Mike White (filmmaker)

Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Michael Christopher White (born June 28, 1970) is an American filmmaker and actor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He created, writes, and directs the ongoing HBO satirical comedy anthology series The White Lotus, for which he has won three Primetime Emmy Awards.

White also won an Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for the 2000 film Chuck & Buck, which he wrote and starred in.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has written the screenplays for films such as School of Rock (2003) and has directed several films that he has written, such as Brad's Status (2017). White was a co-creator, executive producer, writer, director and actor on the HBO series Enlightened.<ref name="FA01" /> He is also known for his appearances on reality television, competing on two seasons of The Amazing Race and later becoming a contestant and runner-up on Survivor: David vs. Goliath.

Early life

White was born in Pasadena, California.<ref name="Vulture 2013">Template:Cite news</ref> He is the son of Lyla Lee (née Loehr), a fundraising executive, and former executive director of the Pasadena Playhouse, and James Melville "Mel" White, a former speechwriter and ghostwriter for Religious Right figures such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.<ref name=FA01/> He came out as bisexual in 1994.<ref name="MelWhite">Steve Inskeep. "Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell", NPR, June 30, 2006.</ref><ref name="Vulture 2013"/> Due to his father's religious background, White grew up in a modest household in a conservative Christian community.<ref name="Vulture 2017">Template:Cite news</ref> He attended Polytechnic School which he described as a "very conservative country-club school".<ref name="Vulture 2017"/> Later he went to Wesleyan University, where he met writing partner, Zak Penn. Penn convinced him to move back to Los Angeles, and helped him to get work soon after graduating.<ref name="Vulture 2017"/>

Career

Although White and Penn's writing partnership ended a few years later due to their different sensibilities, they remained on good terms, and White credits Penn with getting him into Hollywood's social circles.<ref name="Vulture 2017"/> White was a writer and producer on Dawson's Creek and Freaks and Geeks and wrote and acted in the films Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl, Orange County, School of Rock and Nacho Libre.<ref name="Vulture 2011">Template:Cite web</ref> He also had a role in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives, and the 2008 film Smother. Chuck & Buck, in which White portrayed a manchildTemplate:Clarify who stalks his childhood friend, was named the best film of 2000 by Entertainment Weekly. In an interview with The New York Times, Jeff Bridges called White's turn in Chuck & Buck "the performance of the decade".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He frequently collaborates with actor–writer Jack Black on films. Together they formed the production company Black and White, which closed in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> White is not a fan of classic rock, but he wrote School of Rock specifically so Black could perform his own favorite rock music.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

White made his directorial debut with the self-penned Year of the Dog at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Vulture Transcript">Template:Cite news</ref> He was a member of the US Dramatic Jury at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Laura Dern brought White into a project with HBO which became the series Enlightened that premiered on October 10, 2011. Dern's character, Amy Jellicoe, goes to a Hawaiian retreat after her professional life publicly implodes, and is introduced to meditation. White himself had suffered an on-the-job meltdown while running an earlier television series, and incorporated elements of that experience, as well as his own exploration of Buddhist meditation, into the new series' plot.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Vulture 2011"/> White wrote the pilot and all the episodes in the first and second seasons.<ref name=FA01>"HBO's 'Enlightened' Take On Modern Meditation", Fresh Air interview with Dern and White on NPR, October 10, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.</ref>

White is a credited writer on The Emoji Movie; he spent three weeks with the film's screenwriters and helped with the structure of the script. For this project he received a Golden Raspberry Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He wrote and directed the 2017 film Brad's Status.

In 2021, White created, wrote, and directed The White Lotus, a satirical limited series for HBO, after being approached by HBO during the COVID-19 pandemic for ideas.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> HBO went on to greenlight two more seasons, which have different locations and casts and very little continuity between them.<ref name="Sanneh">Template:Cite magazine</ref> White has brought back three actors over the course of the series: Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Rothwell, and Jon Gries. The concept for the series was "partly inspired" by White's work on an earlier proposed series which was never picked up by any network: The Tears of St. Patsy, which would have featured "Coolidge as a frustrated actor navigating a dangerous world".<ref name="Sanneh" /> In 2023, White alluded to this earlier setback when he won a Golden Globe for The White Lotus and said: "Everybody passed. I know you all passed".<ref name="Sanneh" />

In February 2022, it was announced White would write two upcoming animated films for Universal Pictures and Illumination: the original comedy Migration, released on December 22, 2023, and the fourth installment in the Despicable Me franchise, which was released on July 3, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Meanwhile, White continued to work on the third season of The White Lotus, whose release was delayed to 2025 by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of March 2025, The White Lotus was averaging millions of viewers per episode.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It became "the biggest hit" of White's career, drawing comparisons to the best shows of the prestige television era of the 2010s.<ref name="Sanneh" /> About finding his greatest success in his mid-fifties, White compared himself to a surfer waiting for a wave who is just about to swim in: "And then I catch a wave? I'm definitely going to ride this wave".<ref name="Sanneh" />

The Amazing Race

White appeared on the fourteenth season of The Amazing Race along with his father Mel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They lasted for seven legs before being eliminated in sixth place in Phuket, Thailand. Mel and Mike returned to compete in The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business, where they were the second team eliminated in Japan after they both developed hypothermia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both times, he ended up stuck on the island of Ko Samui, which was used by the show as its elimination station, and because of those unhappy memories, he was reluctant at first to return there to film the third season of The White Lotus.<ref name="Schmidt">Template:Cite news</ref>

Survivor

White was a contestant on Survivor: David vs. Goliath, as a member of the Goliath tribe, then to reshuffled Jabeni tribe and the merged Kalokalo tribe.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He made it to Day 39 and received three jury votes, finishing in second place behind the winner, Nick Wilson.

