History Main / DirectedByCastmember

* Creator/ValerieArem voiced directed a number of ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' spinoffs while voicing Naoto Shirogane such as in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''.

* ''Series/ThisIsUs'': With ''Thirtysomething'' alumnus Ken Olin as one of the show's producers, this trope ''very'' present here: Creator/MiloVentimiglia did 3 episodes, Music/MandyMoore directed "[[Recap/ThisIsUsS6E09TheHill The Hill]]", Jon Huertas and Creator/JustinHartley did 2 episodes, and Chris Sullivan did "[[Recap/ThisIsUsS6E05HeartAndSoul Heart and Soul]]."

* ''Trackdown''. ''Series/ISpy''. ''Series/TheGreatestAmericanHero''. What do these TV series have in common? They all starred Creator/RobertCulp, and he wrote and directed episodes for each of them. This was a factor in his not being cast as Koenig on ''Series/Space1999''; he told [[Series/{{Thunderbirds}} Gerry Anderson]] that he wanted to write and direct, and was handed his hat as a result. In fact, the ''only'' cast member of any live-action Anderson show to have directed an episode is Creator/RobertVaughn, who went behind the camera for ''The Protectors'''s only comic episode, "It Could Be Practically Anywhere On The Island" (an episode widely regarded, [[OldShame including by Vaughn himself]], as a mistake).

* ''Series/{{Jessie}}'': Creator/KevinChamberlin has directed two episodes; Creator/DebbyRyan, in addition to being a co-producer from season two, directed a season three episode (becoming the youngest female to direct for the Creator/DisneyChannel in the process).

* With some exceptions (such as ''Film/ASceneAtTheSea''), Creator/TakeshiKitano usually acts in movies he directs. It includes ''Film/ViolentCop'', ''Film/BoilingPoint'', ''Film/{{Sonatine}}'', ''Film/GettingAny'', ''Film/{{Fireworks}}'', ''Film/{{Kikujiro}}'', ''Film/{{Brother|2000}}'', ''Film/{{Zatoichi|2003}}'' and ''Film/{{Outrage}}''.

* Creator/ChrisEvans made his directorial debut in ''Before We Go'' where he also plays the main character.

* ''Series/{{MASH}}'':
** Creator/AlanAlda directed numerous episodes (he also [[WrittenByCastMember wrote for the show]] - in fact, he directed most of the episodes he is credited for writing).
** Harry Morgan and Mike Farrell also directed several episodes each. Creator/DavidOgdenStiers directed a couple. Even Jamie Farr had one episode behind the camera.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'': Creator/DavidSchwimmer, who parlayed this into a career directing feature films and TV shows in which he does not star in (most notably ''Film/RunFatboyRun'').
* ''Series/StargateSG1'':
** Creator/RichardDeanAnderson (Jack O'Neill) was one of the series' executive producers from day one. The crew joked in one of the DVD featurettes that this was partly to make sure he showed up on time for shoots.
** Michael Shanks (Dr. Daniel Jackson) directed several and wrote a few (interestingly, one of Shanks' early episodes involved robot clones and he was able to get out of half of the screen time by just killing the clone).
** Creator/AmandaTapping (Samantha Carter) directed an episode (season 7's "Resurrection", which, incidentally, was written by Michael Shanks).
* Creator/RobertCarlyle directed an episode of SpinOff ''Series/StargateUniverse''.
* ''Series/{{Sanctuary}}'' - Creator/AmandaTapping has taken more than one spin in the director's chair, while Robin Dunne made his directing debut in season 4. Tapping also served as the executive producer for the show, and she has joked that was done so that she can save the show some money by not paying herself.
* ''Series/TheWestWing'' - Richard Schiff, the episodes "Talking Points" and "A Good Day". Creator/TimMatheson who played vice President John Hoynes also directed the seventh season episode "The Last Hurrah".
* Schiff's co-star on ''Series/TheWestWing'', Bradley Whitford, directed the season (ultimately the series) finale of ''Series/Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip''. He also wrote two episodes of ''The West Wing'', one each in the show last two seasons.
** Whitford's co-star on ''Studio 60'', Timothy Busfield, directed six episodes of the show.
* Creator/TomWelling got seven episodes (one each in seasons 5–9, and two in season 10) on ''Series/{{Smallville}}''. The first one was considered to be one of his character's better episodes. Creator/MichaelRosenbaum, John Schneider and Justin Hartley all directed one episode each (in seasons 6, 3 and 10, respectively), while Allison Mack directed two (one each in seasons 8 and 9). Hartley also got to write one episode of season 10.
* A fairly large number of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' actors have directed at least one episode, and Creator/JonathanFrakes, Creator/RobertDuncanMcNeill and Creator/RoxannDawson have in fact become more famous within the industry as directors than actors. Note that many of the cast member-directors are now or were professors of directing and acting for the stage: Frakes (Rockport College), Creator/AveryBrooks (Rutgers University), Creator/AndrewRobinson (USC), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (Juilliard).
** Averted during the run of the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Original Series]]. None of the original cast ever directed a TV episode of any ''Star Trek'' series. That said, Creator/LeonardNimoy has directed two of the films, and Creator/WilliamShatner a third.
** On ''TNG'', besides breakout director Frakes, Creator/PatrickStewart, Creator/LeVarBurton and Creator/GatesMcFadden have all spent time on the other side of the camera. Frakes also directed two of the franchise's movies. Though he's not as famous for it, Burton has actually directed more episodes of ''Star Trek'' than any other alum, with 29 episodes to his credit. (That said, Frakes will tie him before the end of 2023; he also has [[ExactWords those two movies]].)
** On ''[=DS9=]'', Brooks, Auberjonois, Creator/AlexanderSiddig, Creator/MichaelDorn and even FakeGuestStar Andrew Robinson directed episodes, with help from Frakes and Burton.
*** Pointedly averted by Creator/NanaVisitor: aware of the predilection of her castmates to direct episodes, she always claimed, "[Then-child actor] Cirroc Lofton will direct an episode before I do." As Lofton aged and this actually became a reasonable possibility, she switched to "my [then-infant] son".
*** While normally the episodes directed by a cast member either don't feature their character or only feature them briefly, the much-praised ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E13FarBeyondTheStars Far Beyond the Stars]]" sticks out because it was directed by ''and totally focused on'' Avery Brooks. The episode was about racism in the 1950s, and the writers thought that the episode would suffer if it wasn't directed by someone who has to live with it today.
** On ''Voyager'', Frakes and Burton were amongst the stable of directors, with Robinson ducking in occasionally. The first "shipboard" director was [=McNeill=], with Creator/RobertPicardo, Creator/TimRuss and Dawson getting involved as well.
*** One of the complaints Creator/GarrettWang had about his time on ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' was that he never got to a direct an episode, despite asking several times. In fact, Wang holds the dubious distinction of being the ''only'' actor '''''in the entire franchise''''' who wanted to direct but was never allowed to. This puts his character Harry Kim's ButtMonkey status in a rather unflattering light.
*** Creator/EthanPhillips also made it clear that he had no intention of ever calling the shots on an episode.
** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' was the first show in the franchise to never have any instalment directed by one of its own actors. Apparently [[Creator/{{UPN}} United Paramount Network]] (already struggling in ratings across its entire lineup) was too risk-averse to allow actors without prior directing experience to learn on the job. ''ENT'' star Creator/ScottBakula ''did'' already have such experience from his previous show ''Series/QuantumLeap'', but apparently didn't want to direct on ''ENT''. Meanwhile, Burton, Dawson and [=McNeill=] all spent time in the director's chair.
** Shows during the Secret Hideout era have likewise kept actors out of the director's chair, the sole exception being Frakes, who in addition to being ''the'' pre-eminent ''Star Trek'' director has had his character appear in two of the era's five shows. (Season 3 of ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' is the first time he's spent more time in front of a camera than behind it in over 30 years.) ''Picard'' Season 2 also had Creator/LeaThompson appear in a bit role in the 5th episode after directing the 3rd and 4th.
* Creator/WilliamShatner did direct ten episodes of ''Series/TJHooker''. James Darren (who played Officer Jim Corrigan) directed an episode himself. In fact, Darren directed several other shows (including ''Series/MelrosePlace'' a few years before he appeared as Tony Marlin). However, despite ''also'' appearing in ''Deep Space Nine'' (as holographic crooner Vic Fontaine), he never directed an episode of ''Trek''.
* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'' has seven episodes directed by Creator/ZachBraff (who, at the point he started directing episodes, had already written and directed [[Film/GardenState one movie]]), including "My No Good Reason", "My Princess" and "My Way Home" ([[MilestoneCelebration "My Way Home"]] even being one of the most well-received episodes of the later years of the show's run). Creator/BillLawrence has said Braff is probably the best director in the crew for large-scale shoots, which is why the more unusual episodes often go to him.
** "My Unicorn" was directed by Creator/MatthewPerry who also guest-starred in the episode.
* Creator/DavidBoreanaz directed the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS05E10SoulPurpose Soul Purpose]]", where Angel spends all his time bedridden in hallucinations. He also directed a fourth-season episode and the 100th episode of ''Series/{{Bones}}''.
* Creator/RobinWilliams directed the final episode of ''Series/MorkAndMindy'' (along with Creator/{{HBO}}'s ''Comic Relief'' TV special, his only directorial effort).
** Robin Williams claimed later that he lost any desire to direct after appearing in the flop ''Film/{{Popeye}}'', saying that he could never be critical of anyone else's performance without being reminded of his experiences on the film.
* Creator/PeterFalk directed an early episode of ''Series/{{Columbo}}'' and also wrote one of the post-1989 episodes. According to Mark Dawidziak's book, The Columbo File, creators/producers Richard Levinson and William Link gave Falk an episode of the series to direct "to shut him up". Furthermore, the script they gave him to direct, "Blueprint For Murder", was the one they considered the most difficult to direct. They were stunned when he brought the project in well under budget and also surprised that he did a fantastic job directing it. Unfortunately, Falk never went behind the camera again.
** In addition, regular guest star Creator/PatrickMcGoohan directed a number of episodes, including three of the four episodes where he played the murderer.

