My 100 Favourite Writers
by solmaquina | created - 15 Sep 2016 | updated - 3 weeks ago | Public
1. Trey Parker
Music_department | South Park
Trey was born in Conifer, Colorado, on October 19, 1969 to Randy Parker, a geologist, and Sharon Parker, an insurance broker. He has an older sister, Shelley Parker. He met Matt Stone (co-creator of South Park (1997)) while attending the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he had a double ...
Top 3: 3. Team America: World Police 2. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut 1. South Park
2. David X. Cohen
Producer | Futurama
Cohen is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley; he studied theoretical computer science. His real name is David 'S.' Cohen. He used that name when he worked on The Simpsons (1989), but when he starting working on Futurama (1999), he joined the Writer's Guild (the TV writer's union). ...
Top 3: 3. Beavis and Butt-head 2. The Simpsons 1. Futurama
3. Armando Iannucci
Writer | The Death of Stalin
Armando Iannucci was born on November 28, 1963 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for The Death of Stalin (2017), In the Loop (2009) and Veep (2012). He has been married to Rachel Jones since August 25, 1990. They have two children.
Top 3: 3. Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge 2. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa 1. I'm Alan Partridge
4. Steve Coogan
Actor | Philomena
Steve Coogan was born on October 14, 1965 in Middleton, Manchester, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Philomena (2013), Alan Partridge (2013) and 24 Hour Party People (2002). He was previously married to Caroline Hickman.
Top 3: 3. Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge 2. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa 1. I'm Alan Partridge
5. Edgar Wright
Director | Shaun of the Dead
Edgar Howard Wright (born 18 April 1974) is an English director, screenwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known for his comedic Three Flavours Cornetto film trilogy consisting of Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), and The World's End (2013), made with recurrent collaborators Simon Pegg...
Top 3: 3. The World's End 2. Hot Fuzz 1. Shaun of the Dead
6. Quentin Tarantino
Writer | Reservoir Dogs
Quentin Jerome Tarantino was born in Knoxville, Tennessee. His father, Tony Tarantino, is an Italian-American actor and musician from New York, and his mother, Connie (McHugh), is a nurse from Tennessee. Quentin moved with his mother to Torrance, California, when he was four years old.
In January of...
Top 3: 3. From Dusk Till Dawn 2. Pulp Fiction 1. Inglourious Basterds
7. Graham Linehan
Writer | Motherland
Graham Linehan was born on May 22, 1968 in Dublin, Ireland. He is a writer and director, known for Motherland (2016), Father Ted (1995) and The IT Crowd (2006). He was previously married to Helen Serafinowicz.
Top 3: 3. Hippies 2. The IT Crowd 1. Father Ted
8. Dan Harmon
Writer | Rick and Morty
Dan Harmon was born on January 3, 1973 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He is best known as the creator, writing, and producer for Community (2009) and Rick and Morty (2013). He also is known for writing and producing earlier works such as Computerman (2003), and Laser Fart (2004). He was previously ...
Top 3: 3. Monster House 2. Rick and Morty 1. Community
9. Ken Keeler
Producer | Futurama
Ken Keeler was born on December 2, 1961 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Futurama (1999), The Simpsons (1989) and The Critic (1994).
Top 3: 3. The Critic 2. The Simpsons 1. Futurama
10. Richard Ayoade
Writer | Submarine
Richard Ellef Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, and grew up in Suffolk, in England, the son of a Norwegian mother, Dagny Amalie (Baassuik), and a Nigerian father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade. He studied Law at Cambridge university, and followed in the footsteps of British Comedy legends like Monty ...
Top 3: 3. The Double 2. Submarine 1. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
11. Rod Serling
Writer | The Twilight Zone
A former boxer, paratrooper and general all-around angry young man, Rod Serling was one of the radical new voices that made the "Golden Age" of television. Long before The Twilight Zone (1959), he was known for writing such high-quality scripts as "Patterns" and "Requiem for a Heavyweight," both ...
Top 3: 3. Night Gallery 2. Planet of the Apes 1. The Twilight Zone
12. Charlie Kaufman
Writer | I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Avid reader Charlie Kaufman wrote plays and made short films as a young student. He moved from Massapequa, New York to West Hartford, Connecticut in 1972 where he attended high school. As a comedic actor, he performed in school plays and, after graduation, he enrolled at Boston University but soon ...
