Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Alex Graves

Alexander John Graves (born July 23, 1965) is an American film director, television director, television producer, and . He is best known for his work on the political drama series (1999–2006), where he directed 34 episodes and served as a producer, earning two for Outstanding Drama Series in 2001 and 2002. Graves graduated from the with a BA in . Early in his career, he directed the independent The Crude Oasis (1993). He gained prominence directing for , created by , and later helmed pilots for series including (2008), (2011), and The Whole Truth (2010), many of which were picked up to series. His directing credits also include six episodes of HBO's Game of Thrones (2012–2014), such as the season 4 finale "The Children", which was nominated for a Directors Guild of America Award; seven episodes of Showtime's Homeland (2011–2013); and episodes of The Boys (2019–2020) and Apple TV+'s Foundation (2021–2023). As of November 2025, Graves serves as an executive producer and director on Netflix's The Diplomat (2023–present), having directed all episodes of seasons 1 and 2, with season 3 in production.

Early life and education

Family background

Alex Graves was born on July 23, 1965, in , to William R. Graves and Alexandra Meyer Graves. His father, William R. Graves, worked as a reporter for for many years until 1971, when he left to become a partner in Graves Drug Stores in . Graves has one sister, Anne E. Graves. The family relocated to El Dorado, Kansas, shortly after his birth, where Graves spent much of his early years.

Formal education

Graves graduated from El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Kansas, in 1983, where he actively participated in the drama department under teacher Michele Banks. Following high school, he attended the for two years before transferring to the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts to study film. There, he earned a degree in film production in 1987. During his time at USC, Graves gained hands-on experience through involvement in student filmmaking projects, including writing the short film Shelter in the Storm, directed by , which screened as part of the university's student film showcase in 1989. This academic training at USC, alma mater of filmmakers like , laid the groundwork for his professional career in directing.

Career

Early independent work

Following his graduation from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, Alex Graves transitioned into independent filmmaking by writing the screenplay for the short film Shelter in the Storm in 1989, which was produced and released through the school's program. Graves made his feature film debut with The Crude Oasis (1993), a drama that he wrote, produced, directed, and edited under his production company Bluestem Films. Shot over 14 days in and around —his hometown—the low-budget project, made for $25,000, followed a lonely housewife plagued by nightmares who becomes obsessed with a mysterious stranger she encounters, leading to a dangerous affair. acquired and distributed the film, releasing it theatrically in 1995. Independent production presented significant hurdles for Graves, including securing funding on a shoestring budget and navigating the competitive landscape for distribution, though Miramax's involvement marked an early breakthrough. Critics noted the film's intriguing premise and atmospheric tension but found its execution uneven, describing it as an "odd and interesting though not entirely successful" effort within the subgenre of alienated loners in small-town America.

Rise with The West Wing

Alex Graves joined in 1999, shortly after working on Aaron Sorkin's , where he had been recommended by producer Mike Listo to executive producer . Invited to direct after viewing the pilot, Graves helmed his first episode, (Season 1, Episode 10), marking the beginning of his extensive involvement with the series. Over the show's seven-season run on from 1999 to 2006, he directed 34 episodes, contributing to its fast-paced portrayal of operations and political intrigue. Representative examples include "The Midterms" (Season 2, Episode 3), "Galileo" (Season 2, Episode 9), "17 People" (Season 2, Episode 18), and "Here Today" (Season 7, Episode 4), where his direction emphasized dynamic long takes and visual tension to underscore the narrative's intensity. As Graves' role expanded, he transitioned into production capacities starting in Season 3, serving as a and supervising producer to help shape the series' execution. By Season 4, he advanced to co-executive producer, a position he held through much of the show's later years, and eventually until the Season 7 episode "Election Day: Part 1." In these capacities from 2001 to 2006, Graves influenced the production's technical evolution, such as introducing a widescreen (1.85:1) in Season 2 for a more cinematic feel and experimenting with handheld camerawork in episodes like "Game On" (Season 4, Episode 6) to mirror the fragmentation of political debates. His multifaceted contributions solidified The West Wing's reputation as a benchmark for ensemble-driven , blending sharp dialogue with fluid, immersive visuals across its 154 episodes.

Major television projects

Following his producing and directing tenure on The West Wing, which provided a strong foundation in ensemble , Alex Graves expanded into a diverse array of television genres, directing episodes across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. Graves began this phase with , directing the pilot episode of Fox's in 2008 and an additional episode in 2009, establishing his ability to handle intricate procedural narratives involving parallel universes and fringe science. He later deepened his sci-fi portfolio with two episodes of Netflix's in 2018, including "Force of Evil" and "Man with My Face," which explored themes of consciousness transfer and corporate intrigue, and three episodes of the reboot in 2019, such as "Shipwrecked," focusing on family survival in space. His work extended to Apple TV+'s from 2021 to 2022, where he directed seven episodes adapting Isaac Asimov's epic, emphasizing grand-scale world-building and philosophical sci-fi elements. In political and espionage thrillers, Graves directed seven episodes of Showtime's across seasons 4 and 5 (2014–2015), including "The Return" and "," contributing to the series' tense portrayals of and moral ambiguity. He helmed four episodes of HBO's in season 4 (2014), notably "The Laws of Gods and Men" and "," which featured pivotal courtroom drama and character-driven intrigue in the fantasy epic. Graves also directed one episode of Netflix's in 2016, "Chapter 47," advancing the show's Machiavellian Washington power struggles. Demonstrating versatility in action and genre-bending series, Graves directed the season 2 finale of Amazon Prime Video's The Boys in 2019, "What I Know," a superhero satire episode that amplified the show's critique of corporate heroism through intense action sequences. More recently, he served as executive producer and director for multiple episodes of Netflix's The Diplomat (2023–2025), including key installments in its political thriller arc centered on international diplomacy, with Season 3 premiering in October 2025. In Season 3, he directed episodes including "Schrodinger's Wife." These projects highlight Graves' adeptness at blending high-stakes drama with varied visual styles across television's evolving landscape.

Feature film directing

Alex Graves began his directing career with independent feature films in the 1990s, before achieving prominence in television. His debut feature, The Crude Oasis (1993, released 1995), was a low-budget drama that he wrote, produced, and directed. The film follows a Kansas housewife plagued by nightmares of a mysterious man who becomes obsessed with the stranger after encountering him, leading to a tense and psychological exploration of desire and danger in rural America. Shot on a modest $25,000 budget over 14 days, it garnered praise for its intimate storytelling and was acquired and distributed by Miramax Films, providing Graves with early industry recognition. Following this, Graves directed (1997), a co-written with Gary Preisler. Starring as a woman escaping an abusive husband and as a sympathetic stranger, the film delves into and pursuit, blending suspense with emotional depth. Released directly to video, it showcased Graves' ability to handle tense character-driven narratives on a limited scale, though it received mixed reviews for its pacing. After establishing himself in television with acclaimed episodes of series like , Graves pursued larger-scale feature opportunities. In 2016, he was hired to direct Sony Pictures' live-action adaptation of the Chinese legend Mulan, intended as a co-production with Chinese partners and emphasizing cultural authenticity. However, the project stalled and was ultimately shelved amid scheduling conflicts and studio shifts, with no further development announced. This unfulfilled venture highlighted Graves' ambitions in theatrical cinema, though his feature output remained confined to his early independent works.

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Alex Graves earned two for his producing work on , both in the Outstanding Drama Series category. In 2002, he received the award as supervising producer for the show's third season, which was lauded for its intricate and character development amid escalating political tensions. The following year, in 2003, Graves won again as for the fourth season, contributing to 's unprecedented streak of four consecutive victories in the category and solidifying its status as a benchmark for ensemble-driven political television. In addition to these producing honors, Graves garnered nominations for his directing on . He was nominated in 2002 for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode "Posse Comitatus," the season two finale that depicted a high-stakes state dinner overshadowed by a covert military operation, showcasing his ability to blend dialogue-heavy scenes with suspenseful pacing. Another nomination came in 2005 for directing "2162 Votes," the season six finale centered on a nail-biting , where his direction amplified the emotional intensity of the cast's performances. These nods recognized Graves' expertise in capturing the fast-paced rhythm of intrigue. Graves' producing nominations further extended his Emmy recognition. He was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series in 2005 and 2006 for , reflecting the sustained quality of the series during its later seasons under his executive oversight. In 2025, Graves received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series as on , the that earned praise for its sharp writing and tense diplomatic scenarios, demonstrating his enduring influence in contemporary production. As of 2025, Graves has accumulated two wins and five nominations across directing and producing categories.

Directors Guild of America Awards

Alex Graves has earned multiple nominations from the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series, reflecting peer acknowledgment of his skillful direction in television drama. He received his first nomination in 2002 for directing "Posse Comitatus" from The West Wing, praised for its tense orchestration of ensemble scenes and thematic depth. Graves continued to garner DGA nods later in his career, including a nomination in 2015 for the Game of Thrones episode "The Children," noted for its epic scope and dramatic finale. In 2025, he was nominated for "" from , demonstrating his ongoing expertise in high-stakes diplomatic thrillers. As of 2025, Graves has not won a DGA Award, though his consistent nominations underscore sustained excellence in episodic directing. These honors complement his Primetime Emmy achievements in directing. Additionally, the The West Wing episode "NSF Thurmont," which Graves directed, received the 2005 Humanitas Prize in the 60-minute drama teleplay category, awarded to writer John Wells for its humanistic exploration of and .

