View source for Steven Zaillian

{{short description|American screenwriter, film director and producer (born 1953)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Steven Zaillian
| honorific_suffix   = 
| image              =  <!-- filename only, i.e. without "File:" (or "Image:") prefix or enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| image_size         = 
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1953|1|30}}
| birth_place        = [[Fresno, California]], U.S.
| death_date         = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place        = 
| death_cause        = 
| nationality        = 
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = [[San Francisco State University]] 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Screenwriter|film director|film producer|film editor}}
| years_active       = 1977–present<ref name="nytimes"/>
| notable_works      = 
| spouse             = Elizabeth Zaillian
| children           = 2
| parents            = 
| awards             = 
| signature          = 
| signature_size     = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian'''<ref name="nytimes"/> (born January 30, 1953) is an [[Armenian-American]] screenwriter, film director and producer. He won an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]], a [[Golden Globe Award]] and a [[BAFTA Award]] for his screenplay ''[[Schindler's List]]'' (1993) and has earned Oscar nominations for the films ''[[Awakenings]]'', ''[[Gangs of New York]]'', ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'' and ''[[The Irishman]]''. He was presented with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2009 [[Austin Film Festival]] and the [[Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement]] from the [[Writers Guild of America]] in 2011. Zaillian is the founder of Film Rites, a film production company. 

He also created, wrote and directed the limited series ''[[The Night Of]]'' (2016) and ''[[Ripley (TV series)|Ripley]]'' (2024), the latter for which he won a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/ripley-director-steve-zaillian-takes-home-emmy-for-outstanding-directing-for-a-limited-or-anthology-series-or-movie-1236089338/|title='Ripley' Director Steve Zaillian Takes Home Emmy For Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie|date=September 16, 2024 |publisher=Deadline}}</ref> and a [[Peabody Awards|Peabody Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ripley |url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/ripley/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The Peabody Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life==
Steven Zaillian was born in [[Fresno, California]], the son of Jim Zaillian, a radio news reporter. Zaillian is of [[Armenian American|Armenian]] descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-18-et-lorenza18-story.html|title=Armenia's tragedy was long in coming to the movie screen|date=November 18, 2002|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=January 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106351781/eli-setencich-schilndlers/|title='Schindler's' screenwriter goes back to dad's vision|date=March 23, 1994|first=Eli|last=Setencich|work=Fresno Bee|access-date=July 26, 2022|page=B1|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He attended [[Sonoma State University]], graduated from [[San Francisco State University]] in 1975 with a degree in Cinema.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|title=Steven Zaillian|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/117789/Steven-Zaillian/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105010337/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/117789/Steven-Zaillian/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 5, 2015|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author="Blue" Gene Tyranny|date=2015|access-date=January 4, 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==

He lives in [[Los Angeles]] with his wife, Elizabeth Zaillian; they have two sons together.<ref name="tribute">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribute.ca/people/steven-zaillian/1830|title=Steven Zaillian biography|newspaper=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]]|access-date=May 18, 2012}}</ref>

==Career==
Steven Zaillian is known for writing screenplays that often deal with tragedy and drama. Zaillian has written screenplays for many notable films.  Zaillian wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film ''[[Awakenings]]''. His most notable work is the 1993 screenplay for the film ''[[Schindler's List]]'', for which he won an Academy Award. The ''Schindler’s List'' screenplay was voted the 49th best screenplay of all time by the [[Writers Guild of America West]], the 32nd best of all time by [[IMDb]], and the 49th best by [[filmsite.org]]. Zaillian directed and wrote the 1993 film ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]'', for which he earned critical and commercial acclaim. Zaillian also wrote and directed the 1998 film ''[[A Civil Action]]'' and wrote the screenplays for the films ''[[Gangs of New York]]'' in 2002, and [[American Gangster (film)|''American Gangster'']] in 2007. In 2007, in partnership with [[Mandate Pictures]], he signed a deal with [[Columbia Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garrett|first=Diane|date=2007-05-01|title=Zaillian signs deal with Columbia|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/zaillian-signs-deal-with-columbia-1117964070/|access-date=2021-01-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}.</ref>  Zaillian co-wrote the screenplay for ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]'' in 2011 with [[Aaron Sorkin]]. Zaillian also wrote the screenplay for the 2011 film ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''. His most recent work includes creating, directing, writing, and producing the 2016 Emmy-winning [[HBO]] miniseries ''[[The Night Of]]'' and writing the screenplay for the 2019 [[Netflix]] film ''[[The Irishman]]''.

