), *The West Wing* (2000), *Gilmore Girls* (2002), *The O.C.* (2005), *Heroes (TV series)|*Heroes* (2007), *Mad Men* (2008–2015), *The Walking Dead* (2011), *Homeland* (2011–2020), *The Newsroom* (2012–2014), *Ray Donovan* (2014), *True Detective (TV series)|*True Detective* (2015), and *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* (2018). Her feature film directing credits include *Now and Then (film)|*Now and Then* (1995) and *The Proposition (1998 film)|*The Proposition* (1998).

Awards and nominations

Throughout her career, Glatter has received numerous accolades, including multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for her work on *Mad Men* and *Homeland*. She has been nominated for several Directors Guild of America Awards, winning for the *Homeland* episode "From A to B and Back Again". Her other honors include a Humanitas Prize and a Satellite Award. In 2017, she was elected to the Television Academy's Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Glatter is married to Academy Award-nominated production designer David R. Gropman; the couple has one son. She is an active member of the Directors Guild of America, where she has served in leadership roles, including on the National Board and as a co-chair of the Women's Steering Committee, advocating for gender parity in the directing field.

Category:American television directors Category:American film directors Category:People from Dallas, Texas