** Creator/DrakeBell got his turn by directing the first part of the "Really Big Shrimp" special

* ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati'': Frank Bonner directed 5 episodes, and Howard Hesseman and Gordon Jump directed one each.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'':
** Creator/DavidDuchovny directed a few of the later episodes, namely "The Unnatural", "Hollywood A.D.", and "William". He also [[WrittenByCastMember wrote]] "[[Recap/TheXFilesS06E19TheUnnatural The Unnatural]]" and "[[Recap/TheXFilesS07E19HollywoodAD Hollywood A.D.]]", and co-wrote "[[Recap/TheXFilesS09E16William William]]". He had a few co-writer credits for other mostly MythArc episodes.
** And Creator/GillianAnderson [[WrittenByCastMember wrote]] and directed "[[Recap/TheXFilesS07E17AllThings all things]]" (the lack of capitalization is stylized), which further explored her character.
* Creator/CarrollOConnor directed episodes of ''Series/ArchieBunkersPlace'' and ''Series/InTheHeatOfTheNight''.
* Creator/ColinFerguson (Carter), Creator/JoeMorton (Henry), and Creator/SalliRichardsonWhitfield (Allison) have all directed episodes of ''Series/{{Eureka}}''.
* Creator/JasonBateman directed the ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' episode "Afternoon Delight". The episode is "standard fare" (as in, a show with a large ensemble where the majority of the characters gets a subplot each).
* ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'': One episode directed by Creator/MaryTylerMoore herself.
* ''Series/{{CHiPs}}'': episodes directed by Robert Pine and Larry Wilcox
* ''Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977'': several episodes directed by Creator/BillBixby, plus two directed by Creator/JackColvin ("Goodbye Eddie Cain" and "East Winds").
* ''Series/TheFBI'': Nine episodes between 1970 and 1974 directed by Philip Abbott.
* ''Series/DiagnosisMurder'': One episode is directed by Barry Van Dyke.
* ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'': All episodes of the 1950s and 1960s versions were directed by Jack Webb.
* ''Series/TheRookies'': Two episodes directed by Georg Stanford Brown ("Cliffy" and "Someone Who Cares") and one by Gerald S. O'Loughlin ("A Time to Mourn"). Brown obviously enjoyed directing so much that when the series ended, he pursued directing as a career, helming dozens of TV shows over the next decade. As for O'Loughlin, he directed one more time, an episode of Family, before deciding to stick to acting.

