{{short description|American screenwriter (born 1965)}} {{for|the film studio executive|Nicholas Schenck}} {{Infobox person | name = Nick Schenk | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|11|12}} | birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | alma_mater = Minneapolis College of Art and Design | occupation = Screenwriter | years_active = | spouse = | partner = Jena Ramsay | website = | awards = }} '''Nick Schenk''' (born November 12, 1965) is an American screenwriter known for writing the Clint Eastwood-directed feature film ''Gran Torino'' in 2008 for which he won Best Original Screenplay from the National Board of Review.<ref name="NBofRofMP-BOS">Awards: [http://www.nbrmp.org/awards/awards.cfm?award=Best%20Original%20Screenplay Best Original Screenplay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305161414/http://nbrmp.org/awards/awards.cfm?award=best%20original%20screenplay |date=2016-03-05 }}. - National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.</ref> He continued his collaborations with Eastwood on ''The Mule'' (2018) and ''Cry Macho'' (2021).
==Early life== Schenk was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in the neighboring city of Fridley.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2009/01/08/nick_schenk|title = 'Gran Torino' a movie made in Minnesota, almost| date=9 January 2009 }}</ref> He graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1989.
==Career== During the mid-1990s, he played the character of Butch the Janitor on the television series, ''Let's Bowl'', during its initial syndicated run. He went on to be a writer for the series during its run on Comedy Central from 2001-2002. He also made appearances in small roles during this time.
In 2007, Nick Schenk was a writer and producer for ''Bodog Fight'' (the mixed-martial arts competition television show) when his screenplay for ''Gran Torino'' was optioned by Jenette Kahn. When Clint Eastwood read it, he not only decided to direct and star in it but he also insisted that not a word be changed by the studio. Subsequently, the only script changes made were to tailor it to the location where it was shot (Michigan) as opposed to Minnesota where it was originally set.<ref name=YuenL-MPR-2009-01-08>Yuen, Laura. - [http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/01/08/nick_schenk/ "'Gran Torino' a movie made in Minnesota, almost"]. - Minnesota Public Radio. - January 8, 2009.</ref>
On February 26, 2021, Nick signed on with the representative company Management 360.<ref name="Management360">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/cry-macho-screenwriter-nick-schenk-management-360-1234702351/|title='Cry Macho' Screenwriter Nick Schenk Signs With Management 360|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 26, 2021|first=Justin|last=Kroll|accessdate=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
In 2022, Schenk wrote and executive produced a sequel to the 1983 film ''A Christmas Story'' entitled ''A Christmas Story Christmas'' for Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/a-christmas-story-sequel-legendary-and-warner-bros-peter-billingsley-ralphie-1234916613/|title='A Christmas Story' Sequel In The Works At Legendary And Warner Bros With Peter Billingsley Set To Reprise Ralphie Role|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 20, 2022|first=Justin|last=Kroll|accessdate=August 11, 2022}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Films=== <!-- Rowspans are only allowed for the "Year" column per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Nick Schenk's film credits}} ! scope=col| Year ! scope=col| Title ! scope=col| Credited as ! scope=col| Director ! scope=col class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2008 ! scope=row| ''Gran Torino'' | Story, screenplay | {{Sort|Eastwood|Clint Eastwood}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-film-nick-schenk-011009-2009jan10-story.html|url-access=limited|title=Screenwriter floors it with ''Gran Torino''|date=January 10, 2009|first=Jeff|last=Baenen|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> |- | 2014 ! scope=row| {{Sort|Judge|''The Judge''}} | Story, screenplay | {{Sort|Dobkin|David Dobkin}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/wb-taps-david-seidler-for-the-judge-1118034339/|title=WB taps David Seidler for ''The Judge''|date=March 23, 2011|first1=Dave|last1=McNary|author-link1=Dave McNary|first2=Rachel|last2=Abrams|website=Variety|access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> |- | 2018 ! scope=row| {{Sort|Mule|''The Mule''}} | Screenplay | {{Sort|Eastwood|Clint Eastwood}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/the-judge-writer-nick-schenk-to-adapt-elderly-drug-mule-tale-for-zombieland-director-exclusive/|title=''The Judge'' Writer Nick Schenk to Adapt Elderly Drug Mule Tale for ''Zombieland'' Director (Exclusive)|date=February 24, 2015|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|website=TheWrap|access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> |- | 2021 ! scope=row| ''Cry Macho'' | Screenplay | {{Sort|Eastwood|Clint Eastwood}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/clint-eastwood-cry-macho-warner-bros-1234582757/|title=Clint Eastwood Finds His Next Film, Coming On To Star And Direct ''Cry Macho'' For Warner Bros|date=October 2, 2020|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> |- | 2022 ! scope=row| ''A Christmas Story Christmas'' | Story, screenplay, executive producer | {{Sort|Kaytis|Clay Kaytis}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/galahad-stampede-ventures-acquires-nick-schenks-action-spec-script-1234935560/|title=Stampede Ventures Acquires Nick Schenk's Action Spec ''Galahad'', Eyes New Franchise|date=February 17, 2022|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> |- | TBA ! scope=row| ''Bitcoin'' | Screenplay | {{Sort|Kaytis|Doug Liman}} | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/doug-liman-casey-affleck-pete-davidson-bitcoin-killing-satoshi-1236501408/ |title=Pete Davidson and Casey Affleck Team Up With Doug Liman on Bitcoin Thriller Film 'Killing Satoshi' (EXCLUSIVE) |website=Variety |date=August 28, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2026}}</ref> |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ {{Screen reader-only|Nick Schenk's television credits}} ! scope=col| Year ! scope=col| Title ! scope=col class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope=col class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2015 ! scope=row| ''Narcos'' | "Written by" – 2 episodes | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="Management360"/> |- | 2016 ! scope=row| ''Harley and the Davidsons'' | "Teleplay by" – 2 episodes; "Story by" – 1 episode | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/harley-davidsons-tv-review-925049/|title=''Harley and the Davidsons'': TV Review|date=September 1, 2016|first=Daniel|last=Fienberg|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> |- | 2017; 2020 ! scope=row| ''Manhunt'' | "Story by" – 1 episode; "Written by" – 2 episodes | style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="Management360"/> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * Tapley, Kristopher. - [http://www.incontention.com/?p=1767 PAGE TO SCREEN: "Gran Torino" by Nick Schenk]. - InContention.com. - September 9, 2008. * Covert, Colin. - [http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/36949514.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUt:aDyaEP:kD:aUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiU "A Twin Cities writer's 'Gran' slam"]. - ''Star Tribune''. - January 8, 2009. * Schein, Louisa. - [https://web.archive.org/web/20081009104506/http://www.asianweek.com/2008/10/03/eastwoods-next-film-features-hmong-american-cast-exclusive-interviews-from-the-set-of-gran-torino/ "Eastwood’s Next Film Features Hmong American Cast: Exclusive Interviews From the Set of 'Gran Torino'"]. - ''AsianWeek''. - October 3, 2008.
== External links == * {{IMDb name}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}} * {{Metacritic person}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schenk, Nick}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male writers Category:21st-century American screenwriters Category:American male screenwriters Category:American male television actors Category:American male television writers Category:American television writers Category:Minneapolis College of Art and Design alumni Category:Screenwriters from Minnesota Category:Writers from Minneapolis