Matt Shakman


Matt Shakman is an American film, television, and theatre director, and former child actor. He is most well known for his work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Fargo and Game of Thrones. He is the artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, California.

Early life

Shakman was born and raised in Ventura, California. After finding success acting as a child, starting with commercials before landing a series regular role on Just the Ten of Us, he stepped away to attend The Thacher School in Ojai.
Shakman went on to attend Yale University where he graduated with an art history & theater double major. It was at Yale where Shakman became interested in theatre, going on to direct a number of stage productions.
After university, Shakman lived in New York City for several years before permanently moving to Los Angeles.

Career

As a child actor, Shakman is best known for his role as Graham "J.R." Lubbock, Jr. in the Growing Pains spin-off series Just the Ten of Us. His other television acting credits include The Facts of Life, Highway to Heaven, Diff'rent Strokes, Night Court, Good Morning, Miss Bliss and Webster. He also appeared in the films A Night at the Magic Castle, and Meet the Hollowheads.
Shakman is the founder and Artistic Director of the Black Dahlia Theatre in Los Angeles, which was named one of "a dozen young American companies you need to know" by American Theatre Magazine.
Since 2002, Shakman has mostly been directing for television. Among his credits include Mad Men, Six Feet Under, New Girl, Brothers & Sisters, House M.D., Fargo, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Shakman directed the episodes "The Spoils of War" and "Eastwatch" for the seventh season of the HBO series Game of Thrones in 2017. In August of the same year, Shakman was appointed as the new artistic director of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.
In 2017, TriStar Pictures announced that Shakman would direct its upcoming "live-action/hybrid" film adaptation of The Phantom Tollbooth.

Directing credits

Films