* ''Series/{{Kojak}}'': Several episodes directed by Creator/TellySavalas.
* ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'': Both Creator/PaulMichaelGlaser and Creator/DavidSoul have directed episodes (Glaser ultimately made directing a career, while Soul dabbled briefly in directing, helming episodes of ''Series/MiamiVice'', ''Series/Hunter1984'' and ''Series/CrimeStory'').
* ''Series/LaverneAndShirley'': Creator/PennyMarshall directed four episodes of the series, serving as a springboard to her career as a feature film director. Cindy Williams and Creator/MichaelMcKean each directed an episode.
* ''Series/MiamiVice'': Both Creator/DonJohnson and Creator/EdwardJamesOlmos have directed episodes.
* Randolph Mantooth directed 2 episodes of ''Series/{{Emergency}}''. His character spent one of them in the hospital after being hit by a car in TheTeaser, but he still had a lot of screen time. Kevin Tighe directed several episodes, writing another, and Michael Norell wrote 4.
* ''Series/TheOfficeUS'': Paul Lieberstein directed seven episodes, B.J. Novak did five, Creator/SteveCarell, Creator/JohnKrasinski and Creator/RainnWilson all called the shots on three, and Mindy Kaling and Ed Helms... well, [[{{Pun}} helmed]] two each. (Lieberstein, Novak, Carell, and Kaling also [[WrittenByCastMember wrote several episodes]], and all but Carell directed one of their own scripts at least once.)
* Creator/NeilPatrickHarris directed an episode of ''Series/HowIMetYourMother''.
* Creator/HughLaurie directed the "Lockdown" episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', a BottleEpisode involving a (you guessed it) lockdown which neatly sticks characters in pairs in a single set for the entire episode, rotating through the pairs. So Laurie is free to be behind the camera for most of the episode and when he's in front of it it's in a tight character-focused box.
* As if sweeping Best Actor Emmy awards wasn't enough to take up Creator/BryanCranston's time, he also directed the second and third season premieres, as well as the midseason premiere of the final season of ''Series/BreakingBad''.
** Bryan also directed seven episodes of ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', most notably the fifth season premiere.
* ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'': As mentioned above, Creator/BryanCranston directed the episodes "Stereo Store", "Vegas", "Dirty Magazine", "Experiment", "Buseys Run Away", "Billboard", and "Malcolm Defends Reese". Creator/ChristopherKennedyMasterson directed the episode "Hal Grieves".
* Over 30 episodes of ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' were directed by Amanda Bearse (Marcy), who directed numerous other shows as well.
* Here's a strange one: Creator/DennisDugan was brought in for four episodes near the end of ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'', where he played the infamous "guy Maddie met on a train and immediately married for no apparent reason in order to provide a love triangle". This failed utterly and his character was written out and never seen again. However, Dugan himself stuck around to direct five unrelated episodes including the series finale (and now Dugan is probably better known as a director than as an actor).
** This trope itself was parodied in the ''Moonlighting'' episode "Atomic Shakespeare". In one scene, 'Petruchio' (David Addison) pulls out a list of demands for Kate (Maddy Hayes). He reads out 'Top billing, 10% pay rise and a chance to direct' and then says 'oops, wrong list of demands'. (Ironically, Bruce Willis has never directed for real. If you're wondering, neither has Cybill Shepherd.)
* Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid) directed twelve episodes of ''Series/CriminalMinds'':
** "Mosley Lane" (5x16): This one was definitely a TearJerker episode and, especially considering it involved heavy acting with teenagers and young children, was incredibly well executed. When you're able to get multiple really good performances out of ''kids'', you're doing something right.
** "Lauren" (6x18): This one was Creator/PagetBrewster's (Emily Prentiss) "goodbye episode" (due to the fiasco called ExecutiveMeddling during season six which Creator/AJCook was fired and Paget's role was reduced. Both returned for season seven) and she wanted Matthew to direct it. Another fantastic episode which involved [[spoiler: AJ Cook (JJ) returning for this episode and Emily faking her death]]. Needless to say, it was a TearJerker.
** "Heathridge Manor" (7x19): Very intriguing episode which was described by Matthew as "[[http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-Matthew-Gray-Gubler-1045581.aspx eerily cerebral]]". This one was more about the psychological horror rather than the blood and guts.
** Other episodes Gubler directed are: "The Lesson" (8x10), "Alchemy" (8x20),"Gatekeeper" (9x7), "Blood Relations" (9x20), "Mr. Scratch" (10x21),"A Beautiful Disaster" (11x18),"Elliott's Pond" (12x6), "The Capilanos" (13x17), and "The Tall Man" (14x5).
** On another note, directing is actually Matthew's passion.
* ''Series/MadMen'':
** Star Creator/JonHamm directed two episodes over the course of the series.
** AndStarring headliner Creator/JohnSlattery directed five episodes over the course of the show. His position allowed for some pretty cool visual irony: the opening scene of Slattery's first episode, [[Recap/MadMenS4E4TheRejected "The Rejected,"]] involves Roger Sterling and Don Draper discussing new regulations on cigarette advertisements over the phone with Lucky Strike; one of these requirements, as Roger reads out, is avoiding using wide angles, low shots and other forms of HitlerCam to make a smoker seem superhuman. At the same time, Don Draper is smoking, and Slattery makes sure to use... wide angles, low shots, and other forms of HitlerCam to make Don seem... well... you know the rest.
** Creator/JaredHarris directed the 7th-season episode ''Time & Life'' even though his character had been written out, making this Directed By ''Former'' Cast Member.
* Lots of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episodes, though this likely has to do with the show being produced in Minnesota, away from major show business cities, and the fact Jim Mallon was the voice of Gypsy for a large portion of the run. Kevin Murphy, Trace Beaulieu, Mike Nelson, and Joel Hodgson all directed numerous episodes as well.
* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' had multiple episodes directed by Clark Johnson who later directed episodes of ''The Shield'' and ''The Wire'' as well as feature films. Kyle Secor also directed one episode. Steve Buscemi, who appeared in a guest role in Season 3, got to direct at least one later episode, in which he did not appear.
* Creator/ShannenDoherty directed three episodes of ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'', including [[ActorLeavesCharacterDies the last one she ever appeared in.]]
* Ryan Stiles directed an episode of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow''. Humorously, TheTag at the end of the episode featured the cast members congratulating him before they shoot the final scene, in which the camera ends up zooming in on Ryan and only focusing on him while the other characters [[TakeOurWordForIt marvel at some wondrous shape-shifting object offscreen]].

* Patricia Wettig and Polly Draper are just about the only stars of ''Series/{{Thirtysomething}}'' who ''didn't'' direct an episode; one episode even featured Elliot (Timothy Busfield) making his directorial debut on a commercial (and yes, this episode was directed by a member of the cast - Melanie Mayron, not Busfield himself).
Peter Horton and Ken Olin did six each, Timothy Busfield did three, Melanie Mayron did two, while Mel Harris directed "Out the Door".
* Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt helmed three episodes each of ''Series/GhostWhisperer'' and ''The Client List''.
* Creator/JenniferGarner directed one episode of ''Series/{{Alias}}'' in season four (unlike [[Creator/BenAffleck her ex-husband]], this is her sole effort in the field to date).
* Creator/TomWopat, James Best, Sorrell Booke, and Creator/DenverPyle all directed multiple episodes of ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'' (Uncle Jesse did the most, with 12); Creator/JohnSchneider only directed one, but it was the SeriesFinale and he also co-wrote it (Schneider was the show's only cast member to write an episode).
* Creator/ScottBakula directed three episodes of ''Series/QuantumLeap''. Notably, he averted the trope in ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise''. (Reportedly, he was asked due to his previous experience, but he opted not to.)

* Happens in-universe in ''Series/{{Extras}}'' when the network hires an incompetent director for the ShowWithinAShow.
* Creator/DannyDeVito directed three episodes of ''Series/{{Taxi}}''.
* Creator/BruceCampbell, who played Autolycus in ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' and ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'', directed episodes of both series including the SeriesFinale of the latter.
* Malcolm Jamal-Warner directed several episodes of ''Series/TheCosbyShow''.
* ''Series/HomeImprovement'': Tim Allen and Patricia Richardson each directed one episode in season eight.
* David [=DeLuise=], who plays the father on ''Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace'', directed a number of episodes, one or two of which were written by TV son David Henrie.
* ''Series/BoyMeetsWorld'': Creator/WilliamRuss (Alan Matthews) directed several episodes in the later seasons before also directing an episodes of ''Series/GirlMeetsWorld''.
** ''Series/GirlMeetsWorld'': Creator/BenSavage (Cory Matthews), Creator/RiderStrong (Shawn Hunter), and Creator/DanielleFishel each directed a handful of episodes over the course of the series.