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable
! Year
! Title
! width=65 | [[Film director|Director]] 
! width=65 | [[Screenwriter|Writer]] 
! width=65 | [[Film producer|Producer]] 
|-
| 1985 
| ''{{sortname|The|Falcon and the Snowman}}'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Awakenings]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| rowspan="3"|1993
| ''[[Schindler's List]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
|-
| ''[[Searching for Bobby Fischer]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| ''[[Jack the Bear]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Clear and Present Danger (film)|Clear and Present Danger]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]''
| {{no}}
|{{Partial|Story}}
|{{No}}
|-
| 1998
| ''{{sortname|A|Civil Action|A Civil Action (film)}}''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Gangs of New York]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2005
| ''{{sortname|The|Interpreter|The Interpreter (2005 film)}}''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2006
| ''[[All the King's Men (2006 film)|All the King's Men]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2007
| ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|2011
| ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| ''{{sortname|The|Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)}}''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Exodus: Gods and Kings]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Red Sparrow]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2019
| ''[[The Irishman]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Those Who Wish Me Dead]]''
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|-
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="width:33px;"| Year 
! Title 
! width=65 | Director 
! width=65 | Writer
! width=65 | Executive<br>Producer 
! width=65 | Creator 
! Notes
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Night Of]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Ripley (TV series)|Ripley]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|}

===Executive producer only===
* ''[[Welcome to the Rileys]]'' (2010)
* ''[[The Cold Light of Day (2012 film)|The Cold Light of Day]]'' (2012)
* ''[[The Current War]]'' (2017)
* ''[[My Dinner with Hervé]]'' (2018)

===Editor===
* ''[[Breaker! Breaker!]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Kingdom of the Spiders]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Starhops]]'' (1978)

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Award 
! Result
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1991
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Awakenings]]''
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1994
| rowspan="5"| ''[[Schindler's List]]''
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| 1999
| ''[[A Civil Action (film)|A Civil Action]]''
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2003
| rowspan="3"| ''[[Gangs of New York]]''
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2008
| ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="8"| 2012
| rowspan="8"| ''[[Moneyball (film)|Moneyball]]''
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|- 
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Screenplay#2010s|Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2012
| ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]''
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=5| 2017
| rowspan=5| ''[[The Night Of]]''
| [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Television Film|Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film]] <br>(Episode: "The Beach")
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special]] (Episode: "The Beach")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special]] (Episode: "The Call of the Wild")
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=6| 2020
| rowspan=6| ''[[The Irishman]]''
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Screenplay|Critics' Choice Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=4| 2024
| rowspan=4| ''[[Ripley (TV series)|Ripley]]''
| Astra TV Award for Best Directing in a Limited Series or TV Movie
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Charlie Rose view|3546}}
*{{IMDb name|1873}}
*[http://www.oneforthetable.com/oftt/index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=5&searchword=Steve+Zaillian&submit=Search&searchphrase=exact&ordering=newest Writings at One for the Table]

{{Steven Zaillian}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Steven Zaillian
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestAdaptedScreenplay 1981–2000}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 1983–1999}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{DirectorsGuildofAmericaAwardMiniseriesorTVFilm}}
{{EmmyAward MiniseriesDirector}}
{{GoldenGlobeBestScreenplayMotionPicture 1981–2000}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best New Filmmaker}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement}}
{{USC Scripter Awards — Film}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaillian, Steven}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film editors]]
[[Category:Film producers from California]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Directors Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:American writers of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Writers from Fresno, California]]
[[Category:San Francisco State University alumni]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners]]
[[Category:Film directors from California]]
[[Category:Best Screenplay Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from California]]
[[Category:20th-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]