Michael Lembeck was born on June 25, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, to Caroline and Harvey Lembeck, an actor and comedian. This marked the beginning of his journey in the entertainment industry.
As a young actor, Lembeck started his career in the late-1960s, gradually transitioning to directing in the 1970s. His most notable acting role was as Julie Cooper's husband, Max Horvath, on the popular sitcom One Day at a Time.
In addition to his acting credits, Lembeck is also known for his work as "Kaptain Kool" on The Krofft Supershow from 1976 to 1978. He further showcased his talent in the 1978 film The Boys in Company C.
As a full-time film and TV director, Lembeck has received critical acclaim for his work. He won an Emmy for directing the Friends episode "The One After the Superbowl" and went on to direct 20 other episodes of the series. Lembeck is married to actress Lorna Patterson.
Making his feature film debut with The In-Laws, Lembeck has since directed a range of projects, including The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, and Connie and Carla, starring Nia Vardalos.
