12 Great TV Episodes That Were Directed By Cast Members

Summary

• Stars of TV shows often step in to direct episodes, showcasing their talent and understanding of the show’s dynamics.
• Talented actors-turned-directors like Bryan Cranston, Neil Patrick Harris, and Hugh Laurie excel at capturing emotional moments on screen.
• Directing requires a different set of skills, but experienced actors like Julie Bowen and Ellen Pompeo successfully wear both hats in TV shows.

Actors on TV are incredibly talented artists capable of creating a visceral character, but some actors take their talents further, opting to get behind the camera as well and try their hand at directing. It takes a huge team to put together most shows, with multiple writers, cast, crew, and countless other creatives in place just to get some footage recorded, then editors, musicians, and many more step in to enhance the project. And for the most part, these different skills each require a great deal of experience to deliver.

However, it has become a fairly common practice for stars of a show to step in and direct an episode or two. Often, these episodes can go about as average as expected from an inexperienced director, but some actors have an innate talent and do an outstanding job. Whether they were able to get the best out of their peers who they work closely with, or if they have a better idea of what to look for thanks to their work on the show, some actors do a fantastic job stepping up to direct.

12 “Blood Money” – Bryan Cranston

Breaking Bad Season 5, Episode 9

Bryan Cranston directed multiple episodes of Breaking Bad, and shows like Malcolm in the Middle while he was playing a leading character. Clearly, Cranston has an incredible talent for directing, as seen in his work on the season 5 episode “Blood Money.” This episode was particularly significant as it featured Walt’s brother-in-law finally coming to the realization that Walt was Heisenberg all along. The depth of emotion and the incredible work from the actors is no small feat, and Cranston did a top-notch job.

11 “Storybook Love” – Milo Ventimiglia

This Is Us Season 4, Episode 5

This Is Us is already a dynamic and complex show that frequently follows multiple timelines to create something new and fluid. However, when the director is also one of the leading stars, as was the case with Milo Ventimiglia for “Storybook Love,” it becomes even more challenging. As Rebecca struggles to put together two dinner parties at different points in time, it becomes clear that she feels her late husband’s presence is sorely missed in the latter. Ventimiglia did a fantastic job bringing these different elements together in his directorial debut episode of the show.

10 “The One With The Red Sweater” – David Schwimmer

Friends Season 8, Episode 2

David Schwimmer became a global superstar following his performance in Friends, but it also marked the beginning of his journey into directing. Throughout the show’s 10-season run, Schwimmer was called upon to direct 10 times, with most of these occurring in the second half of the series. This iconic episode features Ross and Chandler trying to recreate moments from Monica and Chandler’s wedding to take new pictures after Chandler misplaced the disposable cameras. They break into another wedding reception and begin to snap new photos in the hopes of fooling Monica, but, things don’t work out as expected.

9 “Jenkins” – Neil Patrick Harris

How I Met Your Mother Season 5, Episode 13

Neil Patrick Harris is another multi-talented actor who has proven his talents both in front and behind the camera. During his time on How I Met Your Mother, NPH had his directorial debut in the episode “Jenkins.” The episode is one of the highest-rated of its season and sees the introduction of the “but-um” drinking game, and Marshall’s coworker Jenkins, who constantly goes on wild adventures. The episode benefits from the strong direction provided by NPH. However, he chose to focus on the acting side of his work for the rest of the show’s run, having directed just one episode.

8 “The C Word” – Hugh Laurie

House Season 8, Episode 19

Hugh Laurie is a versatile and talented actor. Having directed multiple projects before his time on House, and playing the demanding role of the unsocial genius Gregory House, Laurie directed two incredible episodes. His best effort came with “The C Word,” which sees a massive shift in the dynamic between House and his best friend Wilson after a challenging diagnosis. House is a clever and creative show that saw the lead deliver extensive lines of medical jargon and play a nuanced lead, but Laurie’s ability to deliver as the lead and direct proves his incredible skills as an artist.