Top 3: 3. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2. Anomalisa 1. Adaptation.
13. Alex Garland
Writer | Ex Machina
Alex Garland is an English novelist, screenwriter, film producer and director. He is best known for the films Ex Machina (2015) and Annihilation (2018).
Garland's others works as a writer includes The Beach (2000), 28 Days Later (2002), Sunshine (2007), Never Let Me Go (2011) and Dredd (2012).
He is ...
Top 3: 3. Civil War 2. Never Let Me Go 1. 28 Days Later...
14. Mike Judge
Writer | Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
Mike Judge is an American actor, animator, film director, screenwriter, and television producer.
In 1962, Judge was born in Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador and the country's main port. His parents were expatriate Americans. His father was archaeologist William James Judge and his mother was ...
Top 3: 3. King of the Hill 2. Silicon Valley 1. Beavis & Butt-head do America
15. Jesse Armstrong
Writer | In the Loop
Jesse Armstrong was born on December 13, 1970 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for In the Loop (2009), Four Lions (2010) and Succession (2018).
Top 3: 3. In the Loop 2. Four Lions 1. Peep Show
16. Sam Raimi
Director | Spider-Man
Highly inventive U.S. film director/producer/writer/actor Sam Raimi first came to the attention of film fans with the savage, yet darkly humorous, low-budget horror film, The Evil Dead (1981). From his childhood, Raimi was a fan of the cinema and, before he was ten-years-old, he was out making ...
Top 3: 3. The Evil Dead 2. Evil Dead II 1. Army of Darkness
17. Vince Gilligan
Producer | The X Files
George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American writer, producer, and director. He is known for his television work, specifically as creator, head writer, executive producer, and director of Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. He was a writer and producer for The ...
Top 3: 3. The X-Files 2. Better Call Saul 1. Breaking Bad
18. Greg Daniels
Producer | The Office
Greg Daniels was born on June 13, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Office (2005), Parks and Recreation (2009) and King of the Hill (1997). He has been married to Susanne Daniels since September 15, 1991. They have four children.
Top 3: 3. King of the Hill 2. The Office 1. The Simpsons
19. Mitchell Hurwitz
Producer | Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz was born on May 29, 1963 in Orange County, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Arrested Development (2003), Running Wilde (2010) and Lady Dynamite (2016). He has been married to Mary Jo Keenen since May 8, 1999. They have two children.
Top 3: 3. Lady Dynamite 2. Running Wilde 1. Arrested Development
20. Joss Whedon
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon is the middle of five brothers - his younger brothers are Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon. Both his father, Tom Whedon and his grandfather, John Whedon were successful television writers. Joss' mother, Lee Stearns, was a history teacher and she also wrote novels as Lee Whedon. Whedon was ...
Top 3: 3. The Cabin in the Woods 2. Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long Blog 1. The Avengers
21. Charlie Brooker
Writer | Black Mirror
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker (born 3 March 1971) is an English humourist, critic, author, screenwriter, producer, and television presenter. He is the creator and co-showrunner of the anthology series Black Mirror and has written for programmes such as Brass Eye, The 11 O'Clock Show, and Nathan Barley...
Top 3: 3. Nathan Barley 2. Dead Set 1. Black Mirror
22. Peter Jackson
Producer | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Sir Peter Jackson made history with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously. The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King were nominated for and collected a slew of awards from around the globe, with The ...
(Peter Jackson & Fran Walsh)
Top 3:
3. Braindead
2. Heavenly Creatures
1. The Frighteners
23. Simon Pegg
Actor | The World's End
English actor, writer, and comedian Simon Pegg was born Simon John Beckingham in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, to Gillian Rosemary (Smith), a civil servant, and John Henry Beckingham, a jazz musician. His parents divorced when he was seven. He later took his stepfather's surname "Pegg." He was ...
Top 3: 3. Spaced 2. Hot Fuzz 1. Shaun of the Dead
24. Christopher Nolan
Writer | Tenet
Best known for his cerebral, often nonlinear, storytelling, acclaimed Academy Award winner writer/director/producer Sir Christopher Nolan CBE was born in London, England. Over the course of more than 25 years of filmmaking, Nolan has gone from low-budget independent films to working on some of the ...
Top 3: 3. Inception 2. The Dark Knight 1. The Prestige
25. Stanley Kubrick
Director | 2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Sadie Gertrude (Perveler) and Jacob Leonard Kubrick, a physician. His family were Jewish immigrants (from Austria, Romania, and Russia). Stanley was considered intelligent, despite poor grades at school. Hoping that a change of scenery would ...
