Michael J. Gallagher (born December 6, 1988) is an American filmmaker. Born and raised in San Diego, California, Gallagher got his start by creating the popular sketch comedy YouTube channel TotallySketch and co-founding Maker Studios. He directed and wrote The Leader about the Heaven's Gate Cult, starring Academy Award Nominee Vera Farmiga, Tim Blake Nelson, and Golden Globe Winner Jim Parsons, which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Festival and the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival to positive reviews.
Early life
Gallagher was eight-years-old when 39 members of the Heaven's Gate cult committed suicide in his neighborhood in San Diego, California.
Career
Gallagher founded the popular YouTube sketch comedy channel TotallySketch which quickly garnered over 1.2 Million Subscribers and over 600 Million views. In 2011, Business Insider declared TotallySketch as one of the ten "World's Most Powerful YouTube Stars". Gallagher became one of the original co-founders of Maker Studios, a creator-led studio and the world's first multi-channel network.
In 2014, Gallagher won Legendary's "House of Horrors" short film contest, hand selected by Academy Award Winning Director Guillermo del Toro. That same year, Maker Studios was bought by The Walt Disney Company directly after acquiring Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios.
Filmography Feature films Year Title Director Writer Producer 2012 Smiley 2016 Internet Famous 2016 The Thinning 2018 The Thinning: New World Order 2019 Funny Story 2026 The Leader Television Year Title Director Writer Producer Showrunner Note 2017The Real Bros of Simi Valley Season 1 2022PBC Seasons 1-3
References