* Creator/MatthewMorrison directed the ''Series/{{Glee}}'' episode "Extraordinary Merry Christmas"
* Creator/PhillLewis (Mr. Moseby) of ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'' and its spinoff ''The Suite Life On Deck'' directed one episode of the original show and eight ''On Deck'' episodes, as well as episodes of ''Series/ANTFarm'' and ''Series/{{Jessie}}''.
* Speaking of ''Jessie'', Creator/KevinChamberlin has directed two episodes; Creator/DebbyRyan, in addition to being a co-producer from season two, directed a season three episode (becoming the youngest female to direct for the Creator/DisneyChannel in the process).
* Creator/JamesRodayRodriguez directed eight episodes of ''Series/{{Psych}}'' and earned co-producer status of the series.
** Notably, he's the go-to director for most of the show's horror parody episodes, such as [[Franchise/FridayThe13th "Tuesday the 17th"]], [[VampireFiction "This Episode Sucks"]], and [[Film/TheShining "Heeeere's Lassie"]].
* ''Series/StElsewhere'':
** Eric Laneuville (Luther Hawkins) directed 19 episodes from Season Two onwards.
** William Daniels (Mark Craig) directed the Season Three episode "The Children's Hour". This is his only credit as a director.
** David Morse (Jack Morrison) directed the Season Six episodes "Handoff" and "A Coupla White Dummies Sitting Around Talking".
* ''Series/{{ER}}'' had episodes directed by Laura Innes (12 total), Paul [=McCrane=] (9), and Anthony Edwards (4). Laura Innes and Paul [=McCrane=] even directed episodes after leaving the cast.
* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', one of the LongRunners, has developed a stable of internal directors: Creator/ChandraWilson, Creator/KevinMcKidd, Creator/JesseWilliams, Creator/EllenPompeo and Creator/GiacomoGianniotti have all stepped behind the camera. Creator/DebbieAllen, who plays a recurring character, has also joined the show's staff as an executive producer and director, and now spends more time behind the camera than in front of it; she often directs four episodes per season, Kidd four, and Wilson two, leaving fourteen others for "outside" directors to handle. And Creator/SarahDrew directed the entire ''WebVideo/GreysAnatomyBTeam'' WebVideo series, though she did not appear in it.
* Chad Lowe has directed 15 episodes of ''Series/PrettyLittleLiars'' (appropriately enough given he plays Aria's dad, the second episode he helmed was called "Father Knows Best"). Creator/TroianBellisario also got to direct "In the Eye Abides the Heart".
* Creator/RickGreen, who portrayed Bill on ''Series/TheRedGreenShow'', directed several episodes.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': David James Elliott directed three episodes; "Lifeline," "Take It Like A Man" and "There Goes The Neighborhood."
** Creator/MichaelWeatherley (Tony) has directed two episodes of ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': the season eight episode "One Last Score" and the season ten episode "Seek".
*** {{Creator/Rocky Carroll}}, who plays Director Leon Vance, directed the season twelve episode "We Build, We Fight", two season thirteen episodes: "Viral" and "Deja Vu", the season fourteen episode "Off the Grid", three season fifteen episodes "Skeleton Crew", "Family Ties", and "Death From Above", three season sixteen episodes: "Beneath the Surface", "The Last Link", and "Silent Service", and the season seventeen episode "No Vacancy".
* Out of 111 episodes of ''Series/HighwayToHeaven'', "The Secret," "The Good Doctor," "Summit," "Another Kind of War, Another Kind of Peace" and "Oh Lucky Man" are the only ones which ''weren't'' directed by either Michael Landon or Victor French.
* Several of the later episodes of ''Series/IDreamOfJeannie'' were directed by Creator/LarryHagman.
* Don Adams did this in seasons four and five of ''Series/GetSmart''.
* Creator/JasonAlexander directed the ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode "The Good Samaritan."
* Creator/YannickBisson, the lead of ''Series/MurdochMysteries'', directed "Buffalo Shuffle," "Murdoch at the Opera," "Murdoch and the Cloud of Doom," and "Murdoch of the Living Dead."
* Creator/JerryTrainor directed two episodes of the original ''Series/{{iCarly}}'' series, and one of the revival. Creator/NathanKress has also directed five episodes of the revival.
* Although Creator/ArmandoIannucci directed the first three series of ''Series/TheThickOfIt'', the final series featured a number of guest directors including Chris Addison (who plays Ollie Reader). His episode was notable for the fact that his character spent most of the episode alone in a hospital bed.
* A ''Series/MrShow'' sketch in the finale was directed by Creator/DavidCross, which probably explains why it stars Creator/BobOdenkirk and Jay Johnston as the leads, as a two-man sketch would normally be played by Bob and David (Jay usually played supporting roles).
* ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'' had two episodes directed by Creator/EricAllanKramer ("Wentz's Weather Girls" and "Rat-A-Teddy") and Creator/LeighAllynBaker ("Charlie Whisperer" and "Bob's Beau-Be-Gone").
* The ''Series/{{Nova}}'' theoretical physics miniseries [[http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/fabric-of-cosmos.html "The Fabric of the Cosmos"]] was hosted by Professor Brian Greene of Columbia University, who also wrote the book the miniseries was based on and was credited as executive editor.
* Creator/MelissaJoanHart directed nine episodes of ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'', while her co-star Creator/BethBroderick called the shots on three.
* Although ''Brotherly Love'' was shortlived, Creator/JoeyLawrence still got to direct three episodes.
* Unsurprisingly, since then both Creator/MelissaJoanHart and Joey Lawrence have directed episodes of ''Series/MelissaAndJoey'' (six and five respectively).
* In ''Series/{{Haven}}'', Creator/JasonPriestley (Chris Brody) directed "Lockdown" and "Real Estate", Creator/LucasBryant (Nathan Wuornos) directed "Enter Sandman", and Creator/ColinFerguson (William) directed "Just Passing Through".
* Creator/RobinWright (Claire Underwood) has become a recurring director for ''Series/HouseOfCardsUS'', having directed ten episodes[[note]]one season 2 episode, two season 3 episodes, four season 4 episodes, two season 5 episodes and the series finale.[[/note]]
* Creator/RobMorrow took the helm of a few episodes of ''Series/NUMB3RS'', in which he played Don Eppes, the season two episode "All's Fair", the season five episode "Cover Me", the season six episode and "Growin' Up".
** He previously directed in the series ''{{Series/Street Time}}'', where he played main character Kevin Hunter. He directed the season one episode "Follow the Money", and two season two episodes: "Lockdown" and "Hostage".
** He later directed several episodes in ''{{Series/The Fosters}}'', where he played recurring character Will. He directed the season two episode "Now Hear This", the season three episode "Minor Offenses", four season four episodes: "Potential Energy", "Safe", "Insult To Injury", and "Dream a Little Dream", and the season five episode "Sanctuary".
* Each of the four main cast members of ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' has directed at least one episode. Aidan Quinn and Jon Michael Hill have one each, Creator/JonnyLeeMiller has done three while Creator/LucyLiu has directed seven.
* Creator/EmmyRossum has directed 2 episodes of ''[[Series/{{ShamelessUS}} Shameless]]''.
* 19 episodes of ''Series/{{Girls}}'' were directed by Creator/LenaDunham herself. (The show only had 62 episodes.)
* Series/{{Arrowverse}}:
** ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' had Creator/DavidRamsey (Diggle) directing the episodes "Past Sins" and "Reset", and Creator/KatieCassidy (Laurel) directing the episode "Leap of Faith".
** ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'' had Creator/TomCavanagh (Wells) directing the episodes "The Once and Future Flash", "Elongated Journey Into Night", and "What's Past Is Prologue", and Creator/DaniellePanabaker (Caitlin) directing the episodes "Godspeed" and "License to Elongate".
** ''Series/{{Supergirl|2015}}'' had Creator/ChadLowe (Coville) directing the episodes "Wake Up" and "Rather the Fallen Angel", Creator/DavidHarewood (J'onn) directing the episodes "American Dreamer", "Back From the Future – Part One", and "Immortal Kombat", and Creator/MelissaBenoist (Kara) directing the episode "Deus Lex Machina". Lowe also directed ''The Flash'' episode "The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Pt. 1".
** ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' had Creator/CaityLotz (Sara) directing the episode "Mortal Khanbat".
* Creator/BenMcKenzie directed an episode in season 3, 4 and 5 of ''Series/{{Gotham}}'', as well as writing an episode in both season 4 and 5.
* ''Series/BassieEnAdriaan'': Besides playing Adriaan, Aad van Toor co-directed "Het Geheim van de Sleutel" and "De Diamand", and as of "Het Geheim van de Schatkaart" completely took over the director duties.
* Creator/LanaParrilla who plays Regina in ''Series/OnceUponATime'' directed season 7 episode "Chosen".
* Creator/TylerPosey who plays Scott [=McCall=] in ''Series/TeenWolf'', directed the season 6 episode "After Images".
* In ''Series/TheOriginals'', Creator/JosephMorgan who plays Klaus directed three episodes.

