{{short description|American Screenwriter}} {{Infobox person | name = Gary Lennon | occupation = Playwright, Television writer, producer, director, showrunner | years_active = 1991–present }}
'''Gary Lennon''' is an American playwright, television writer and executive producer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2019/dirt/real-estate/gary-lennon-house-los-feliz-power-showrunner-1203200463/|title='Power' Showrunner Gary Lennon Buys in Los Feliz, Lists in Mid-Wilshire|last=McClain|first=James|date=2019-04-29|work=Variety|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://writeononline.com/2013/03/19/author-qa-gary-lennon-a-family-thing/|title=Author Q&A: Gary Lennon, "A Family Thing"|date=2013-03-19|via=Write On Online|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> Lennon is currently the showrunner of ''Power Book IV: Force'' on Starz, and he is credited with elevating the series to critical acclaim after he stepped into the role in its second season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/reviews/power-book-iv-force-season-2-review-1235697061/|title=Starz's 'Power Book IV: Force' Is Transformed in Season 2 by a Ruthless Performance From Joseph Sikora: TV Review|last=Tinubu|first=Aramide|date=2023-08-31|work=Variety|access-date=2024-06-16}}</ref> Lennon is also reported to be working on expanding the ''Power'' universe to additional spinoffs in his overall development deal with Lionsgate Television.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/gary-lennon-extends-lionsgate-television-deal-1235854725/|title='Power Book IV: Force' Showrunner Gary Lennon Extends Lionsgate Television Deal|last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=2024-03-11|work=Deadline|access-date=2024-06-16}}</ref> Lennon was previously the co-showrunner of ''Power'' and ''Hightown'', both for Starz and Lionsgate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/power-gary-lennon-promoted-co-showrunner-courtney-kemp-50-cent-starz-1202424810/|title=Gary Lennon Upped To 'Power' Co-Showrunner For Season 6|last=Patten|first=Dominic|date=2018-07-11|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/heroin-epidemic-drama-p-town-in-starz-from-jerry-bruckheimer-tv-1202213966/|title=Heroin Epidemic Drama 'P-Town' In Works At Starz From 'Gotham' Alum, 'Power' EP & Jerry Bruckheimer TV|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2017-11-27|work=Deadline|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> He is also an executive producer on ''Euphoria'' for HBO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-picks-teen-drama-euphoria-adds-drake-as-executive-producer-1130660|title=HBO Orders 'Euphoria' to Series, Drake Joins as Executive Producer|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=2018-07-30|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> In 2013, Lennon won a Peabody Award for the first season of ''Orange is the New Black'' along with his fellow writers and producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/orange-is-the-new-black-netflix/|title=Orange is the New Black (Netflix)|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>
== Early life == Lennon grew up in Hell's Kitchen. He was orphaned by age 11, he dropped out of high school, and he did not attend college.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://kammiller.com/writer-producer-gary-lennon-hells-kitchen-kid-to-hollywood-baller/|title=Hells Kitchen Kid To Hollywood Baller|last=Miller|first=Kam|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref>
== Career == Lennon began his career as an aspiring actor. He studied under Geraldine Page, who encouraged him to write about his own life. Lennon compiled his monologues to create his first play, ''Blackout''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://artsinla.com/Meet_the_Artists.html|title=To Tell The Truth|last=Margolies|first=Dany|work=Arts in LA|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-25-et-nichols25-story.html|title='Blackout' explores culture of sobriety|last=Nichols|first=David C.|date=2003-04-25|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=2019-05-13}}</ref> After being rejected by the Circle Repertory Company as a young playwright, Lennon left one of his plays backstage at a theater attended by Marshall W. Mason, the founder of the company. Mason read the play that Lennon had addressed to him, and set him up on his first meetings.<ref name=":0" />
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result |- |2011 |Peabody Awards |Peabody Award <ref name="award1">{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/power-ep-gary-lennon-overall-deal-starz-1202091875/|title='Power' EP Gary Lennon Inks Overall Deal With Starz|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2017-05-12|work=Deadline|access-date=2021-05-03}}</ref> |rowspan=4|''Justified'' |{{Won}} |- |2011 |WGA Awards |WGA Award <ref name="award1" /> |{{Won}} |- |2011 |Critics' Choice Awards |Television Award <ref name="award1" /> |{{nom}} |- |2011 |AFI Awards |AFI Award Honoree for Television Program of the Year <ref name="award1" /> |{{Won}} |- |2013 |WGA Awards |WGA Award <ref name="award1" /> |rowspan=4|''Orange Is the New Black'' |{{nom}} |- |2014 |Emmy Awards |Outstanding Comedy Series<ref name="award1" /> |{{nom}} |- |2014 |Peabody Awards |Peabody Award <ref name="award1" /> |{{Won}} |- |2015 |PGA Awards |Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television - Comedy<ref name="award1" /> |{{Won}} |- |2018 |NAACP Image Awards |Outstanding Drama Series <ref name="award2">{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/video/power-season-6-trailer-50-cent-omari-hardwick-courtney-kemp-starz-video/|title='Power' Final Season Trailer: "This Is War" As Starz Drama Intends To Go Out With A Big Bang & A "Final Betrayal"|last=Patten|first=Dominic|date=2019-07-06|work=Deadline|access-date=2021-05-03}}</ref> |rowspan=2|''Power'' |{{Won}} |- |2019 |NAACP Image Awards |Outstanding Drama Series <ref name="award2" /> |{{Won}} |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{IMDb name|nm0502039}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lennon, Gary}} Category:21st-century American screenwriters Category:American television producers Category:American showrunners Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights Category:Writers from New York City