Top 3: 3. Barry Lyndon 2. Full Metal Jacket 1. A Clockwork Orange
26. Martin McDonagh
Writer | In Bruges
Martin McDonagh was born on March 26, 1970 in Camberwell, London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for In Bruges (2008), Seven Psychopaths (2012) and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017).
Top 3: 3. Three Billboards Over Ebbing, Missouri 2. The Banshees of Inisherin 1. In Bruges
27. Andrew Haigh
Director | All of Us Strangers
Andrew Haigh is a writer and director. His film work includes Weekend, which premiered at SXSW and won the audience award. 45 Years, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, won 2 Silver Bears, and received an Academy Award nomination for lead actress Charlotte Rampling. Lean on Pete premiered in ...
Top 3: 3. Weekend 2. All of Us Strangers 1. 45 Years
28. Jon Vitti
Producer | The Larry Sanders Show
Jon Vitti is known for The Larry Sanders Show (1992), The Simpsons Movie (2007) and The Simpsons (1989).
Top 3: 3. King of the Hill 2. The Simpsons Movie 1. The Simpsons
29. Josh Weinstein
Producer | The Simpsons
Josh Weinstein was born on May 5, 1966 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Simpsons (1989), Futurama (1999) and Disenchantment (2018). He has been married to Lisa Simmons since July 2, 1995. They have two children.
Top 3: 3. 2. Futurama 1. The Simpsons
30. John Swartzwelder
Writer | The Simpsons Movie
John Swartzwelder was born on February 8, 1949 in the USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Simpsons Movie (2007), The Simpsons (1989) and The Dictator (1988).
Top 3: 3. 2. The Simpsons Movie 1. The Simpsons
31. Jeff Westbrook
Producer | The Simpsons
Jeff Westbrook is known for The Simpsons (1989), Futurama (1999) and Life on a Stick (2005).
Top 3: 3. 2. The Simpsons 1. Futurama
32. Sam Bain
Writer | Peep Show
Sam Bain is a writer/producer. He is of English/Australian descent. His mother was the British comedy actress Rosemary Frankau and his father, Bill Bain, was an Australian Emmy-award winning director. He went to Manchester University where he met his writing partner for 25 years, Jesse Armstrong. ...
Top 3: 3. 2. Fresh Meat 1. Peep Show
33. Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham is known for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020), Arthur Christmas (2011) and Borat (2006).
Top 3: 3. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan 2. Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa 1. I'm Alan Partridge
34. Joe Stillman
Writer | Shrek
Joe Stillman is known for Shrek (2001), Shrek 2 (2004) and Gulliver's Travels (2010).
Top 3: 3. Shrek 2. King of the Hill 1. Beavis and Butt-head do America
35. Judd Apatow
Producer | Girls
Judd Apatow is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and comedian. He directed The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This is 40, Funny People, Trainwreck and The King of Staten Island. He also developed the television shows Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, Girls, Love and Crashing. He is ...
Top 3: 3. This is 40 2. Funny People 1. The 40 Year Old Virgin
36. James Cameron
Writer | Avatar: The Way of Water
James Francis Cameron was born on August 16, 1954 in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. He moved to the United States in 1971. The son of an engineer, he majored in physics at California State University before switching to English, and eventually dropping out. He then drove a truck to support his ...
Top 3: 3. Avatar 2. The Terminator 1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
37. Joel Coen
Producer | The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Joel Daniel Coen is an American filmmaker who regularly collaborates with his younger brother Ethan. They made Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, True Grit, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Burn After Reading, A Serious Man, Inside Llewyn Davis, Hail Caesar and other projects. Joel ...
(The Coen Brothers)
Top 3:
3. The Hudsucker Proxy
2. Fargo
1. No Country for Old Men
38. Christopher McCulloch
Writer | The Venture Bros.
Also known under the pseudonym Jackson Publick. His debut as a writer was a comedy superhero comic book "Cement Shooz," which got the attention of Ben Edlund. This led to McCulloch working as a storyboard artist on Edlund's animated series The Tick (1994). He later story boarded PB&J Otter (...
(Doc Hammer and Christopher McCulloch)
Top 3:
3.
2.