White said he had been a big fan of the show, and because of his connections had developed a friendship with the show's host Jeff Probst, providing the host suggestions towards improving the show. For instance, Probst stated that it was White who discouraged him from bringing back Redemption Island for Survivor: San Juan del Sur.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At some point White decided to start trying out to be a participant of the show, but he failed to be picked over what he believed was a concern of having "sloppy seconds" from other reality television programs. White noted that once he was selected, he had had no other conversations with Probst until the game was concluded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Several of White's fellow Survivor players have appeared in cameos on The White Lotus, including Alec Merlino (season 1), Angelina Keeley and Kara Kay (season 2), and Natalie Cole, Carl Boudreaux and Christian Hubicki (season 3).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2025, White was announced as a contestant on Survivor: In the Hands of the Fans, the fiftieth season of the show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

White is a vegan and lives in Santa Monica with his partner, Josh. He also owns a house in Kauai.<ref name="Vulture 2013"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He is openly bisexual.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Vulture 2013"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2025 interview with The New Yorker, White said that his relationship had fallen apart due to The White Lotus taking over his schedule.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Filmography

Films

Title	Year	Director	Screenwriter	Producer	Notes
Dead Man on Campus	1998	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Chuck & Buck	2000	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Orange County	2002	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
The Good Girl		Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
School of Rock	2003	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Nacho Libre	2006	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:Yes
Year of the Dog	2007	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Directorial debut
The Hills with James Franco and Mila Kunis		Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes	Short film
Gentlemen Broncos	2009	Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes
Magic Magic	2013	Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes
The D Train	2015	Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes
Beatriz at Dinner	2017	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
The Emoji Movie		Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Brad's Status		Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:No
Pitch Perfect 3		Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
The One and Only Ivan	2020	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Migration	2023	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No
Despicable Me 4	2024	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No

Acting credits

Title	Year	Role	Notes
Star Maps	1997	Carmel County Writer
Chuck & Buck	2000	Buck O'Brien
Orange County	2002	Mr. Burke
The Good Girl		Corny
School of Rock	2003	Ned Schneebly
The Stepford Wives	2004	Hank
Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?	2005	Respondent	Short film
Welcome to California		John Goodman
Smother	2008	Myron Stubbs
Gentlemen Broncos	2009	Dusty
Zombieland		Gas Station Clerk
Ride	2014	Roger
The D Train	2015	Jerry
Brad's Status	2017	Nick Pascale
The One and Only Ivan	2020	Frankie (voice) / Passing Driver

Television

Title	Year(s)	Director	Writer	Producer	Creator	Notes
Dawson's Creek	1998–1999	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:Partial	Template:No	Wrote 9 episodes / Produced 22 episodes
Freaks and Geeks	2000	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:Partial	Template:No	Wrote 3 episodes / Produced 17 episodes
Pasadena	2001–2002	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Created and produced 13 episodes / Wrote 6 episodes.
Cracking Up	2004–2006	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Created and produced 12 episodes / Wrote episode: "The Fixer"
Earth to America	2005	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No	Template:No	Television special
Enlightened	2011–2013	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Created, wrote and produced 18 episodes / Directed 6 episodes
The Boring Life of Jacqueline	2012	Template:No	Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No	10 episodes
Mamma Dallas	2016	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:No	Television pilot
School of Rock		Template:No	Template:Yes	Template:No	Template:No	Episode: "Come Together" / Also wrote original theatrical film
The White Lotus	2021–present	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Anthology series, wrote and directed every episode

Acting credits

Title	Year(s)	Role	Notes
Freaks and Geeks	2000	Chip Kelly	Episode: "Kim Kelly Is My Friend"
Undeclared	2001	Pet Store Employee	Episode: "Eric Visits"
Pushing Daisies	2007	Billy Balsam	Episode: "Bitter Sweets"
Enlightened	2011–2013	Tyler	15 episodes
Mamma Dallas	2016	Himself	Television pilot

Non-acting credits

Title	Year	Notes
Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan	2007	Dog Owner
The Amazing Race 14	2009	6th place (with father, Mel White)
The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business	2011	10th place (with father, Mel White)
Survivor: David vs. Goliath	2018	Runner-up
Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans	2026	TBD

Awards and nominations

Organizations	Year	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
BAFTA TV Awards	2023	Best International Programme	The White Lotus	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Critics' Choice Awards	2003	Best Song	School of Rock (song: "School of Rock")	Template:Nom
Directors Guild of America Awards	2022	Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series	The White Lotus (episode: "Mysterious Monkeys")	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2023		The White Lotus (episode: "Arrivederci")	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Independent Spirit Awards	2000	John Cassavetes Award	Chuck & Buck	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Best Screenplay		Template:Nom
		Best Debut Performance		Template:Nom
	2002	Best Screenplay	The Good Girl	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2007		Year of the Dog	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2017		Beatriz at Dinner	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Primetime Emmy Awards	2022	Outstanding Limited Series	The White Lotus (season one)	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
		Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series or Movie		Template:Won
		Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series or Movie		Template:Won
	2023	Outstanding Drama Series	The White Lotus (season two)	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series	Template:Nom
	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Template:Nom
	2025	Outstanding Drama Series	The White Lotus (season three)	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series	Template:Nom
	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Template:Nom
Producers Guild of America Awards	2021	Best Limited Series – Television	The White Lotus (season one)	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2022	Best Episodic Drama	The White Lotus (season two)	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Writers Guild of America Awards	2021	Long Form – Original	The White Lotus (season one)	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	2022	Limited Series	The White Lotus (season two)	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Cite web
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• July 2000 article about White from The Village Voice