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| Dan Harmon | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dan Harmon |
| Birth date | 3 January 1973 |
| Birth place | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Occupation | Writer, Producer, Actor, Comedian |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Notable works | Community, Rick and Morty, Channel 101, Harmontown |
Dan Harmon is an American screenwriter, producer, actor, and podcaster best known for creating the NBC/Yahoo! series Community and co-creating the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty. He founded the short-film showcase Channel 101 and hosted the long-running touring show and podcast Harmontown. Harmon is recognized for his improvisational roots in the Los Angeles comedy scene and for popularizing narrative structures such as the "story circle" in contemporary television writing.
Harmon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in the Milwaukee area before moving to Charlevoix County, Michigan for parts of his youth. He attended Brown University for a period before transferring and ultimately graduating from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, where he studied writing and performance art influences tied to the Beat Generation and Buddhism-influenced curricula at Naropa. His early connections include involvement with regional comedy and theater groups in Oakland, California, Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles that later influenced his collaborative networks with figures associated with Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Second City, and the broader American improv scene.
Harmon's early career involved sketch and improv performance in independent venues and festivals such as South by Southwest and collaborations with creators associated with The Onion and Saturday Night Live alumni. He founded the micro-film festival Channel 101 with Rob Schrab, fostering short-format series and launching careers linked to performers who later worked on The Sarah Silverman Program, Reno 911!, and projects tied to Adult Swim and IFC. Harmon's writing and producing credits expanded into network development rooms in Hollywood, where he worked with executives and production entities connected to NBC, Sony Pictures Television, Universal Television, and creative partners from shows like Arrested Development and The Simpsons.
Harmon created and served as showrunner for Community, which premiered on NBC and later moved to Yahoo! Screen, featuring ensemble performers associated with series alumni who went on to work on The Office, Parks and Recreation, and 30 Rock alumni networks. He co-created the animated series Rick and Morty with Justin Roiland, produced for Adult Swim, leading to collaborations with voice actors and writers who have credits on projects such as BoJack Horseman, Futurama, and Bob's Burgers. Harmon has appeared in cameo roles in films and television programs tied to The Sarah Silverman Program, Terminator Salvation, and independent films screened at Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. He developed pilots and wrote scripts for studios and streamers, engaging with personnel from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Studios on projects influenced by his "story circle" method, a narrative approach discussed alongside writers from The Writer's Guild of America and instructors in writers' rooms across Los Angeles and New York City.
Harmon hosted the longform live show and podcast Harmontown, which toured through venues connected to The Bell House, Hollywood Bowl, and Melbourne International Comedy Festival, featuring guests from Comedy Central, The Moth, and the improv community including alumni of UCB Theatre and Second City. He produced web series for Channel 101 and appeared on podcasts affiliated with Maximum Fun, Earwolf, and creators linked to NPR and Gimlet Media. His online collaborations included participation in charity livestreams with personalities from Rooster Teeth and gaming communities tied to Twitch and the YouTube creator economy. Harmon has lectured at institutions such as USC School of Cinematic Arts and participated in panels at Comic-Con International and industry conferences hosted by The Television Critics Association.
Harmon has been married and divorced, with personal relationships occasionally discussed on Harmontown and in interviews with outlets like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. He has lived in Los Angeles and participated in community events with organizations linked to Make-A-Wish Foundation and various arts charities prominent in Southern California. Harmon's influences and friendships include collaborations with writers and performers associated with Rob Schrab, Justin Roiland, Joel Hodgson, Alison Brie, and producers who have worked across NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Television, and Cartoon Network Studios.
Harmon's public career has included controversies and criticism reported by outlets such as Vulture (magazine), The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and The Guardian. He faced workplace and interpersonal allegations discussed in reporting that involved responses from production companies like NBC and Adult Swim and interactions with colleagues linked to Community and Rick and Morty. These disputes prompted public apologies, industry commentary from figures at The Writers Guild of America and advocates from organizations addressing workplace conduct, and coverage in longform outlets including Esquire (magazine) and GQ. Critics and supporters have debated the implications of his behavior for creative leadership in writers' rooms, with commentary intersecting with discussions around practices in Hollywood workplace culture reforms and media accountability practices highlighted by investigative pieces in BuzzFeed News and mainstream entertainment reporting.
Category:American screenwriters Category:American television producers Category:People from Milwaukee