1. The Venture Bros.
39. Jeff Martin
Writer | Baby Blues
Jeff Martin was born on December 28, 1960 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Baby Blues (2000), Late Night with David Letterman (1982) and The Good Life (1994). He has been married to Suzanne Martin since February 15, 1986. They have two children.
Top 3: 3. 2. 1. The Simpsons
40. Christopher Morris
Writer | Four Lions
Christopher Morris was born on September 5, 1965 in Bristol, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Four Lions (2010), The Day Today (1994) and Brass Eye (1997).
Top 3: 3. 2. Nathan Barley 1. Four Lions
41. George A. Romero
Writer | Land of the Dead
George A. Romero never set out to become a Hollywood figure; by all indications, though, he was very successful. The director of the groundbreaking "Living Dead" films was born February 4, 1940 ,in New York City to Ann (Dvorsky) and Jorge Romero. His father was born in Spain and raised in Cuba, and...
Top 3: 3. Night of the Living Dead 2. Dawn of the Dead 1. Day of the Dead
42. Steve Pemberton
Actor | Inside No. 9
Steve Pemberton is a BAFTA winning actor and writer born in Blackburn, UK. He graduated from Bretton Hall in Yorkshire with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts in 1989. After leaving college Steve spent time producing and starring in small-scale theatre productions in London and working part-time for ...
(Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith)
Top 3:
3. Psychoville
2. The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse
1. Inside No. 9
43. Stephen Merchant
Producer | Extras
Stephen James Merchant is an English actor, comedian, director, presenter and writer.
Alongside Ricky Gervais, Merchant was the co-writer and co-director of the British TV comedy series The Office (2001-2003), and co-writer, co-director, and co-star of both Extras (2005-2007) and Life's Too Short (...
Top 3: 3. Life's Too Short 2. Extras 1. The Office
44. David Koepp
Writer | Jurassic Park
David Koepp is an American film director and screenwriter. He is known for writing Jurassic Park directed by Steven Spielberg, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Spider-Man directed by Sam Raimi and Panic Room directed by David ...
Top 3: 3. Stir of Echoes 2. Spider-Man 1. Jurassic Park
45. John Landis
Director | The Blues Brothers
John Landis began his career in the mail room of 20th Century-Fox. A high-school dropout, 18-year-old Landis made his way to Yugoslavia to work as a production assistant on Kelly's Heroes (1970). Remaining in Europe, Landis found work as an actor, extra and stuntman in many of the Spanish/Italian "...
Top 3: 3. Blues Brothers 2000 2. The Blues Brothers 1. An American Werewolf in London
46. Bill Odenkirk
Producer | The Simpsons
Bill Odenkirk was born on October 13, 1965 in Naperville, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Simpsons (1989), Futurama (1999) and Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995).
Top 3: 3. The Simpsons 2. W/ Bob and David 1. Futurama
47. David Webb Peoples
Writer | Unforgiven
David Webb Peoples was born on February 9, 1940 in Middletown, Connecticut, USA. He is a writer and editor, known for Unforgiven (1992), Blade Runner (1982) and 12 Monkeys (1995). He is married to Janet Peoples.
Top 3: 3. Twelve Monkeys 2. Unforgiven 1. Blade Runner
48. Gary Ross
Writer | The Hunger Games
Gary Ross is an American writer, director and actor born November 3rd, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. His father was screenwriter Arthur A. Ross (1920 - 2008). After writing for television series The Hitchhiker (1983) in 1986, Ross broke through by penning the Tom Hanks hit Big (1988), his first ...
Top 3: 3. The Hunger Games 2. Big 1. Pleasantville
49. Charles Chaplin
Writer | The Great Dictator
Considered to be one of the most pivotal stars of the early days of Hollywood, Charlie Chaplin lived an interesting life both in his films and behind the camera. He is most recognized as an icon of the silent film era, often associated with his popular character, the Little Tramp; the man with the ...
Top 3: 3. City Lights 2. The Kid 1. The Gold Rush
50. Jonathan Nolan
Writer | Westworld
Attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, graduating in 1994.
Graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1999. Majored in English.
Shortly after graduating from Georgetown University, Jonathan Nolan served as a production assistant on Memento (2000).
Wrote the short story, "...
Top 3: 3. Interstellar 2. The Dark Knight 1. The Prestige
51. Bob Gale
Writer | Back to the Future
Bob Gale is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter-producer-director, best known as co-creator, co-writer and co-producer of Back to the Future (1985) and its sequels. Gale was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Cinema from the University of Southern ...
