Matthew Weiner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Matthew Weiner | |
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| Born | 1965 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation | Screenwriter, director, producer |
| Nationality | American |
Matthew Weiner (born 1965)[1] is a Peabody, Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American screenwriter, television producer, and director. He is the creator, executive producer, and head writer of the critically acclaimed AMC television drama series Mad Men. He is also known for his work on the HBO original series, The Sopranos, on which he served as a writer and producer during the show's fifth and sixth seasons.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and education
Weiner was born in 1965 in Baltimore to a Jewish-American family. He studied literature, philosophy, and history at Wesleyan University, and earned an MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television.[2][3]
[edit] Career as screenwriter
Weiner began his screenwriting career as an uncredited joke-writer for the short-lived FOX sitcom Party Girl. He later went on to work as a writer and producer on The Naked Truth and Andy Richter Controls the Universe.[2][3] Weiner wrote the pilot of Mad Men in 2000 as a spec script while working as a staff writer on Becker. The Sopranos creator and executive producer David Chase offered Weiner a job as a staff writer on his show after reading the script and being impressed with it.[1]
Weiner served as a writer and producer on The Sopranos for three years. During this time he wrote or co-wrote a dozen episodes, including the Emmy Award-nominated episodes "Unidentified Black Males" (with Terence Winter) and "Kennedy and Heidi" (with David Chase). He received two Emmy Awards as a producer of The Sopranos; one for the show's fifth season in 2005 and one for the second part of the show's sixth season in 2007.
After The Sopranos had finished its run, Weiner began looking for a network to produce Mad Men. AMC was interested in producing a television series and picked up the show, ordering a full season.[1] Weiner served as show runner, executive producer, and head writer of Mad Men for its first season, reportedly being very controlling and demanding. Weiner wrote or co-wrote seven episodes of the season and directed the first season finale, making it his debut as a director.
Mad Men received considerable critical acclaim and won two Golden Globes at the 65th Golden Globe Awards. AMC has renewed the show for a second season.
[edit] Personal life
Weiner is married with wife and four sons. He currently resides in his native Los Angeles.[3] Weiner was a contestant on the quiz show Jeopardy!.[2]