* In ''Series/JessicaJones2015'' season 3, Creator/KrystenRitter (Jessica) directed the season 3 episode "[[Recap/JessicaJones2015S3E2AKAYoureWelcome AKA You're Welcome]]".

* Creator/DanLevy co-directed the ChristmasEpisode of ''Series/SchittsCreek''.
* Several actors of ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' made their directing debut in the sixth season including Stephanie Beatriz for "[[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS6E08HeSaidSheSaid He Said, She Said]]", Joe Lo Truglio for "[[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS6E13TheBimbo The Bimbo]]" and Melissa Fumero for "[[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS6E15ReturnOfTheKing Return of the King]]".
* Creator/JamieLeeCurtis directed an episode of ''Series/ScreamQueens2015''.
* Creator/RogerMoore directed nine episodes of ''Series/TheSaint'' (and as pretty much the only regular cast member, he's the only candidate here) and two episodes of ''Series/ThePersuaders''.
* Adrian Lester directed an episode of the final series of ''Series/{{Hustle}}'' (which resulted in Mickey spending much of the episode locked in a car boot).
* Creator/DavidCarradine directed three episodes of ''Series/KungFu1972''.
* Creator/DominicWest directed ''Series/TheWire'' episode "[[Recap/TheWireS05E07Took Took]]".
* A number of past and present ''Series/SesameStreet'' puppeteers have also directed episodes, including Jim Martin (who mostly puppeteered minor characters like Preston Rabbit), Kevin Clash (former puppeteer of Elmo), Joey Mazzarino (Murray Monster and Stinky the Stinkweed; he also wrote episodes, skits, and songs until his departure and eventually became head writer), and Matt Vogel (the current performer of Big Bird and Count von Count). In the early seasons, Creator/JimHenson also directed some Muppet segments.
* A few episodes of ''Series/FullerHouse'' were directed by Dave Coulier, who plays Joey Gladstone.
* On ''Series/GLOW2017'', Creator/AlisonBrie directed the third season episode "Hollywood Homecoming".
* Creator/RaymondBurr directed two episodes of ''Series/Ironside1967'', "Achilles' Heel" and "Nightmare Trip".
* Barry Morse directed one episode of ''Series/TheFugitive'', "The Shattered Silence". This episode was the last one aired before the two-part finale.
* Creator/RobertConrad directed episodes of his series Black Sheep Squadron, ''The Duke'', ''A Man Called Sloane'', ''High Mountain Rangers'' and ''Jesse Hawkes''. The latter two were also series he produced.
* Creator/StacyKeach directed an episode of ''The New Mike Hammer'' entitled "A Blinding Fear".
* David Doyle directed one episode of ''Series/CharliesAngels''.
* While none of the Angels' actresses got to direct an episode, Kate Jackson did direct two episodes of ''Series/ScarecrowAndMrsKing'', "Unfinished Nusiness" and "The Pharoah's Engineer".
* John Carter, who appeared in the recurring role of Lt. John Biddle, directed two episodes of ''Series/BarnabyJones'', "A Short, Happy Life" and "Run to Death".
* Thomas Carter directed four episodes of ''Series/TheWhiteShadow''. Eventually, Carter abandoned acting for a more lucrative producing and directing career.
* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': In addition to Creator/MatthewGrayGubler, who was previously mentioned, a number of other cast members have directed episodes...Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler and Adam Rodriguez.
* Creator/HelenHunt directed four episodes of ''Series/MadAboutYou'', including the original finale - and in some appropriate resonance, would also do the opener for the series revival in 2019.
* Benjamin King directed the ''Series/LivAndMaddie'' episode "Repeat-a-Rooney"
* Creator/KevinAlejandro (Dan) of ''Series/{{Lucifer}}'' directed the episodes "Once Upon a Time", "Spoiler Alert", "Nothing Ever Changes Around Here" and "Goodbye, Lucifer". Creator/DBWoodside who plays Amenadiel directed the sixth season episode "Save the Devil, Save the World".
* Creator/JohnRatzenberger directed four episodes of ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' and Creator/GeorgeWendt directed one during the later seasons.
* Creator/PeterGraves directed the ''Series/MissionImpossible'' episode "Kidnap." as he'd been on the show for a while, he felt the pitfalls that beset the show's other directors wouldn't trip him up (he was wrong; this was his second[[note]]he made his directorial debut with an episode of ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}''[[/note]] and last time behind the camera
* ''Series/BatesMotel'' put several of its main cast in the director's chair. It started when star Creator/VeraFarmiga suggested that Creator/NestorCarbonell ought to direct an episode; he made his debut in the director's chair in season three and went on to direct an episode in both seasons four and five as well. Creator/FreddieHighmore and Creator/MaxThieriot followed suit, both taking a turn behind the camera in season five. Ironically, the only main cast member who already ''had'' directing experience, Farmiga herself[[note]]who had directed the well-received 2011 indie drama film ''Higher Ground''[[/note]], turned down the opportunity when she was asked if she wanted to direct as well.
* Creator/StephenMoyer (Bill Compton) directed three episodes of ''Series/TrueBlood'': "Somebody That I Used To Know" (Season 5, Episode 8), "Who Are You, Really?" (Season 6, Episode 1), and "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (Season 7, Episode 1).
* ''Series/BetterThings'': Creator/PamelaAdlon starred as main character Sam, while she also co-created, produced and wrote much of the series.
* ''Series/TheBisexual'': Creator/DesireeAkhavan played Leila, the lead character, while she was also the co-creator and director.
* ''Series/RoswellNewMexico'': Creator/MichaelTrevino, who played Kyle Valenti, also directed the fourth season episode "Wild Wild West".
* ''Series/{{Moonlighting}}'': Creator/DennisDugan played Maddie's temporary husband in the fourth season. He returned to the show in the fifth season to direct five episodes including the series finale.
* ''Series/ThisIsUs'': With ''Series/{{Thirtysomething}}'' alumnus Ken Olin as one of the show's producers, this trope ''very'' present here - Creator/MiloVentimiglia did 3 episodes, Music/MandyMoore directed "[[Recap/ThisIsUsS6E09TheHill The Hill]]", Jon Huertas and Creator/JustinHartley did 2 episodes, Chris Sullivan did "[[Recap/ThisIsUsS6E05HeartAndSoul Heart and Soul]]"
* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger'': Creator/ClarenceGilyard directed "Full Recovery".
* ''Series/DawsonsCreek'' had an episode directed by cast member Creator/JoshuaJackson, and a second by cast member Creator/KerrSmith, during the sixth season. This is notable since the show is a TeenDrama -- though perhaps less so since it's also the TropeNamer for DawsonCasting. Jackson's character was 20 at the time he directed, but the man himself was 25. (That said, he got to direct Creator/AdamCarolla and Drew Pinsky.)

