Jack Amiel

{{Infobox writer | name = Jack Amiel | image = Jack Amiel and Juliet Rylance, May 2015.jpg | caption = Jack Amiel and Juliet Rylance in May 2015 | birth_place = Manhattan, New York | occupation = Television writer, screenwriter, producer, showrunner | nationality = American | alma_mater = University of Wisconsin–Madison | notableworks = ''The Knick'' ''Raising Helen'' ''The Shaggy Dog'' ''Big Miracle'' }}

'''Jack Amiel''' is an American TV writer, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for co-creating Cinemax's period medical drama ''The Knick'', and for writing the films ''Raising Helen'' (2004), ''The Shaggy Dog'' (2006) and ''Big Miracle'' (2012), all with writing partner Michael Begler.

== Early life == Amiel was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. He is of Jewish ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2014 |title=Interview: The Knick Creators Amiel and Begler |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58988/interview-knick-creators-jack-amiel-and-michael-begler}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guys Night Out | United Jewish Federation of Utah |url=https://www.shalomutah.org/united-jewish-federation-of-utah-calendar/guys-night-out}}</ref> He attended Fieldston School in New York City, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he majored in History.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://maishafilmlab.org/maisha-mentor/jack-amiel/|title=Jack Amiel - Maisha Film Lab|work=Maisha Film Lab|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-US}}</ref>

He met his future writing partner Michael Begler while they were in college together.and both entered the university's musical-comedy contest, ''Humorology''.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Jack Amiel & Michael Begler Biography |url=http://madeinatlantis.com/filmmakers/amiel_begler_bio.htm |access-date=2018-01-08 |website=madeinatlantis.com}}</ref><ref name="article">{{Cite web |date=19 September 2014 |title=Interview: The Knick Creators Amiel and Begler |url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58988/interview-knick-creators-jack-amiel-and-michael-begler}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Travers |first=Ben |date=2014-08-06 |title='The Knick' Creators on How They Went From Writing Studio Rom-Coms to Steven Soderbergh's New TV Show |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2014/08/the-knick-creators-on-how-they-went-from-writing-studio-rom-coms-to-steven-soderberghs-new-tv-show-23443/ |access-date=2018-01-08 |work=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career == After college, Amiel moved to Los Angeles and worked as a PA on a number of Fox sitcoms. He and Begler, who was working as a PA in New York, decided to write together shortly after, and Begler soon joined Amiel in Los Angeles. Their first writing job was on Fox's ''Herman's Head''.<ref name=":0" />

Amiel worked consistently from that point onwards, writing - with Begler - on a number of sitcoms, including ''Empty Nest'', ''Minor Adjustments'', ''The Jeff Foxworthy Show'', ''The Tony Danza Show'' and ''Malcolm in the Middle''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/jack-amiel|title=Jack Amiel {{!}} HuffPost|website=www.huffingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref>

In the mid-2000s, Amiel transitioned into writing feature films, penning the scripts for the romantic comedies ''The Prince and Me'' and Garry Marshall's ''Raising Helen'', both released in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/the-prince-me-1200534296/|title=The Prince & Me|last=Foundas|first=Scott|date=2004-03-28|work=Variety|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://archive.nerdist.com/the-knick-showrunners-jack-amiel-and-michael-begler-on-bringing-their-show-to-life/|title=THE KNICK Showrunners Jack Amiel and Michael Begler on Bringing Their Show to Life {{!}} Nerdist|date=2014-08-07|work=Nerdist|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en|archive-date=2018-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175237/https://nerdist.com/the-knick-showrunners-jack-amiel-and-michael-begler-on-bringing-their-show-to-life/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, Amiel wrote Disney's ''The Shaggy Dog'', starring Tim Allen and Robert Downey Jr.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/the-shaggy-dog|title=The Shaggy Dog {{!}} Film Review {{!}} Slant Magazine|work=Slant Magazine|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-US}}</ref>

Amiel wrote 2012's Ken Kwapis-directed ''Big Miracle'' starring Drew Barrymore.<ref name=":1" />