Personal life

Little is known about Alex Graves' personal life, as he maintains a high degree of . No public information is available regarding his , , or any proceedings as of November 2025.

References

  1. [1]
    ‪Alex Graves‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬
    University of Toronto - ‪‪Cited by 171561‬‬ - ‪Artificial Intelligence‬ - ‪Recurrent Neural Networks‬ - ‪Handwriting Recognition‬ - ‪Speech recognition‬Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  2. [2]
    Advancing AI with Bayesian Flow Networks | InstaDeep
    Sep 4, 2025 · Alex Graves takes us beyond the algorithm to share the story behind the idea that became Bayesian Flow Networks.
  3. [3]
    Alex Graves | IEEE Xplore Author Details
    Biography. Alex Graves received the BSc degree in mathematical physics from the University of Edinburgh in 1998, the Certificate of Advanced Study in ...Missing: machine | Show results with:machine
  4. [4]
    [PDF] Supervised Sequence Labelling with Recurrent Neural Networks
    A further enhancement introduced in this thesis is bidirectional LSTM. (BLSTM; Graves and Schmidhuber, 2005a,b), which consists of the stan- dard bidirectional ...
  5. [5]
    Alex Graves - Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto
    Alex Graves. I'm a CIFAR Junior Fellow supervised by Geoffrey Hinton in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto.
  6. [6]
    Alex Graves | DeepAI
    Alex Graves is a DeepMind research scientist. He received a BSc in Theoretical Physics from Edinburgh and an AI PhD from IDSIA under Jürgen Schmidhuber.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  7. [7]
    Protein Sequence Modelling with Bayesian Flow Networks - InstaDeep
    In this work, we propose that Bayesian Flow Networks (BFNs), a recently introduced framework for generative modelling, can address these ...
  8. [8]
    [PDF] Alex Graves - Kansas Oil Museum
    Graves was born on July 23, 1965 to William R. and Alexandra Meyer ... observe Alex Graves on The West Wing for a week . . . I literally just sat ...
  9. [9]
    William Graves Obituary (2006) - Kansas City, MO - Kansas City Star
    Surviving family include one son, Alex, and his wife Sarah Graves of Santa Monica, Calif.; one daughter, Anna Graves of El Dorado; grandchildren Ashley and ...
  10. [10]
    Alex Graves | beyondbutler - Wix.com
    Executive producer, director and writer of film and television, Alex Graves was born on July 23, 1965, in Kansas City, MO. The son of Bill Graves of Graves ...Missing: parents family
  11. [11]
    MOVIE REVIEWS : USC Student Films Show Talent and Humane ...
    Jun 13, 1989 · ... Alex Graves. Both “Jack Falls Down” (directed by John Kim, written by Michael Matlock) and “Life Could be Worse” (directed by Ron Rosen ...
  12. [12]
    Alex Graves - Director, Producer, Writer - TV Insider
    Alex Graves · Director • Producer • Writer · Birth Date: July 23, 1965 · Age: 60 years old · Birth Place: Kansas City, Missouri · Credits · Photos.Missing: siblings | Show results with:siblings
  13. [13]
    The Crude Oasis (1993) - IMDb
    Rating 4.9/10 (130) The Crude Oasis: Directed by Alex Graves. With Jennifer Taylor, Aaron Shields, Robert Peterson, Michael Sibay. Lonely Kansas housewife Karen Webb despondent ...Missing: career | Show results with:career
  14. [14]
    None
    ### Summary of Alex Graves' Involvement in The West Wing
  15. [15]
    The West Wing credits - Metacritic
    Directed By ; Christopher Misiano; 35 Episodes, 1999 - 2006 ; Alex Graves; 34 Episodes, 1999 - 2006 ; Thomas Schlamme; 14 Episodes, 1999 - 2002 ; Lesli Linka ...
  16. [16]
    Alex Graves - IMDb
    Alex Graves. Producer: The West Wing. Alex Graves is known for The West Wing (1999), The Diplomat (2023) and Foundation (2021).Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
  17. [17]
    "Fringe" Pilot (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb
    Rating 8.1/10 (5,213) Pilot: Directed by Alex Graves. With Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Lance Reddick, Kirk Acevedo. After a plane from Hamburg returns with no survivors, ...Missing: directed | Show results with:directed
  18. [18]
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118827/
  19. [19]
    "Lost in Space" Shipwrecked (TV Episode 2019) - IMDb
    Rating 7.6/10 (2,402) Shipwrecked: Directed by Alex Graves. With Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins, Taylor Russell. Seven months later, marooned on a watery planet, ...
  20. [20]
    "Homeland" Parabiosis (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb
    Rating 8/10 (2,399) Parabiosis: Directed by Alex Graves. With Claire Danes, Rupert Friend, Sebastian Koch, Miranda Otto. Saul orders a sweep at the station.
  21. [21]
    Director Alex Graves on Keri Russell's Balletic Excellence in Netflix's ...
    May 13, 2025 · Graves, a Kansas City native, later worked with Cahn on Homeland and, more recently, directed episodes of HBO's juggernaut Game of Thrones and ...
  22. [22]
    The Crude Oasis - Variety
    Jul 7, 1995 · ... The Crude Oasis." Shot in 14 days on a $ 25000 budget, this bow by young producer-director-writer-editor Alex Graves is a hands-down triumph ...
  23. [23]
    Casualties (1997) - IMDb
    Rating 5.2/10 (590) Casualties: Directed by Alex Graves. With Caroline Goodall, Mark Harmon, Michael Beach, Jon Gries. A woman tormented by an abusive, sadistic husband ...
  24. [24]
    Casualties | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 45% (4) Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Casualties on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today ... Director: Alex Graves. Rating: R.
  25. [25]
    'Game Of Thrones' Alex Graves To Helm Sony's 'Mulan' - Deadline
    Oct 17, 2016 · Sony Pictures has set Alex Graves to direct Mulan, its live-action adaptation of the Chinese legend based on Hua Mulan.Missing: William | Show results with:William<|control11|><|separator|>
  26. [26]
    'Mulan' Live-Action Reboot Taps 'Game of Thrones' Director - Variety
    Oct 17, 2016 · Alex Graves is coming on to direct Sony's new live-action “Mulan” re-imagining, sources confirmed to Variety.<|control11|><|separator|>
  27. [27]
    Alex Graves - Awards - IMDb
    Alex Graves ; Camerimage · 2023 Nominee Golden Frog ; Directors Guild of America, USA · 2025 Nominee DGA Award ; Primetime Emmy Awards · 2025 Nominee Primetime Emmy.
  28. [28]
    Alex Graves | Television Academy
    2 Emmys · Outstanding Drama Series - 2025 · Outstanding Drama Series - 2006 · Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series - 2005 · Outstanding Drama Series - 2005.Missing: Catch | Show results with:Catch
  29. [29]
    DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement ...
    Jan 7, 2025 · The Directors Guild of America today announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, Commercials and Documentary for 2024.Missing: early career
  30. [30]
    DGA Announces 2000 Nominees for Outstanding Directorial ...
    Feb 6, 2001 · Unit Production Manager: Neal Ahern, Jr. First Assistant Director: Andrew Bernstein Second Assistant Director: Dylan Massin. This is Schlamme's ...
  31. [31]
    DGA Announces 2002 Nominees for Dramatic Series Night ...
    Feb 6, 2003 · He received his first nomination in 1996 for the ER episode, "Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies." In 1998 he received the nomination ...
  32. [32]
    DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement ...
    Jan 14, 2015 · ALEX GRAVES​​ Graves's second DGA Award nomination. He previously was nominated in this category in 2002 for The West Wing, “Posse Comitatus.” ...
  33. [33]
    Past Winners & Nominees - Humanitas Prize
    ... 2002 KENNETH LONERGAN: You Can Count on Me. 2001 ERIC ROTH & MICHAEL MANN: The Insider. 2000 LEWIS COLICK: October Sky. 1999 MATT DAMON & BEN AFFLECK: Good ...Feature Winners · Comedy Teleplay Winners · Drama Teleplay Winners
  34. [34]
    'Game of Thrones' Director Files for Divorce - TMZ
    Apr 26, 2014 · Graves filed legal docs citing irreconcilable differences in his marriage to Sarah Graves. They were married in 1995 and have 2 kids, a son 15 ...
  35. [35]
    Alex Graves Vs Sarah Graves Lawsuit | Trellis.Law
    On April 23, 2014, Graves Alex filed a Divorce,Separation - (Family) case represented by Mosbat Azita against Graves Sarah respresented by Eisfelder Robert ...Missing: marriage | Show results with:marriage
  36. [36]
    'West Wing' & 'GOT' Director Lost Half In Divorce But Gets To Keep ...
    Apr 9, 2016 · Emmy award winning TV director Alex Graves has finally hashed out a divorce settlement with his wife of 19 years and the split was pretty much even-steven.
  37. [37]
    Alex Graves accuses wife of refusing access to his kids - Daily Express
    May 8, 2014 · Game of Thrones director Alex Graves' divorce battle has taken a nasty turn after he accused his estranged wife of banning him from seeing his kids.
  38. [38]
    'Game of Thrones' Director Claims Wife Holding Kids Hostage For ...
    May 8, 2014 · Graves accuses Sarah of spying on him and using their son to try to bait him into admitting infidelity. We've contacted Sarah's attorney ... so ...