Paul Attanasio

Paul Attanasio is an American screenwriter and producer renowned for his work in both film and television. A graduate of Harvard University, he first gained prominence as a film critic for The Washington Post before transitioning to a highly successful career in Hollywood. He is best known for creating the acclaimed medical drama series House and for his Academy Award-nominated screenplays for Quiz Show and Donnie Brasco. His work is characterized by sharp dialogue, complex characters, and meticulous research.

Early life and education

Paul Attantasio was born in The Bronx, New York City, and was raised in a Catholic family in New Rochelle, New York. His father was a certified public accountant. He demonstrated academic prowess early, attending the prestigious Regis High School in Manhattan. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard University, where he studied under noted scholars and graduated with a degree in history of science. During his time at Harvard, he was an editor for the renowned Harvard Lampoon humor magazine, an experience that honed his writing skills and wit.

Career

Attanasio began his professional writing career as a film critic for The Washington Post from 1984 to 1987, where his reviews were noted for their intelligence and incisiveness. His transition to screenwriting came when his spec script caught the attention of producer Mark Johnson, leading to his first major credit, the 1990 courtroom drama The Bonfire of the Vanities, directed by Brian De Palma. He achieved critical acclaim with his screenplay for Robert Redford's Quiz Show (1994), which earned him nominations for an Academy Award and a Writers Guild of America Award. He followed this with another Oscar-nominated script for Mike Newell's crime drama Donnie Brasco (1997), starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino.

In television, Attanasio created the groundbreaking medical series House (2004–2012), developed with producers David Shore and Bryan Singer. The show, starring Hugh Laurie as the misanthropic Dr. Gregory House, became a global phenomenon and won multiple Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards. He also created the legal drama series The Practice spin-off Gideon's Crossing (2000) and served as an executive producer on series like Bull and The Good Doctor. His film producing credits include projects like The Sum of All Fears (2002).

Personal life

Paul Attanasio is married to television and film producer Katie Jacobs, who served as an executive producer on House. The couple has two children and resides in Los Angeles. He is the brother of investment banker and former Major League Baseball executive John Attanasio. He maintains a relatively private life, focusing on his family and writing projects, and is known within the industry for his intellectual approach to storytelling and collaborative work ethic.

Filmography

A selected list of his major works includes: * The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) – Screenwriter * Quiz Show (1994) – Screenwriter * Donnie Brasco (1997) – Screenwriter * Gideon's Crossing (2000–2001) – Creator, Executive Producer * The Sum of All Fears (2002) – Producer * House (2004–2012) – Creator, Executive Producer * Bull (2016–2022) – Executive Producer * The Good Doctor (2017–present) – Executive Producer

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, Paul Attanasio has received numerous accolades. He earned Academy Award nominations for Quiz Show and Donnie Brasco. He has also been nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on House, which itself won the Peabody Award in 2005. His writing has been recognized by the Writers Guild of America, the Broadcast Film Critics Association, and the USC Scripter Award, among other institutions.

Category:American screenwriters Category:American film producers Category:Harvard University alumni Category:1959 births Category:Living people