{{short description|American film producer}}
{{Infobox writer | name = Michael Begler | birth_place = Long Island, New York | occupation = Television writer, screenwriter, producer, showrunner | nationality = American | alma_mater = University of Wisconsin–Madison | notableworks = {{hlist|''The Knick''|''Raising Helen''|''The Shaggy Dog''|''Big Miracle''}} }} '''Michael Begler''' is an American television 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 Jack Amiel.<ref name="article" />
== Early life == Begler was born and raised in Long Island, New York. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he majored in English.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://madeinatlantis.com/filmmakers/amiel_begler_bio.htm|title=Jack Amiel & Michael Begler Biography|website=madeinatlantis.com|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref>
He met his future writing partner Jack Amiel while they were in college together and both entered the university's musical-comedy contest, ''Humorology''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="article">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58988/interview-knick-creators-jack-amiel-and-michael-begler|title=Interview: The Knick Creators Amiel and Begler|date=19 September 2014 }}</ref>
== Career == After college, Begler moved to New York and worked as a PA on ''The Cosby Show''. He and Amiel, who was working as a PA in Los Angeles, 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">{{Cite news|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/|title='The Knick' Creators on How They Went From Writing Studio Rom-Coms to Steven Soderbergh's New TV Show|last=Travers|first=Ben|date=2014-08-06|work=IndieWire|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en-US}}</ref>
Begler worked consistently from that point onwards, writing - with Amiel - 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 news|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/68306|title=THE KNICK!! <br>What Make The Critics Of Steven Soderbergh's THE KNICK??|last=hercules|work=Aint It Cool News|access-date=2018-01-08|language=en}}</ref>
In the mid-2000s, Begler 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}}</ref> In 2006, Begler 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>
Begler wrote 2012's Ken Kwapis-directed ''Big Miracle'' starring Drew Barrymore.<ref name=":1" /> Cinemax picked up Begler and Amiel'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> Begler and Amiel 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 Bagler and Amiel will serve as an executive producers 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>
== 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 <small>(Season 2)</small> |<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 | |- |2002 | rowspan="2" |''Greetings from Tucson'' | rowspan="2" |1 |"My Two Padres" |2 | |- |2003 |"Ball and Chain" |10 | |- | 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 | |- |2023 |''Perry Mason'' |2 | |1 | |- |}
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{IMDb name|0066764|Michael Begler}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Begler, Michael}} Category:Living people Category:People from Long Island Category:American male screenwriters Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Film producers from New York (state) Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni Category:Screenwriters from New York City Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:American male television writers Category:American television writers