* Creator/WendeeLee voiced directed multiple games while also having a voice role. They include ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' (Nam), ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'' (Athena Cykes), and ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' (Trish and Eva). ''Devil May Cry 5'' deserves another mention as it was voiced directed by Lee and Creator/StephanieSheh (Kyrie).

* ''Series/TheWestWing'' - Richard Schiff, the episodes "Talking Points" and "A Good Day". Tim Matheson who played vice President John Hoynes also directed the seventh season episode "The Last Hurrah".

* Speaking of ''Jessie'', Kevin Chamberlin has directed two episodes; Creator/DebbyRyan, in addition to being a co-producer from season two, directed a season three episode (becoming the youngest female to direct for the Creator/DisneyChannel in the process).

* ''Series/MadMen'' has two season-4 episodes directed by Creator/JohnSlattery (who plays Roger Sterling).
** Season 5 featured directorial efforts from John Slattery and Creator/JonHamm. Slattery's episode - "Signal 30" - was particularly acclaimed (in part due to a script penned by ''Film/DogDayAfternoon'' writer Frank Pierson) and was deemed by many critics as one of the season's best episodes.
** This allows for some pretty cool visual irony: the opening scene of Slattery's first episode, [[Recap/MadMenS4E4TheRejected "The Rejected,"]] involves Roger Sterling and Don Draper discussing new regulations on cigarette advertisements over the phone with Lucky Strike; one of these requirements, as Roger reads out, is avoiding using wide angles, low and other forms of HitlerCam to make a smoker seem superhuman. At the same time, Don Draper is smoking, and Slattery makes sure to use...wide angles, low shots, and other forms of HitlerCam to make Don seem...well...you know the rest.
** Creator/JaredHarris (Lane Pryce) directed the 7th season episode ''Time & Life'' even though [[spoiler: his character hanged himself 2 seasons earlier]] making this Directed by ''former'' cast member.

* ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', one of the LongRunners, has developed a stable of internal directors: Creator/ChandraWilson, Creator/KevinMcKidd, Creator/JesseWilliams, Creator/EllenPompeo and Creator/GiacomoGianniotti have all stepped behind the camera. Creator/DebbieAllen, who plays a recurring character, has also joined the show's staff as an executive producer and director, and now spends more time behind the camera than in front of it; she often directs four episodes per season, Kidd four, and Wilson two, leaving fourteen others for "outside" directors. And Creator/SarahDrew directed the entire ''WebVideo/GreysAnatomyBTeam'' WebVideo series, though she did not appear in it.

* Creator/JerryTrainor directed two episodes of ''Series/{{iCarly}}''.

* Creator/RichardEpcar voice directed the first dub of ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShell1995 Ghost in the Shell: Innocence]]'' while voicing Batou, and also ADR directed many ''Manga/LupinTheThird'' properties while voicing Jigen.

* ''Manga/SailorMoon'':

* Creator/ToddHaberkorn has also directed some Creator/{{Funimation}} titles he starred in such as ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' and ''VisualNovel/{{Shuffle}}''; as well as ''Manga/BluePeriod''.
* The late Kevin Seymour was a veteran anime voice director in the 90s and early-mid 2000s, but he rarely cast himself in his shows. The biggest exception was Inspector Zenigata in ''[[Anime/TheCastleOfCagliostro Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro]]''.
* Creator/EricStuart voiced directed most of ''Manga/YuGiOh'' while voicing Seto Kaiba. He also directed parts of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' while voicing Brock and James. Creator/TedLewis (Tracey, original James), also directed some episodes.

* Valerie Arem voiced directed a number of ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' spinoffs while voicing Naoto Shirogane such as in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'', ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', and ''VideoGame/Persona4DancingAllNight''.

* Tom Wopat, James Best, Sorrell Booke, and Denver Pyle all directed multiple episodes of ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'' (Uncle Jesse did the most, with 12); John Schneider only directed one, but it was the SeriesFinale and he also co-wrote it (Schneider was the show's only cast member to write an episode).

* Creator/TommyWiseau, who starred in his own film ''Film/TheRoom'', had written the script, produced the film, and directed it. [[SoBadItsGood The results are well-known.]]

* ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'': Both Creator/PaulMichaelGlaser and Creator/DavidSoul have directed episodes (Glaser ultimately made directing a career, while Soul dabbled briefly in directing, helming episodes of ''Series/MiamiVice'', ''Series/{{Hunter}}'' and ''Series/CrimeStory'').

** This trope itself was parodied in the ''Moonlighting'' episode "Atomic Shakespeare". In one scene, 'Petruchio' (David Addison) pulls out a list of demands for Kate (Maddy Hayes). He reads out 'Top billing, 10% pay rise and a chance to direct' and then says 'oops, wrong list of demands'. (Ironically, Bruce Willis has never directed for real.)

