# Phill Lewis
**Phill Lewis** (Phillip David "Phill" Lewis, born 1968 in Uganda) is an American actor, comedian, and television director best known for playing hotel manager Marion Moseby on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) series *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* and its spin-off *The Suite Life on Deck*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) The Library of Congress maintains an authorized name record for him as "Lewis, Phill, 1968-".[3](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr2001003168.html) His directing credits include series on Disney Channel, Netflix, NBC, and CBS.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, in Uganda, during his parents' Peace Corps tour[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) • [4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/) |
| Defining role | Marion Moseby on *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* (2005–2008, 87 episodes) and *The Suite Life on Deck*[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/) |
| Early screen work | *Heathers* (1988), *City Slickers* (1991), and the lead in the CBS sitcom *Teech* (1991)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) • [4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/) |
| Directing debut | 2007, the *Suite Life* episode "I Want My Mummy"[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) |
| Directing volume | 15 episodes of *One Day at a Time* (2017–2019); 102 acting and 72 directing entries on IMDb[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) |
| Recognition | Presidential Scholar in the Arts at 18; 2022 DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/) |
| Recent work | Director on *Frasier* (2023), *Night Court* (2024), *Poppa's House* (2024), and *Lopez vs. Lopez*[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) • [6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) |
## Early life and background
Lewis was born in Uganda while his parents were serving there with the [Peace Corps](https://www.edgepedia.org/peace-corps). His father, Delano Lewis, later served as a United States Ambassador and had been an associate director and country director of the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/)
His stage work began in Washington, D.C. He played Oliver at age 8 or 9 at the Mater Amoris Montessori School, where director Charlotte Kovach and music teacher Sanford Jones encouraged children in music and drama, and at 11 or 12 he appeared in *Storyville* at [Ford's Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/fords-theatre).[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/) At 18 he was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/) The extra "L" in his first name came from his own writing on an application form and stuck.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/)
## Acting career
Lewis's early screen career ran through 1980s and 1990s film and television. IMDb credits him with roles in *Heathers* (1988) and *City Slickers* (1991).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) In September 1991 he starred in the CBS sitcom *Teech*, which debuted September 18, 1991, playing a Black music teacher laid off from the [South Philadelphia](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-philadelphia) schools who takes a job at an exclusive all-white boys' school.[4](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/) Rotten Tomatoes also lists guest spots on *A Different World* among his credits from this period.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/phill_lewis)
In 1991 Lewis was involved in a fatal car crash that killed another driver. He was convicted of manslaughter, faced five years in jail, and his sentence was suspended for good behavior, with placement on probation.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/phill_lewis)
Later television work included a recurring guest role on *Scrubs* as Hooch.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/phill_lewis) TMDB lists appearances on *Lizzie McGuire*, *Friends*, *The Wayans Bros.*, *Yes Dear*, *How I Met Your Mother*, and *Head of the Class* among his television credits.[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis)
## Mr. Moseby and the Suite Life franchise
The role that defined Lewis's acting career is Marion Moseby, the hotel manager on *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody*, which ran from 2005 to 2008 across 87 episodes and centered on twins Zack and Cody Martin, played by [Dylan and Cole Sprouse](https://www.edgepedia.org/dylan-and-cole-sprouse).[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/) He reprised the character in the spin-off *The Suite Life on Deck*; sources disagree on the episode count, with Looper giving 57 and TMDB giving 73.[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) He returned as Mr. Moseby one final time in the 2011 Disney Channel television film *The Suite Life Movie*.[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/)
## Directing career
Lewis began directing while still playing Mr. Moseby. His directorial debut came in 2007 with *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* episode "I Want My Mummy".[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) He then directed episodes of *Suite Life on Deck*, with Looper counting eight and TMDB nine.[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) His Disney Channel directing credits include *[A.N.T. Farm](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-n-t-farm)*, *Austin & Ally*, *Good Luck Charlie*, *Hannah Montana*, and *Jessie*.[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/)
A milestone outside children's television came in 2015, when he directed the live episode of NBC's *Undateable*, an episode credited with helping secure the show's third season; TMDB counts 19 episodes of *Undateable* directed overall.[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) From 2017 to 2019 he directed fifteen episodes of Netflix's *One Day at a Time*.[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/) In the 2020–21 season alone he directed episodes of Netflix's *Mr. Iglesias*, CBS's *B Positive*, the *Punky Brewster* and *iCarly* continuation series, and the *Head of the Class* reboot.[9](https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/phill-lewis-one-day-at-a-time-animated-episode-directing-1234941848/) The COVID-19 pandemic gave him his first animation work, directing *One Day at a Time*'s "The Politics Episode".[9](https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/phill-lewis-one-day-at-a-time-animated-episode-directing-1234941848/)
Describing his method to Variety, Lewis said, "because I'm an actor's director, I fit in where the performance really comes out," and he prepares blocking before table reads and fits into each show's established process.[9](https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/phill-lewis-one-day-at-a-time-animated-episode-directing-1234941848/)
## By the numbers
The quantified shape of the career, with the caveat that episode counts come from databases that disagree on some figures: 87 acting episodes on *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody*; 57 or 73 on *The Suite Life on Deck* depending on the source; 102 acting and 72 directing entries on IMDb; 15 episodes of *One Day at a Time* and 19 of *Undateable* directed.[5](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/) • [2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/) • [6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/)
## What has changed since 2023
Lewis's directing work has continued across network and streaming revivals. TMDB credits him with 6 episodes of the [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) *Frasier* reboot (2023), 6 episodes of *Night Court* (2024), and 4 episodes of *Poppa's House* (2024), plus credits on *Electric Bloom* and *Vampirina: Teenage Vampire*.[2](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis) NextBiography adds *Lopez vs. Lopez* (2022–2025) to his recent credits.[6](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/)
## Reception and recognition
His early recognition was the Presidential Scholar in the Arts designation at age 18.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/) His directing has been recognized by his peers: he received a 2022 Directors Guild of America Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs.[7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/)
## References
1. [Phill Lewis (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507629/)
2. [Phill Lewis, The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/33490-phill-lewis)
3. [Lewis, Phill, 1968-, Library of Congress Name Authority Record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr2001003168.html)
4. [PHILL LEWIS, The Washington Post (1991)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1991/09/01/phill-lewis/77d2b04b-4272-44d0-9b22-000192fdc2bd/)
5. [The Suite Life's Phill Lewis Has A Dark Past You Probably Never Knew About, Looper](https://www.looper.com/1452256/phill-lewis-the-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-star-past/)
6. [Phill Lewis Biography, NextBiography](https://www.nextbiography.com/phill-lewis/)
7. [Phill Lewis Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/phill-lewis/bio/3030057322/)
8. [Phill Lewis Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/phill_lewis)
9. ['One Day at a Time': Phill Lewis on Directing Animation Amid COVID-19, Variety](https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/phill-lewis-one-day-at-a-time-animated-episode-directing-1234941848/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Le to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license