Top 3: 3. Back to the Future: Part III 2. Back to the Future: Part II 1. Back to the Future
52. Andrew Stanton
Writer | WALL·E
Andrew Stanton has been a major creative force at Pixar Animation Studios since 1990, when he became the second animator and ninth employee to join the company's elite group of computer animation pioneers. As Vice President, Creative he currently oversees all shorts and feature projects at the ...
Top 3: 3. Wall E 2. Monsters Inc 1. Toy Story
53. Drew Goddard
Producer | The Martian
Drew Goddard was raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He attended Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico and graduated in 1993. He then attended the University of Colorado, and worked as a production assistant in L.A. after graduation. A spec script Drew wrote based on Six Feet Under (2001) ...
Top 3: 3. Cloverfield 2. The Martian 1. The Cabin in the Woods
54. Frank Darabont
Writer | The Shawshank Redemption
Three-time Oscar nominee Frank Darabont was born in a refugee camp in 1959 in Montbeliard, France, the son of Hungarian parents who had fled Budapest during the failed 1956 Hungarian revolution. Brought to America as an infant, he settled with his family in Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High ...
Top 3: 3. The Mist 2. The Walking Dead 1. The Shawshank Redemption
55. James Gunn
Writer | Guardians of the Galaxy
James Gunn was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, to Leota and James Francis Gunn. He is from a large Catholic family, with Irish and Czech ancestry. His father and his uncles were all lawyers. He has been writing and performing as long as he can remember. He began making 8mm films at the age ...
Top 3: 3. The Suicide Squad 2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 1. Super
56. Jemaine Clement
Actor | Flight of the Conchords
Jemaine Clement was born and raised in Masterton, New Zealand, the oldest of three brothers. His mother is Maori. Clement was educated at Makoura College in Masterton, NZ. He went on to study drama and film at Victoria University of Wellington. Whilst there he met Taika Waititi, and they formed ...
Top 3: 3. 2. What We Do in the Shadows 1. Flight of the Conchords
57. Julia Davis
Actress | Nighty Night
Julia Davis was born on August 25, 1966 in Bath, Somerset, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Nighty Night (2004), Love Actually (2003) and Camping (2016).
Top 3: 3. 2. Human Remains 1. Nighty Night
58. Shane Black
Actor | Predator
Considered one of the pioneer screenwriters of the action genre, Black made his mark with his Lethal Weapon (1987) screenplay. He also collaborated on the story of the sequel, Lethal Weapon 2 (1989). Each successive script he turned in had a higher price attached it, from The Last Boy Scout (1991) ...
Top 3: 3. Last Action Hero 2. Lethal Weapon 1. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
59. Seth Rogen
Producer | This Is the End
An actor, comedian and writer, Seth Rogen has come a long way from doing stand-up comedy as a teen.
Rogen was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Sandy (Belogus), a social worker, and Mark Rogen, who worked for non-profits. His father is American-born and his mother is Canadian. He is of Russian...
(Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg)
Top 3:
3. This is the End
2. The Green Hornet
1. Superbad
60. Aaron Sorkin
Writer | The West Wing
Aaron Sorkin grew up in Scarsdale, a suburb of New York City where he was very involved in his high school drama and theater club. After graduating from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, Sorkin intended to pursue a career in acting. It took him only a short time to ...
Top 3: 3. Moneyball 2. Steve Jobs 1. The Social Network
61. Guillermo del Toro
Writer | El laberinto del fauno
Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Raised by his Catholic grandmother, del Toro developed an interest in filmmaking in his early teens. Later, he learned about makeup and effects from the legendary Dick Smith (The Exorcist (1973)) and worked on making his ...
Top 3: 3. The Devil's Backbone 2. Pinocchio 1. Pan's Labyrinth
62. Martin Scorsese
Producer | Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Charles Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York City, to Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa) and Charles Scorsese, who both worked in Manhattan's garment district, and whose families both came from Palermo, Sicily. He was raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, which later ...
Top 3: 3. Who's That Knocking at My Door? 2. Goodfellas 1. Casino
63. Damien Chazelle
Writer | La La Land
Damien Sayre Chazelle is an American director and screenwriter. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His mother, Celia Sayre (Martin) Chazelle, is an American-Canadian writer and professor of history at The College of New Jersey. His father, Bernard Chazelle, is a French-American Eugene Higgins...
