Keith Truesdell is an American film and television director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the television series The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He has also directed several feature films, including A Serious Man, The Brothers Solomon, and The To Do List.
Truesdell was born in Los Angeles, California in October 1973. He attended the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, majoring in screenwriting. After graduating in 1995, he began his career in television, writing and producing for series such as The X-Files, The Practice, and Dharma & Greg.
In 2004, Truesdell made his directorial debut with the comedy feature A Serious Man. The film received positive reviews and earned two Oscar nominations, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. Following this success, Truesdell directed and executive produced the NBC sitcom The Office, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006.
Truesdell went on to direct episodes of numerous other television shows, including Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project, Fresh Off the Boat, and The Good Place. He also directed the 2007 comedy The Brothers Solomon, which starred Will Arnett and Will Forte. In 2013, he executive produced and directed the feature film The To Do List, starring Aubrey Plaza.
In addition to his work in television and film, Truesdell has also directed numerous commercials for companies such as Old Navy, Target, and Pizza Hut. He also directed several music videos, including “Say Hey (I Love You)” by Michael Franti & Spearhead and “We Are Young” by fun.
Truesdell is a passionate advocate for diversity in film and television. He is a founding member of the Directors of Color Initiative, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for directors of color in the entertainment industry. He is also an advocate for gender equality and has directed several episodes of television shows with female leads, such as Parks and Recreation and The Mindy Project.
Truesdell continues to direct television and feature films, and has recently completed work on the Netflix film Traveling Light. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
