Bradley Mitchell Silberling (born September 8 1963) is an American film and television director, producer, screenwriter, and occasional actor. His notable feature‑film credits include Casper (1995), City of Angels (1998), Moonlight Mile (2002), Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) and Land of the Lost (2009).
Early life and education
Silberling was born in Washington, D.C., to Joyce Anne (née Tucker), a travel consultant, and Robert Murray Silberling, a former vice‑president of CBS Entertainment Productions. His father was Jewish and his mother converted to Judaism. He attended Williams College before earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984. He later studied film directing at the UCLA Film School.
Career
Silberling began working in the entertainment industry in the mid‑1980s, initially as a production assistant on a children’s program. He moved into directing television episodes before making his feature‑film debut with Casper (1995). Subsequent films include:
- City of Angels (1998) – romantic drama starring Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage.
- Moonlight Mile (2002) – a drama loosely based on Silberling’s own experience after the murder of his former partner, actress Rebecca Schaeffer.
- Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) – an adaptation of the popular children's novels.
- Land of the Lost (2009) – a family adventure comedy.
In 2006, Silberling’s film 10 Items or Less became the first feature released legally for download during its theatrical run, a distribution model made possible through the ClickStar platform. He founded the production company Reveal Entertainment in 1999, which entered a first‑look deal with DreamWorks Pictures and later signed agreements with CBS Television Studios (2014) and ICM Partners.
Silberling has also directed numerous television series episodes, including work on NYPD Blue, The West Wing, The Office, and The CW drama Dynasty.
Personal life
From 1987 to 1989, Silberling dated actress Rebecca Schaeffer, who was murdered in 1989; the tragedy influenced his later work on Moonlight Mile. He married actress Amy Brenneman on September 30 1995. The couple has two children, Charlotte and Bodhi, and has lived in Massachusetts, including Chilmark and West Tisbury.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Casper | Director |
| 1998 | City of Angels | Director |
| 2002 | Moonlight Mile | Director, Producer, Writer |
| 2004 | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Director |
| 2009 | Land of the Lost | Director |
| 2010 | 10 Items or Less | Director, Producer |
Silberling continues to work in both film and television, contributing to a range of projects across genres.