* The Creator/{{DiC}} dub of ''Manga/SailorMoon'' was originally directed by Tracey Moore, the original voice of the title character. Later, Roland Parliament (Melvin/Umino) took over, while Creator/TerriHawkes (Sailor Moon #2) and Mary Long (Molly/Naru and Katzy/Koan #2) assistant directed some episodes.
** Averted for the Viz dub of ''Crystal'' and redub for the original series, where Suzanne Goldish didn't voice any characters (despite being a voice actress herself), but played straight for the ''Eternal'' movies where Creator/ToddHaberkorn (who previously voiced Jadeite) does double duty as voice director and takes over as the voice of Rei's grandfather.

* There's a reason both the page image ''and'' the page quote reference ''Franchise/StarTrek'': A fairly large number of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' actors have directed at least one episode, and Creator/JonathanFrakes, Creator/RobertDuncanMcNeill and Creator/RoxannDawson have in fact become more famous within the industry as directors than actors. Note that many of the cast member-directors are now or were professors of directing and acting for the stage: Frakes (Rockport College), Creator/AveryBrooks (Rutgers University), Creator/AndrewRobinson (USC), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (Juilliard).

* Creator/CaitlinGlass voice directed ''Manga/OuranHighSchoolHostClub'' while voicing lead Haruhi, and also did some episodes of ''Manga/OnePiece'' while voicing Vivi, and ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' while voicing Miria. Similarly she's among other series, directed the dubs for ''LightNovel/LordMarksmanAndVanadis'' and co-directed the dub ''Manga/NewGame'', whilst voicing lead characters in both. She too directed the dub of the ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' remake where she voices Machi in the series.

** Both have done this many times. Sheh voiced Paho in ''Anime/PatemaInverted'' and Natsuki in ''Anime/WelcomeToTheSpaceShow'', among others, while voice directing, and Sinterniklaas also voiced leads in ''Manga/{{Bakuman}}'' (as Moritaka), ''[[LightNovel/{{Slayers}} Slayers Revolution]]'' (as Xellos), and ''Anime/TimeOfEve'' (as Masaki), all of which he directed.

* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': Creator/ClarkGregg had directed an episode in Season 5, and another one in Season 6. Bonus points for the actor who portrayed the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. becoming a literal Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

* Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) directed three episodes of ''Series/TrueBlood'': episode 8 of season 5, and the premiere episodes of seasons 6 and 7.
* A ''Series/MrShow'' sketch in the finale was directed by Creator/DavidCross, which probably explains why it stars BobOdenkirk and Jay Johnston as the leads, as a two-man sketch would normally be played by Bob and David (Jay usually played supporting roles).

* Creator/StephenMoyer (Bill Compton) directed three episodes on ''Series/TrueBlood'': "Somebody That I Used To Know" (Season 5, Episode 8), "Who Are You, Really?" (Season 6, Episode 1), and "Jesus Gonna Be Here" (Season 7, Episode 1).

* Creator/HeathLedger was a second unit director on ComicBook/TheJoker's video where he tortures and kills the Batman copycat in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' where he also played the Joker. Director Creator/ChristopherNolan was so impressed with his work he let Ledger direct the second Joker video where he holds a news anchor hostage by himself.

* A fairly large number of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' actors have directed at least one episode. Creator/JonathanFrakes, Creator/RobertDuncanMcNeill and Creator/RoxannDawson are some of the triumphs of this trope: all three, despite starting out as actors, have since become more famous within the industry as directors. (In fact, when it came time for him to reprise his role in ''Series/StarTrekPicard'', 20 years later, he had a bit of a CreatorBreakdown because it had been such a long time since he was on that end of the camera.) There's a reason both the page image ''and'' the page quote reference this franchise. Note that many of the cast member-directors are now or were professors of directing and acting for the stage: Frakes (Rockport College), Creator/AveryBrooks (Rutgers University), Creator/AndrewRobinson (USC), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (Juilliard).

** On ''TNG'', besides breakout director Frakes, Creator/PatrickStewart, Creator/LeVarBurton and Creator/GatesMcFadden have all spent time on the other side of the camera. Frakes also went on to direct two of the series' four feature films.

*** Pointedly averted by Creator/NanaVisitor who, aware of the predilection of her castmates to direct episodes, always denied that she would ever do so herself: "[Then-child actor] Cirroc Lofton will direct an episode before I do." As Lofton aged and this actually became a possibility, she switched it to "my [then-infant] son".
*** While normally the episodes directed by a cast member either don't feature their character (such as the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS6E6Riddles Riddles]]", in which B'Elanna Torres (the character played by director Roxann Dawson) doesn't appear at all) or only feature them briefly, the much-praised ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E13FarBeyondTheStars Far Beyond the Stars]]" sticks out because it was directed by Avery Brooks, who features prominently in pretty much ''every single scene''. The episode was about racism in the 1950s, and the writers thought that the episode would suffer if it wasn't directed by someone who has to live with it today.
** On ''Voyager'', Frakes and Burton were amongst the stable of directors, with Robinson ducking in occasionally. The first "shipboard" director was McNeill, with Creator/RobertPicardo, Creator/TimRuss and Dawson getting involved as well.
*** One of the complaints Creator/GarrettWang had about his time on ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' was that he never got to a direct an episode, despite asking several times. In fact, Wang holds the dubious distinction of being the ''only'' actor '''''in the entire franchise''''' who wanted to direct but was never allowed to. Looks like Harry Kim's ButtMonkey status is contagious...

** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' was the first show in the franchise to never have any instalment directed by one of its own actors. Apparently the [[Creator/{{UPN}} United Paramount Network]] (already struggling in ratings across its entire lineup) was too risk-averse to allow actors without prior directing experience to direct their shows. ''ENT'' star Creator/ScottBakula ''did'' already have such experience rom his previous show ''Series/QuantumLeap'', but apparently didn't want to direct on ''ENT''. However, Burton, Dawson and [=McNeill=] all spent time in the director's chair.
** Shows during the Secret Hideout era have likewise kept actors out of the director's chair, the sole exception being Frakes -- who, in addition to his position as ''the'' pre-eminent ''Star Trek'' director, is one of the only people currently involved in the franchise who has actually met Creator/GeneRoddenberry -- and has had guest appearances in two of the era's five shows. ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' also had Creator/LeaThompson appear in a bit role after directing two episodes.

* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger'': Creator/ClarenceGilyard directed "Recovery".

* Creator/RaymondBurr directed two episodes of ''Series/{{Ironside}}'', "Achilles' Heel" and "Nightmare Trip".

