D. J. MacHale, born Donald James MacHale on March 11, 1955, is an American writer, director, and executive producer. He is best known for his work on popular television series such as Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Flight 29 Down, and Seasonal Differences.

MacHale is also the author of the widely acclaimed young adult book series, Pendragon and Morpheus Road. He was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, and graduated from Greenwich High School. During his high school years, he worked various jobs while participating in sports like football and track.

He pursued higher education at New York University, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film production. His filmmaking career commenced in New York, where he worked as a freelance writer and director. He crafted corporate videos, television commercials, and taught photography and film production. MacHale's entry into entertainment began with writing several ABC Afterschool Specials.