Dean Devlin

Dean Devlin
Name	Dean Devlin
Birth date	27 August 1962
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Film producer, screenwriter, director, actor
Years active	1984–present
Spouse	Lisa Brenner (m. 2003)

Dean Devlin is an American film producer, screenwriter, director, and former actor, best known for his prolific collaboration with director Roland Emmerich. Together, they created a series of highly successful science fiction and disaster films in the 1990s, including Independence Day and Godzilla. He later founded the production company Electric Entertainment, through which he has produced and directed numerous television series and films, notably the long-running adventure series The Librarians.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, he is the son of actress Pilar Seurat and producer Don Devlin. His early exposure to the entertainment industry came through his parents' work, and he began his own career as a child actor. He appeared in various television roles during the 1970s and 1980s, including a notable part on the series The Real McCoys. He attended Beverly Hills High School before pursuing his career in Hollywood full-time, moving away from acting to focus on writing and production.

Career

His career shifted decisively when he began collaborating with German director Roland Emmerich in the early 1990s. Their first major success was the 1994 science fiction film Stargate, which he co-wrote and produced. This partnership culminated in the blockbuster hit Independence Day in 1996, a film he produced and co-wrote that became a defining cultural phenomenon and a major financial success for 20th Century Fox. He followed this with the 1998 monster film Godzilla and the 2000 historical epic The Patriot, both produced in partnership with Emmerich. In 2001, he founded his own production company, Electric Entertainment, which marked a move toward greater creative independence. Through Electric, he has produced, written, and directed for both film and television, often focusing on genre projects and series like Leverage and its sequel Leverage: Redemption.

Filmography

His notable film work as a producer and/or writer includes Stargate (1994), Independence Day (1996), Godzilla (1998), and The Patriot (2000). He made his directorial debut with the 2017 science fiction film Geostorm, which he also produced and co-wrote. Other producing credits through Electric Entertainment include The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004), Flyboys (2006), and Bad Samaritan (2018). His early career as an actor included roles in films like The Wild Life (1984) and television shows such as My Sister Sam.

Television work

A significant portion of his later career has been dedicated to television production. He served as an executive producer on the TNT series The Librarians, a successful sequel to a series of television films, which ran for four seasons. He was also the executive producer and a frequent director for the caper story series Leverage, which aired on TNT for five seasons, and its revival Leverage: Redemption. Other television projects include creating the series Almost Paradise and serving as an executive producer for the science fiction show The Outpost.

Personal life

He married actress Lisa Brenner in 2003, whom he met on the set of The Patriot. The couple has two children and resides in Los Angeles. He is known for his advocacy within the entertainment industry regarding production issues and creators' rights. His mother, Pilar Seurat, was a noted actress of Filipino descent, and his father, Don Devlin, was a film producer and screenwriter.

Awards and nominations

His work on Independence Day earned him a Saturn Award for Best Writing and a nomination for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. The film also received an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. He has received several People's Choice Awards for Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture. His television series Leverage was nominated for a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Stunt Coordination.

Category:American film producers Category:American screenwriters Category:American television producers Category:1962 births Category:Living people