Top 3: 3. Grand Piano 2. Whiplash 1. 10 Cloverfield Lane
64. Rian Johnson
Producer | Knives Out
Rian Johnson was born in Maryland and at a young age his family moved to San Clemente, California, where he was raised. After graduating from high school, he went on to attend the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. His first feature film, Brick (2005), was released in 2005 ...
Top 3: 3. Knives Out 2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi 1. Looper
65. Billy Wilder
Writer | The Apartment
Originally planning to become a lawyer, Billy Wilder abandoned that career in favor of working as a reporter for a Viennese newspaper, using this experience to move to Berlin, where he worked for the city's largest tabloid. He broke into films as a screenwriter in 1929 and wrote scripts for many ...
Top 3: 3. The Apartment 2. The Lost Weekend 1. Double Indemnity
66. Stephen Chow
Actor | Kung fu
Stephen Chow was the only boy of his family, and has grown up as a Bruce Lee fan and a martial arts addict. His career started on TV, where he presented a children show ( "430 Space Shuttle" (1983)) and started becoming popular. He got some supporting roles, after that, and won the Taiwanese Golden...
Top 3: 3. CJ7 2. Shaolin Soccer 1. Kung Fu Hustle
67. Caroline Thompson
Writer | Edward Scissorhands
Caroline Thompson was born on April 23, 1956 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Addams Family (1991) and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). She is married to Steve Nicolaides. She was previously married to Henry ...
Top 3: 3. Corpse Bride 2. Edward Scissorhands 1. The Nightmare Before Christmas
68. Dan O'Bannon
Writer | Alien
Dan O'Bannon was inspired at an early age by EC Comics like Tales from the Crypt and old horror films that he saw in St. Louis. He even wrote a few stories for Heavy Metal magazine (which also showed up in the film).
O'Bannon got his start when he and John Carpenter collaborated on the cult sci-fi ...
Top 3: 3. Total Recall 2. The Return of the Living Dead 1. Alien
69. Chris Matheson
Writer | Bill & Ted Face the Music
Chris Matheson was born on February 25, 1959 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He is a writer and director, known for Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991). He has been married to Patricia Paschell since ...
Top 3: 3. Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey 2. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure 1. A Goofy Movie
70. Scott Alexander
Writer | American Crime Story
Scott Alexander was born on June 16, 1963 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for American Crime Story (2016), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and Ed Wood (1994).
(Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski)
Top 3.
3. Big Eyes
2. Dolemite Is My Name
1. Ed Wood
71. Wes Anderson
Director | Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wesley Wales Anderson was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Texas Ann (Burroughs), is an archaeologist turned real estate agent, and his father, Melver Leonard Anderson, worked in advertising and PR. He has two brothers, Eric and Mel. Anderson's parents divorced when he was a young child, an ...
Top 3: 3. Fantastic Mr. Fox 2. Isle of Dogs 1. The Royal Tenenbaums
72. Diablo Cody
Writer | Juno
Diablo Cody is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Minnesota to live with her Internet boyfriend, Jonny who later became her husband. While there, she decided on a whim to take up stripping as a hobby of sorts.
She was working at an ad agency and got a promotion. The job wore her ragged ...
Top 3: 3. Jennifer's Body 2. Juno 1. Young Adult
73. David Cronenberg
Actor | The Fly
David Cronenberg, also known as the King of Venereal Horror or the Baron of Blood, was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1943. His father, Milton Cronenberg, was a journalist and editor, and his mother, Esther (Sumberg), was a piano player. After showing an inclination for literature at an early...
Top 3: 3. Shivers 2. Videodrome 1. The Fly
74. Melissa Rosenberg
Producer | Jessica Jones
Melissa Rosenberg was born on August 28, 1962 in Marin County, California, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Jessica Jones (2015), Dexter (2006) and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010). She has been married to Lev L. Spiro since 1995.
Top 3: 3. Twilight 2. Dexter 1. Jessica Jones
75. Rob McElhenney
Writer | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Rob McElhenney was born on April 14, 1977 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005), Mythic Quest (2020) and Latter Days (2003). He has been married to Kaitlin Olson since September 27, 2008. They have two children.
(Ron EcElhenney, Glenn Howerton & Charlie Day)
Top 3:
3.
2.
1. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
76. John Hughes
Writer | Planes, Trains & Automobiles
John Hughes was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter. He was credited for creating some of the most memorable comedy films of the 1980s and the 1990s, when he was at the height of his career. He had a talent for writing coming-of-age stories, and for depicting fairly realistic...
Top 3: 3. Vacation 2. Ferris Beuller's Day Off 1. The Breakfast Club
77. Ricky Gervais
Writer | The Office
Ricky Dene Gervais was born in a suburb of Reading, Berkshire, to Eva Sophia (House) and Lawrence Raymond Gervais, who was a hod carrier and labourer. His father was born in Ontario, Canada, of French-Canadian descent, and his mother was English. He was educated at Ashmead Comprehensive School and ...
Top 3: 3. Life's Too Short 2. Extras 1. The Office
78. Paul Schrader
Writer | First Reformed
Although his name is often linked to that of the "movie brat" generation (Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Brian De Palma, etc.) Paul Schrader's background couldn't have been more different than theirs. His strict Calvinist parents refused to allow him to see a...
Top 3: 3. First Reformed 2. Raging Bull 1. Taxi Driver
79. David Renwick
Writer | Jonathan Creek
David Peter Renwick (born 4 September 1951) is an English television writer, best known for creation of the sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990) and the mystery series Jonathan Creek (1997).
Before beginning his full-time comedy writing career, he worked as a journalist on his home town newspaper, ...
Top 3: 3. 2. One Foot in the Grave 1. Jonathan Creek
80. Tina Fey
Actress | Date Night
Elizabeth Stamatina Fey was born in 1970 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia, to Xenobia "Jeanne" (Xenakes), a brokerage employee, and Donald Henry Fey, who wrote grant proposals for universities. Her mother is Greek, born in Piraeus, while her father had German, Northern Irish,...
Top 3: 3. Mean Girls 2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 1. 30 Rock
81. Shane Meadows
Director | This Is England
Shane Meadows was born on December 26, 1972 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England, UK. He is a director and writer, known for This Is England (2006), Dead Man's Shoes (2004) and TwentyFourSeven (1997).
Top 3: 3. Dead Man's Shoes 2. This is England '86 1. This is England
82. Spike Jonze
Producer | Her
Spike Jonze made up one-third (along with Andy Jenkins and Mark Lewman) of the triumvirate of genius minds behind Dirt Magazine, the brother publication of the much lamented ground-breaking Sassy Magazine. These three uncommon characters were all editors for Grand Royal Magazine as well, under the ...
Top 3: 3. 2. Where the Wild Things Are 1. Her
83. Kevin Smith
Producer | Clerks
Kevin Patrick Smith was born in Red Bank but grew up in Highlands, New Jersey, the son of Grace (Schultz) and Donald E. Smith, a postal worker. He is very proud of his native state; this fact can be seen in all of his movies. Kevin is of mostly German, with some Irish and English, ancestry.
His ...
Top 3: 3. Tusk 2. Clerks II 1. Clerks.
84. Adam Reed
Writer | Archer
Adam Reed is known for Archer (2009), Frisky Dingo (2006) and Sealab 2021 (2000).
Top 3: 3. Sealab 2. Archer 1. Frisky Dingo
85. Mark Gatiss
Actor | The League of Gentlemen
Mark Gatiss is an accomplished author, actor and playwright. Originally from Sedgefield, County Durham, he graduated from Bretton Hall Drama College with a BA (honors) in Theatre Arts.
He was one-quarter of the award-winning comedy team The League of Gentlemen (1999), and became heavily involved in ...
Top 3: 3. The League of Gentlemen 2. The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse 1. Sherlock
86. Stephen McFeely
Writer | Avengers: Endgame
Stephen McFeely was born on February 24, 1970 in Walnut Creek, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Avengers: Endgame (2019), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). He is married to Jennifer Cotteleer.
Top 3: 3. Thor: The Dark World 2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier 1. Captain America: The First Avenger
87. Jane Goldman
Producer | Kick-Ass
Jane Goldman was born on June 11, 1970 in England, UK. She is a producer and writer, known for Kick-Ass (2010), Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Stardust (2007). She has been married to Jonathan Ross since August 1988. They have three children.
Top 3: 3. Stardust 2. Kick-Ass 1. X-Men: First Class
88. Matthew Vaughn
Producer | Kick-Ass
Matthew Vaughn is an English film producer and director. He is known for producing such films as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000) and for directing the crime thriller, Layer Cake (2004), the fantasy epic, Stardust (2007), the superhero comedy, Kick-Ass (2010), and the ...