7 “Michael’s Last Dundies” – Mindy Kaling

The Office Season 7, Episode 20

As Steve Carell was preparing to exit from The Office, many of the other cast members stepped up both on screen and in the production of each episode. During its run, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, B. J. Novak, Ed Helms, Brian Baumgartner, Mindy Kaling, and Paul Lieberstein all took over directing duties for different episodes. However, one of the absolute best episodes by a cast member came from Kaling. “Micahel’s Last Dundies” saw Michael Scott host his final award ceremony for his team, while also trying to train up Deangelo Vickers (Will Ferrell) to continue the tradition.

6 “Garage Sale” – Steve Carell

The Office Season 7, Episode 18

Steve Carell also directed three episodes of The Office, with “Garage Sale” being his last directorial effort. The episode comes just a few episodes before the “Michael’s Last Dundies,” but it digs deeper into the relationship between Michael and Holly. The episode is emotional, as well as featuring great comedy moments, as Michael and Holly’s future appears to be unclear. Carell’s talents are a huge part of what makes this episode meaningful for both his acting and directing, which are executed to high levels.

5 “In The Eye Abides The Heart” – Troian Bellisario

Pretty Little Liars Season 7, Episode 15

Troian Bellisario is one of the few actors listed here who went on to put a much larger focus on her directorial efforts, having had her directorial debut in the final season of Pretty Little Liars. After starring on the show for the previous seven years, Bellisario stepped up to direct one of the best episodes of the final season. As things heat up and the Liars get closer to finding out who A.D. really is, they each try to resolve things with people closest to them, only to have it backfire spectacularly in each case.

4 “Be Still, My Soul” – Ellen Pompeo

Grey’s Anatomy Season 13, Episode 18

Ellen Pompeo spent a significant portion of her career starring in the series Grey’s Anatomy as the titular lead, Dr. Meredith Grey. 13 seasons into the shows running, Pompeo decided to try her hand at directing. She directed just two episodes in total, with her first being easily her best. The episode is emotional and heartfelt, similar in both the story and execution to Laurie’s work on House with “The C Word.” Pompeo clearly had a flare for directing, but decided to focus on her acting from season 14 onward.

3 “Tree’s A Crowd” – Julie Bowen

Modern Family Season 11, Episode 8

Nearing the end of Modern Family, Julie Bowen also decided to try her hand at directing with credits on an episode in season 10 and the final season. “Tree’s a Crowd” is an interesting episode that heavily relies on the performance of Bowen as Claire Dunphy who has her home taken over by Dylan’s hippie mom, and her stepdad, Jerry, planning to visit. With Claire at the heart of the episode, it’s even more impressive that she was able to juggle her pivotal role on screen, along with her directorial duties, to create such a strong episode of the show.

2 “Return Of The King” – Melissa Fumero

Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6, Episode 15

Melissa Fumero also had her directorial debut in an episode of a show where she starred while appearing on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The episode she directed for the show was a pivotal moment, as it saw the return of Gina with Jake and Terry getting sucked into her life. While the B plots see Charles’ son, Nikolaj, potentially being a genius, and Rosa struggling to rest after an injury. With so many elements condensed into a 21-minute episode, the balance was crucial, but Fumero did a great job and achieved success on her first effort as director.

1 “The Downward Spiral” – Ian Somerhalder

The Vampire Diaries Season 6, Episode 16

For Ian Somerhalder’s directorial debut, he took the lead on an episode of The Vampire Diaries that was less reliant on his character, Damon, and was able to effectively lead the rest of the team to great heights. Somerhalder had already built up a strong relationship with his co-stars in the six seasons of the show that preceded “The Downward Spiral,” and that relationship shines through in the episode as the actors deliver incredible performances. After Caroline switches off her humanity, her demeanor drastically changes, and this is effectively shown thanks to Somerhalder’s skill as a director.