* A large number of ''Franchise/StarTrek'' actors have directed at least one episode. (There's a reason both the page image ''and'' the page quote reference this franchise.) Creator/JonathanFrakes in particular is one of the triumphs of this trope: since his show ended, he has become more famous within the industry as a director than as an actor. In fact, when it came time for him to reprise his role in ''Series/StarTrekPicard'', 20 years later, he had a bit of a CreatorBreakdown because it had been such a long time since he was on that end of the camera. Note that many of the cast member-directors are now or were professors of directing and acting for the stage: Frakes (Rockport College), Creator/AveryBrooks (Rutgers University), Creator/AndrewRobinson (USC), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (Juilliard).

** On ''DS9'', Brooks, Auberjonois, Creator/AlexanderSiddig, Creator/MichaelDorn and even FakeGuestStar Andrew Robinson directed episodes, with help from Frakes and Burton.
*** Pointedly averted by Creator/NanaVisitor who, aware of the predilection of her castmates to direct episodes, always denied that she would ever do so herself: "Cirroc Lofton [the only child actor in the cast] will direct an episode before I do", she was fond of saying. As Lofton aged and that actually became a possibility, she switched it to "my [then-infant] son".
** While normally the episodes directed by a cast member either don't feature their character (such as the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS6E6Riddles Riddles]]", in which B'Elanna Torres (the character played by director Roxann Dawson) doesn't appear at all) or only feature them briefly, the much-praised ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E13FarBeyondTheStars Far Beyond the Stars]]" sticks out because it was directed by Avery Brooks, who features prominently in pretty much ''every single scene''. The episode was about racism in the 1950s, and the writers thought that the episode would suffer if it wasn't directed by someone who has to live with it today.
** On ''Voyager'', Frakes and Burton were amongst the stable of directors, with Robinson ducking in occasionally. The first "shipboard" director was Creator/RobertDuncanMcNeill, with Creator/RobertPicardo, Creator/TimRuss and Creator/RoxannDawson getting involved as well. [=McNeill=] and Dawson have, like Frakes, since become better known for their directing than their acting.

** Shows during the Secret Hideout era have likewise kept actors out of the director's chair, the sole exception being Frakes, who is recognized as ''the'' Star Trek director, and has had guest appearances in two of the era's five shows. ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' also had Creator/LeaThompson appear in a bit role after directing two episodes.

* About three-quarters of the entire cast of all five ''Franchise/StarTrek'' series have directed at least one episode. Creator/WilliamShatner has directed one of the movies, and Creator/LeonardNimoy and Creator/JonathanFrakes have each directed two of them. (There's a reason both the page image ''and'' the page quote reference this franchise.) Frakes in particular is one of the triumphs of this trope: since his show ended, he has become more famous within the industry as a director than as an actor. In fact, when it came time for him to reprise his role in ''Series/StarTrekPicard'', 20 years later, he had a bit of a CreatorBreakdown because it had been such a long time since he was on that end of the camera.
** Averted during the run of the [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Original Series]]. None of the original cast ever directed a TV episode of any ''Star Trek'' series.
** Creator/GatesMcFadden, who is better regarded as a choreographer than actor, directed the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E18Genesis Genesis]]", where her expertise in directing movement was put to good use. Her own character spends most of the episode in stasis, freeing her to focus on direction.
** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Here is the list of which actors directed which episodes (other than those already listed).
*** Creator/JonathanFrakes directed the episodes "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E16TheOffspring The Offspring]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E7Reunion Reunion]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E21TheDrumhead The Drumhead]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E18CauseAndEffect Cause and Effect]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E9TheQualityOfLife The Quality of Life]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E18TheChase The Chase]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E7Attached Attached]]" and "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E13SubRosa Sub Rosa]]".
*** Creator/PatrickStewart directed "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E25InTheory In Theory]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E11HeroWorship Hero Worship]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E8AFistfulOfDatas A Fistful of Datas]]", "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E5Phantasms Phantasms]]" and "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E23PreemptiveStrike Preemptive Strike]]".
*** Creator/LeVarBurton directed "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E22SecondChances Second Chances]]" and "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E11ThePegasus The Pegasus]]".
** ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' was so fond of this that even Andrew Robinson (a FakeGuestStar) directed an episode.
*** Note that many of the Franchise/StarTrek cast member-directors are now or were professors of directing and acting for the stage: Creator/JonathanFrakes (Rockport College), Creator/AveryBrooks (Rutgers University), Creator/AndrewRobinson (USC), Creator/ReneAuberjonois (Juilliard).
*** Pointedly averted by Creator/NanaVisitor who, aware of the predilection of her castmates to direct episodes, always denied that she would ever do so herself: "Cirroc Lofton [the only child actor in the cast] will direct an episode before I do", she was fond of saying. As Lofton aged and that actually became a possibility, she switched it to "my [then-infant] son".
*** Over on ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Creator/EthanPhillips also made it clear that he had no intention of ever calling the shots on an episode.
** While normally the episodes directed by a cast member either don't feature their character (such as the ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS6E6Riddles Riddles]]", in which B'Elanna Torres (that episode's director Roxann Dawson) doesn't appear at all) or only feature them briefly, the much-praised ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E13FarBeyondTheStars Far Beyond the Stars]]" sticks out because it was directed by Avery Brooks, who features prominently in pretty much ''every single scene''. (The episode was about racism in the 1950s, and the writers thought that the episode would suffer if it wasn't directed by someone who has to live with it today.)
*** The episode was originally supposed to star Cirroc Lofton, but it had to be changed due to schedule issues.
** One of the complaints Creator/GarrettWang had about his time on ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' was that he never got to a direct an episode, despite asking several times. In fact, Wang holds the dubious distinction of being the ''only'' actor '''''in the entire franchise''''' who wanted to direct but was never allowed to. Looks like Harry Kim's ButtMonkey status is contagious...
** And, of course, these directors will often show up in shows that follow theirs. Frakes has directed episodes of ''[=DS9=]'', ''VOY'', ''ENT'', ''[[Series/StarTrekDiscovery DISCO]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekPicard PIC]]'', and is already slated to direct episodes of the ''DISCO'' SpinOff / ''TOS'' {{prequel}} ''Strange New Worlds''. [=LeVar=] Burton did an average of 9 episodes per series for ''[=DS9=]'', ''VOY'' and ''ENT''. Andrew Robinson, the FakeGuestStar of ''[=DS9=]'', directed two ''VOY'' episodes. And after directing episodes of ''VOY'', both Roxann Dawson and Robert Duncan [=McNeill=] came back for ''ENT''.
** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' was the only show in the franchise to never have an episode directed by one of its own actors, though actors from previous ''Trek'' series did. Apparently the [[Creator/{{UPN}} United Paramount Network]] (already struggling in ratings across its entire lineup) was too risk-averse to allow actors without prior directing experience to direct their shows. ''ENT'' star Creator/ScottBakula ''did'' already have such experience on his previous series ''Series/QuantumLeap'', but apparently didn't want to direct on ''ENT''.

* Creator/RichardEpcar voice directed the first dub of ''[[Anime/GhostInTheShell Ghost in the Shell: Innocence]]'' while voicing Batou, and also ADR directed many ''Manga/LupinTheThird'' properties while voicing Jigen.