Top 3: 3. Stardust 2. Kick-Ass 1. X-Men: First Class
89. Steven E. de Souza
Writer | Die Hard
Among the handful of screenwriters whose films have earned over $2 billion at the box office, Steven de Souza was introduced to Hollywood on camera--as a contestant on an L.A. game show. There the Philadelphia-based writer for PBS, The New York Times, Premiere and other media outlets won a car and ...
Top 3: 3. The Flintstones 2. Die Hard 2 1. Die Hard
90. Mel Brooks
Actor | Spaceballs
Mel Brooks was born Melvin Kaminsky on June 28, 1926 in Brooklyn, New York. He served in WWII, and afterwards got a job playing the drums at nightclubs in the Catskills. Brooks eventually started a comedy act and also worked in radio and as Master Entertainer at Grossinger's Resort before going to ...
Top 3: 3. Young Frankenstein 2. The Producers (2005) 1. The Producers (1968)
91. Lena Dunham
Writer | Tiny Furniture
New Yorker Lena Dunham is the daughter of a painter, Carroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons, a designer and photographer. Dunham was educated at Oberlin College, Ohio, graduating with a creative writing degree. It was while at Oberlin that she began writing shorts and feature films. In 2009, Dunham ...
Top 3: 3. 2. Tiny Furniture 1. Girls
92. Matthew Holness
Actor | Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Matthew Holness is known for Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004), Possum (2018) and Playhouse Presents (2012).
Top 3: 3. Possum 2. Man to Man with Dean Learner 1. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
93. J. Stewart Burns
Producer | The Simpsons
J. Stewart Burns was born on December 4, 1969 in the USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Simpsons (1989), Futurama (1999) and Futurama (2003).
Top 3: 3. 2. The Simpsons 1. Futurama
94. Rik Mayall
Actor | The Young Ones
Rik Mayall, one of the first and foremost alternative comedians in the UK, was born in Matching Tye, a village just outside Harlow in Essex. His parents, John and Gillian, were both drama teachers. His acting debut was at the age of seven when he appeared in one of his father's stage plays. He met ...
Top 3: 3. 2. Bottom 1. The Young Ones
95. Robert Popper
Actor | Hot Fuzz
Robert Popper was born on November 23, 1967 in St. Marylebone, London, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Hot Fuzz (2007), Friday Night Dinner (2011) and Look Around You (2002).
Top 3: 3. 2. 1. Friday Night Dinner
96. Ron Clements
Writer | Hercules
Ron Clements is an American animated film director who collaborates with John Musker. They directed various Disney animated films including The Great Mouse Detective, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog and Moana. The Little Mermaid and Aladdin are ...
(Ron Clements & John Musker)
Top 3:
3. Hercules
2. The Princess & the Frog
1. Aladdin
97. John Michael McDonagh
Writer | The Guard
John Michael McDonagh was born in 1967 in London, England, UK. He is a writer and director, known for The Guard (2011), Calvary (2014) and The Forgiven (2021). He has been married to Elizabeth Eves since 2003.
Top 3: 3. 2. The Guard 1. Calvary
98. James L. Brooks
Writer | Broadcast News
James L. Brooks was born on May 9, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Broadcast News (1987), As Good as It Gets (1997) and Terms of Endearment (1983). He was previously married to Holly Holmberg Brooks and Marianne Catherine Morrissey.
Top 3: 3. As Good as it Gets 2. Terms of Endearment 1. The Simpsons Movie
99. Mike Myers
Actor | Austin Powers in Goldmember
Michael John Myers was born in 1963 in Scarborough, Ontario, to Alice E. (Hind), an officer supervisor, and Eric Myers, an insurance agent. His parents were both English, and had served in the Royal Air Force and British Army, respectively.
Myers' television career really started in 1988, when he ...
Top 3: 3. Wayne's World 2. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me 1. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
100. Dan Aykroyd
Writer | Ghostbusters
Daniel Edward Aykroyd was born on July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Lorraine Hélène (Gougeon), a secretary from a French-Canadian family, and Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, a civil engineer who advised prime minister Pierre Trudeau. Aykroyd attended Carleton University in 1969, where...
Top 3: 3. Ghostbusters II 2. The Blues Brothers 1. Ghostbusters
Tell Your Friends