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Michael Lembeck
Born	(1948-06-25)June 25, 1948 (age 77) Brooklyn,New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, film director
Years active	1968–present
Spouse(s)	Barbara Deutsch (m. 1977; div. 19??) Lorna Patterson ​ ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	2
Relatives	Harvey Lembeck (father) Helaine Lembeck (sister)

Michael Lembeck (born June 25, 1948) is an American actor and television and film director.^[1] He is best known as Max Horvath inOne Day at a Time (1979–1984).

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Lembeck was born inBrooklyn, New York, the son of Caroline Dubs andHarvey Lembeck, an actor and comedian. His parents practiced theJewish faith.^[2] He began acting in the late 1960s and directing in the 1970s.

His most notable acting role was as Julie Cooper (Mackenzie Phillips)'s husband, Max Horvath, on the sitcomOne Day at a Time.^[3] He played newscaster Clete Meizenheimer on the seriesMary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

In 1975, he appeared onBarney Miller in the episode "Hair" as Officer Guardeno.^[3] He also played Kaptain Kool of the fictional band Kaptain Kool and the Kongs onThe Krofft Supershow from 1976 to 1978. He is also known for his role as Vinnie Fazio inThe Boys in Company C in 1978.^[3] He was a member of the cast of the 1985–1986 situation comedyFoley Square. He appeared with his father, actorHarvey Lembeck, in an episode ofThe Partridge Family in 1971.

Lembeck has had collaborations with actorPeter Boyle (with whom he had previously appeared as an actor inConspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8) in bothThe Santa Clause 2 and its sequelThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Lembeck also directed Boyle in a number of episodes ofEverybody Loves Raymond.

Lembeck's first film appearance came in the 1968 filmHang 'Em High where he portrays “Marvin,” a store clerk with two spoken lines, in which he asks the proprietor where to store blankets. He later acted inThe In-Laws.^[4] He directedThe Santa Clause 2 andThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, as well as theNia Vardalos filmConnie and Carla andTooth Fairy.^[1]

Lembeck now^[when?] works as a full-time film and TV director. He won an Emmy for his work on theFriends episode "The One After the Superbowl", which was also the most-viewed episode of the series. He also directed 20 other episodes of the series.^{[citation needed]}

Lembeck is married to his second wife, retired actressLorna Patterson. They raised two children.^[5][6]

Lembeck's work has received recognition from theDirectors Guild of America, and theAcademy of Television Arts and Sciences (also known as the ATAS).^[7]

• 1996Won -Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("The One After the Superbowl") (Friends)
• 1999 Nominated -Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("The One Where Everybody Finds Out") (Friends)
• 2000 Nominated -Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series ("The One That Could Have Been (Part 1 & 2)") (Friends)
• 2012 Nominated -Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs (Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure)
• 2017 Nominated -Directors Guild award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs (A Nutcracker Christmas)

• The Santa Clause 2 (2002)
• Connie and Carla (2004)
• The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
• Tooth Fairy (2010)
• Queen Bees (2021)
• The J Team (2021)

Direct-to-video

• The Clique (2008)
• Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure (2011) (Also co-producer)

TV movies

• Acting Sheriff (1991)
• Boys & Girls (1996)
• Carly (1998)
• True Love (1999)
• The Peter Principle (2000)
• From Where I Sit (2000)
• Loomis (2001)
• Untitled Oakley & Weinstein Project (2005)
• So Here's What Happened (2006)
• The Bling Ring (2011)
• Homeboys (2013)
• A Nutcracker Christmas (2016)
• Snow Day (2022)

TV series

• Michael Lembeck atIMDb

• 1948 births
• 21st-century American Jews
• American male television actors
• American television directors
• Jewish American male actors
• Living people
• Male actors from Brooklyn
• Film directors from New York City

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