Michael Pressman was born in New York City in 1950. His parents, David and Sasha Pressman, were successful artists on Broadway, so a love of performance was instilled in him from a young age. He became a professional actor at twelve and later attended Carnegie-Mellon’s drama program. After a couple years, he relocated to Los Angeles, CA to attend the California Institute of the Arts. While there, he studied under director Alexander Mackendrick who was a major influence on him during school. After graduating from CalArts in 1972, Pressman became a script reader and supported himself through odd jobs while maintaining his desire to become a director. He was eventually introduced to producer Roger Corman through a former classmate. Pressman ultimately directed the film The Great Texas Dynamite Chase, which he collaborated with his former classmates. The movie launched his directing career after they sold the film to Roger Corman and it played theatrically nationwide.
In more than forty years as a director, Pressman has helmed an extensive list of credits. His feature films include The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977), Boulevard Nights (1979), Those Lips, Those Eyes (1980), Doctor Detroit (1983), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), To Gilligan on her 37th Birthday (1996), and Frankie and Johnny Are Married (2003). His movies for television credits include Like Mom, Like Me, (1978), The Impostor (1984), And the Children Shall Lead (1985), and On Our Way (1985). Pressman is also a veteran director of episodic television and has directed series including Picket Fences, Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, Blue Bloods, Elementary, Chicago Hope, and Chicago Med.
For his directorial efforts, Pressman received a DGA Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series for his work on the pilot episode of Chicago Hope in 1995.
Pressman has served on the DGA’s Eastern Directors Council from 2000-2009. He has also served on the Television Creative Rights Committee. He has been a member of the Directors Guild since 1977.