Cinemax picked up Amiel and Begler's ''The Knick'' to series, after they wrote the pilot script on spec. Steven Soderbergh came on board the series as director and executive producer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/steven-soderbergh-cinemax-series-the-knick-clive-owen-507058/|title=Steven Soderbergh Will Interrupt Retirement To Direct And Produce Cinemax Series 'The Knick' With Clive Owen Starring|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=2013-05-23|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-US}}</ref> Amiel and Begler served as co-showrunners and executive producers, and wrote the majority of the series' episodes. The series premiered on August 8, 2014. It was renewed for a second season of 10 episodes, airing October 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cinemaxs-knick-renewed-season-2-717845|title=Cinemax Gives Steven Soderbergh's 'The Knick' Early Season 2 Renewal|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en}}</ref>

In April 2021, it was announced that Amiel and Begler will serve as executive producers, writers and showrunners for second season of ''Perry Mason''. Around the same time he signed an overall deal with HBO<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Jack Amiel & Michael Begler Ink Big Overall Deal With HBO, Join 'Perry Mason' As Showrunners; Ron Fitzgerald & Rolin Jones Exit|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/jack-amiel-ron-fitzgerald-rolin-jones-exit-1234742656/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 23, 2021|accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref>

thumb| Cast and Crew of ''The Knick'' - 2014 Peabody Award Acceptance Speech

== Filmography == '''Films''' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- | rowspan="2" |2004 |''The Prince and Me'' |Screenplay by | |- |''Raising Helen'' |Screenplay by | |- |2006 |''The Shaggy Dog'' |Screenplay by | |- |2007 |''Hell on Earth'' |Written by |TV movie; also Executive Producer |- |2012 |''Big Miracle'' |Screenplay by | |} '''Production staff''' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Show !Role !Notes |- |1996 | rowspan="2" |''The Jeff Foxworthy Show'' | rowspan="2" |Co-producer | |- | rowspan="2" |1997 | |- | rowspan="2" |''The Tony Danza Show'' | rowspan="2" |Producer | |- |1998 | |- |2014 | rowspan="2" |''The Knick'' | rowspan="2" |Executive Producer, Co-creator | |- |2015 | |- |2020 |''Perry Mason'' |Executive Producer, Co-Showrunner (Season 2) |<ref name="Deadline"/> |- |}

'''Writer''' {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year !Show !Season !Episode title !Episode !Notes |- |1994 |''Herman's Head'' |3 |"The Herm from Ipanema" |17 | |- |1995 |''Empty Nest'' |7 |"The Ex-Files" |19 | |- | rowspan="3" |1996 | rowspan="2" |''Minor Adjustments'' | rowspan="2" |1 |"Ask Dr. Ron" |9 | |- |"Baba-Doo-Wang" |14 | |- | rowspan="3" |''The Jeff Foxworthy Show'' | rowspan="3" |2 |"The Poor Sportsmen of the Apocalypse" |3 | |- | rowspan="2" |1997 |"Feud for Thought" |11 | |- |"Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks" |12 | |- | rowspan="3" |1998 |''The Wonderful World of Disney'' |1 |"Disneys Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure" |27 | |- | rowspan="2" |''The Tony Danza Show'' | rowspan="2" |1 |"C'gar Face" |6 | |- |"Vision Quest" |14 | |- |2000 |''Malcolm in the Middle'' |1 |"Lois vs. Evil" |9 | |- | rowspan="8" |2014 | rowspan="15" |''The Knick'' | rowspan="8" |1 |"Method and Madness |1 | |- |"Mr. Paris Shoes" |2 | |- |"The Busy Flea" |3 | |- |"Where's the Dignity" |4 | |- |"Start Calling Me Dad" |6 | |- |"Get the Rope" |7 | |- |"Working Late a Lot" |8 | |- |"Crutchfield" |10 | |- | rowspan="7" |2015 | rowspan="7" |2 |"Ten Knots" |1 | |- |"You're No Rose" |2 | |- |"The Best with the Best to Get the Best" |3 | |- |"Wonderful Surprises" |4 | |- |"Williams and Walker" |7 | |- |"Do You Remember Moon Flower?" |9 | |- |"This Is All We Are" |10 | |- |2020 |''Perry Mason'' |2 | |1 | |- |}

== References == <references />

== External links == * [https://twitter.com/jackamiel?lang=en Jack Amiel on Twitter] * {{IMDb name|0024856|Jack Amiel}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amiel, Jack}} Category:Living people Category:Writers from Manhattan Category:Screenwriters from New York City Category:Ethical Culture Fieldston School alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni