# Mark Mylod
**Mark Mylod** (born 1965) is an English film and television director and executive producer best known for his work on HBO's *Succession*, on which he directed 16 episodes and executive produced 37 between 2018 and 2023, and for the satirical feature film *The Menu* (2022).[1](https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/mark-mylod/2084928/main/) He has won four [Primetime Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/primetime-emmy-awards) from nine nominations, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the *Succession* episodes "All The Bells Say" (2022) and "Connor's Wedding" (2023).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod) He is part of the creative team of HBO's *Harry Potter* television series.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/harry-potter-tv-show-what-we-know-about-the-upcoming-max-original-series-what-we-know)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Nationality and birth | English, born 1965[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/) |
| Signature work | *Succession* (HBO, 2018–2023): directed 16 episodes, executive produced 37, including all four season finales[1](https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/mark-mylod/2084928/main/) • [5](https://awardswatch.com/interview-mark-mylod-discusses-crafting-connors-wedding-and-the-legacy-of-succession/) |
| Emmy record | 9 nominations, 4 Emmys; directing wins for "All The Bells Say" (2022) and "Connor's Wedding" (2023)[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod) |
| Feature films | *Ali G Indahouse* (2002), *The Big White* (2005), *What's Your Number?* (2011), *The Menu* (2022)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/) |
| Other major TV | *Game of Thrones* (six episodes, series 5–7), *The Affair* pilot, *Entourage*, both versions of *Shameless*, *The Last of Us* series 2[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) |
| Current project | On the creative team of HBO's *Harry Potter* series with showrunner Francesca Gardiner, directing multiple episodes[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/harry-potter-tv-show-what-we-know-about-the-upcoming-max-original-series-what-we-know) |
## Early career in British television
Mylod built his reputation in British television in the late 1990s, directing episodes of the sketch-comedy series *The Fast Show*, the hit sitcom *Cold Feet*, and *The Royle Family*.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/) His path through the industry ran from production assistant at the BBC through third, second, and first assistant director jobs, and then directing a UK game show.[7](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-21/mark-mylod-goes-all-in-on-succession)
His 2004 work on the pilot of the original British version of *Shameless* brought him to the attention of HBO in the United States.[7](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-21/mark-mylod-goes-all-in-on-succession) He went on to direct and executive produce on the American remake, and in 2002 he made his feature debut with [Sacha Baron Cohen](https://www.edgepedia.org/sacha-baron-cohen)'s comedy *Ali G Indahouse*.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/)
## American television
In the United States, Mylod directed episodes of the Hollywood satire *Entourage* and the pilot of the fantasy series *Once Upon a Time*.[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/) He directed and executive produced the pilot of Showtime's *The Affair*, written by Sarah Treem and starring [Ruth Wilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-wilson), Dominic West, and [Joshua Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshua-jackson); the series won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Drama, in 2015.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) He also directed the pilot of *Backstrom* for CBS, with the series picked up by Fox, and the pilot of *Minority Report* for Fox.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724)
**Game of Thrones.** Mylod chased the job by approaching creators [David Benioff](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-benioff) and [D. B. Weiss](https://www.edgepedia.org/d-b-weiss) in a room in Los Angeles to explain why he should direct *Game of Thrones*, despite a background of small, low-budget work; the result, in his words, was a "brilliant adventure and massively steep learning curve".[8](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-24/succession-menu-mark-mylod-envelope-podcast) He directed two episodes in each of series 5, 6, and 7, six episodes in total.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) Afterward he deliberately sought contemporary material to avoid being pigeonholed in fantasy.[9](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent)
## Succession
Mylod was an executive producer on *Succession* from the start, alongside creator [Jesse Armstrong](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesse-armstrong), Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, and others.[10](https://www.hbomaxlapress.com/programming/series/263) He directed four episodes of the first season and served as director and executive producer on the series through its fourth and final season in 2023.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) Over the four seasons he became the show's principal director, helming 16 episodes including all four season finales.[1](https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/mark-mylod/2084928/main/) • [5](https://awardswatch.com/interview-mark-mylod-discusses-crafting-connors-wedding-and-the-legacy-of-succession/) As executive producer he was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023, winning in 2020 and 2023.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod)
His personal Emmy wins came for directing. He won Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2022 for the season 3 finale "All The Bells Say" and in 2023 for "Connor's Wedding", the episode built around Connor Roy's wedding during the death of patriarch [Logan Roy](https://www.edgepedia.org/logan-roy).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod) • [11](https://apnews.com/article/31c4523415d5048d9421b49fc6d5ad3c) He had earlier been nominated for "This Is Not For Tears" in 2020.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod)
**Directing style.** Mylod describes himself as "a massive fan and hugely influenced by" [Robert Altman](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-altman), citing improvisation and a search for authenticity in both the writing process and the shooting method.[9](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent) On *Succession*, the camera's role is to be as invisible as possible while selling the idea that it is barely keeping up with events beyond the filmmakers' control; staging and authenticity take priority over traditional cinematic grammar.[12](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-12-17/succession-season-3-finale-roman-kendall-shiv-renaissance-art) He keeps the entire cast on set without defining who will be on camera, so that knowing the camera could be on them at any time keeps actors mentally present.[13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) On *Connor's Wedding* he ran four cameras simultaneously, keeping them out of one another's shots, an approach he connects to his live television and multi-camera comedy background.[5](https://awardswatch.com/interview-mark-mylod-discusses-crafting-connors-wedding-and-the-legacy-of-succession/)
## The Menu
*The Menu* (2022) marked Mylod's return to feature filmmaking after more than a decade.[13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) Writers Will Tracy and Seth Reiss, who had collaborated with him on the Emmy-winning *Succession*, brought him their screenplay while he was directing an episode of the series.[13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) • [14](https://www.thewrap.com/the-menu-mark-mylod-toronto-interview/) The film stars [Ralph Fiennes](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralph-fiennes) as the celebrated chef Julian Slowik, whose exclusive island restaurant serves a group of wealthy diners a meal that turns dangerous; the cast also includes [Anya Taylor-Joy](https://www.edgepedia.org/anya-taylor-joy), Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, John Leguizamo, and [Janet McTeer](https://www.edgepedia.org/janet-mcteer).[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) • [13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) Mylod has called it a "psychological thriller, horror, comedy satire".[15](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/succession-director-mark-mylod-has-something-to-prove-with-the-menu)
To ground the food world, Mylod brought on [Dominique Crenn](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominique-crenn), the San Francisco-based French chef with three Michelin stars, as creative consultant; Crenn's team ran a two-week boot camp for the actors playing Slowik's staff, and Mylod cast supporting performers with real restaurant experience.[13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) He cites Altman's *Gosford Park* as one of his biggest influences on the film and sought actors with a gift for improvisation to create a spontaneous set.[13](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/) The film premiered at the [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival) and screened as the surprise film at the London Film Festival.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724)
## Recent and upcoming work
Mylod directed for the second series of *The Last of Us* for HBO, an episode whose battle scene has been compared to his *Game of Thrones* work.[6](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724) • [16](https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/blogs/in-conversation-the-last-of-us-got-and-succession-director-mark-mylod/) He executive produced Jesse Armstrong's debut feature as director, *Mountainhead* (2025, [HBO Max](https://www.edgepedia.org/hbo-max)), which was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod)
In 2024, *Succession* writer Francesca Gardiner was announced as showrunner of HBO's *Harry Potter* television series, an adaptation of the seven novels, with Mylod on the creative team directing multiple episodes and executive producing; an exact episode count had not been determined.[3](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/harry-potter-tv-show-what-we-know-about-the-upcoming-max-original-series-what-we-know)
## Themes and approach
Mylod has said that stories about family and social class recur across his work, from *Shameless* to *Succession* and *The Menu*, and has connected the interest to his own background, saying that for a long time a fuel that drove him was "trying to prove that the policeman's son from Devon could play in that world".[17](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/why-succession-menu-director-mark-090059534.html) He sees *Game of Thrones* and *Succession* as similar in that both explore family and power dynamics.[18](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b5a0ead697a98d839d5d532/t/616c4cd256c41e5271d5d773/1634487508114/THR_Succession_073119.pdf) On craft, he describes working on two levels at once: the immediate directing task and the larger picture of the characters' arcs, the story's arc, and the show's tone across seasons.[7](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-21/mark-mylod-goes-all-in-on-succession)
## References
1. [Mark Mylod, Moviefone biography](https://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/mark-mylod/2084928/main/)
2. [Mark Mylod, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mark-mylod)
3. [Harry Potter TV Show: What We Know About The Upcoming HBO Original Series, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/harry-potter-tv-show-what-we-know-about-the-upcoming-max-original-series-what-we-know)
4. [Mark Mylod, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mark-mylod/)
5. [Interview: Mark Mylod Discusses Crafting "Connor's Wedding" and the Legacy of 'Succession', AwardsWatch](https://awardswatch.com/interview-mark-mylod-discusses-crafting-connors-wedding-and-the-legacy-of-succession/)
6. [Mark Mylod CV, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates](https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Mark-Mylod_2024-07-03-085204_xwde.pdf?v=1719996724)
7. [How frequent "Succession" director Mark Mylod goes all in, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-21/mark-mylod-goes-all-in-on-succession)
8. [Why the 'Succession' director is motivated by class and wealth, Los Angeles Times (The Envelope podcast)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-08-24/succession-menu-mark-mylod-envelope-podcast)
9. [Mark Mylod's Willful Intent, Television Academy (emmy magazine)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/mix/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent/mark-mylodsc2a0willful-intent)
10. [HBO Max LA Press Room: Succession](https://www.hbomaxlapress.com/programming/series/263)
11. [Live Updates: 75th Emmy Awards, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/31c4523415d5048d9421b49fc6d5ad3c)
12. [Experts explain what made a 'Succession' scene look like art, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-12-17/succession-season-3-finale-roman-kendall-shiv-renaissance-art)
13. ['The Menu' Director Mark Mylod on Satire & Great Ensemble Casting, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mark-mylod-the-menu-director-interview-75715/)
14. ['The Menu' Director Mark Mylod on Shift From 'Succession' to a Twisted Satire on Fine Dining, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/the-menu-mark-mylod-toronto-interview/)
15. ['Succession' Director Mark Mylod Has Something to Prove With 'The Menu', Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/succession-director-mark-mylod-has-something-to-prove-with-the-menu)
16. [In conversation: The Last of Us, GoT, and Succession Director Mark Mylod, MetFilm School](https://www.metfilmschool.ac.uk/articles/blogs/in-conversation-the-last-of-us-got-and-succession-director-mark-mylod/)
17. [Why 'Succession' and 'The Menu' director Mark Mylod's focus on wealth is personal, Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/why-succession-menu-director-mark-090059534.html)
18. [The Hollywood Reporter, July 31, 2019, Succession special issue](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b5a0ead697a98d839d5d532/t/616c4cd256c41e5271d5d773/1634487508114/THR_Succession_073119.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of Europe › British and Irish directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license