American film director of the unique comedies Napoleon Dynamite from 2004 and Nacho Libre from 2006.
He found inspiration for Napoleon Dynamite while attending Idaho's Preston High School.
His film Napoleon Dynamite was nominated for the 2004 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize.
He married Jerusha Elizabeth Demke with whom he had two children named Elliot and Greta.
He directed Gentlemen Broncos from 2009, which starred Michael Angarano.