Lesli Linka Glatter

Lesli Linka Glatter Bio

Lesli Linka Glatter (born July 26, 1953) is an American film and television director whose career spans more than four decades. She is best known for her work on the AMC drama series Mad Men and the Showtime series Homeland, both of which earned her multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations and Directors Guild of America Award nominations. Glatter has also received an Academy Award nomination for her short film Tales of Meeting and Parting (1984). Beyond her directing work, she served as president of the Directors Guild of America from September 2021 until September 2025.

Early Life and Background

Lesli Linka Glatter was born on July 26, 1953, in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in the United States and developed an early interest in movement and performance, which ultimately shaped her creative path. Before stepping behind the camera, Glatter built a career as a dancer and choreographer, working in both stage and screen environments during the early stages of her professional life.

Her choreography credits include work on William Friedkin’s crime thriller To Live and Die in L.A. and the music video for Sheila E.’s hit single “The Glamorous Life.” These experiences on professional sets gave her firsthand exposure to film production and helped transition her creative ambitions from dance to directing.

Path to Directing

Glatter’s shift from choreography to directing was formalized through the American Film Institute Directing Workshop for Women, a program of which she is an alumna. Her first film, Tales of Meeting and Parting (1984), was produced by Sharon Oreck and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. The short film marked her arrival as a serious filmmaker and helped establish her reputation in Hollywood.

In 1995, Glatter directed her first feature film, Now and Then, a coming-of-age story about four 12-year-old girls during an eventful summer in 1970. The project demonstrated her ability to handle ensemble casts and nuanced storytelling, qualities that would later define her television work.

Lesli Linka Glatter Career

Early Career (1984-1995)

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Lesli Linka Glatter focused on short films and choreography while building relationships in the entertainment industry. Tales of Meeting and Parting (1984) earned an Academy Award nomination and brought early critical attention to her directorial voice. She also continued to take on choreography assignments on major productions, which allowed her to refine her visual style and on-set instincts.

Throughout this period, Glatter gradually transitioned into television, eventually working on cable network projects. Her growing portfolio of television films laid the groundwork for the episodic work that would later define her career.

Breakthrough (2007-2020)

Glatter’s career breakthrough came with her work on AMC’s Mad Men beginning in 2007. She directed the series episode “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency” in 2009, which earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Her precise visual storytelling and ability to guide performances became a hallmark of the acclaimed drama.

She continued her rise with extensive work on Showtime’s Homeland beginning in 2011. Glatter directed multiple episodes of the series, including “Q&A” (2012), “From A to B and Back Again” (2014), “The Tradition of Hospitality” (2015), “America First” (2016), and “Prisoners of War” (2020). Each of these episodes received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, bringing her total to six nominations in that category.

Notable Works and Milestones

Across her career, Lesli Linka Glatter has earned eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations and seven Directors Guild of America Award nominations, winning the DGA Award three times. She is also widely recognized for her work on series such as Twin Peaks and Gilmore Girls, further demonstrating her range across prestige television. Her leadership in the industry expanded when she was elected president of the Directors Guild of America in September 2021.

Lesli Linka Glatter Award Nominations

Lesli Linka Glatter has accumulated an extensive slate of award nominations across her career in film and television. She has received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including six for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for her work on Mad Men and Homeland. She has also received seven Directors Guild of America Award nominations and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for Tales of Meeting and Parting (1984). In July 2025, she added another Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for the Netflix series Zero Day.

Lesli Linka Glatter Awards Won

Lesli Linka Glatter has won three Directors Guild of America Awards during her career, all reflecting her standing among her peers in the directing community. These victories complement her long list of nominations from the DGA, the Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Academy Awards.

Lesli Linka Glatter Family

Lesli Linka Glatter has one child. Public details about her immediate family are limited, and she has generally kept her personal relationships private throughout her career. Her professional life and family commitments have often intersected through her long residency in Los Angeles.

Personal Life

Beyond her directorial work, Lesli Linka Glatter has taken on significant leadership roles within the entertainment industry. In 2018, she was named chair of the advisory council for NBC’s Female Forward initiative, an annual program designed to give ten women directors the opportunity to shadow and direct episodes of NBC scripted series. She also co-founded Backyard Pictures with Cheryl Bloch under a first-look deal at Universal Television.

In January 2025, Glatter’s home was destroyed by the Palisades Fire. Despite the personal loss, she has continued to direct, including work on Love & Death (2023) for HBO Max and the Netflix limited series Zero Day, with both projects reinforcing her reputation as one of television’s most respected directors.