Jack Amiel

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.

Jack Amiel
Jack Amiel and Juliet Rylance in May 2015
BornManhattan, New York
OccupationTelevision writer, screenwriter, producer, showrunner
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
Notable worksThe Knick
Raising Helen
The Shaggy Dog
Big Miracle

Early life

Amiel was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. He attended Fieldston School in New York City, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he majored in History.[1]

He met his future writing partner Michael Begler while they were in college together.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4][5]

In 2006, Amiel wrote Disney's The Shaggy Dog, starring Tim Allen and Robert Downey Jr.[6]

Amiel wrote 2012's Ken Kwapis-directed Big Miracle starring Drew Barrymore.[5]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
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

Year Show Role Notes
1996 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Co-producer
1997
The Tony Danza Show Producer
1998
2014 The Knick Executive Producer, Co-creator
2015

Writer

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
1996 Minor Adjustments 1 "Ask Dr. Ron" 9
"Baba-Doo-Wang" 14
The Jeff Foxworthy Show 2 "The Poor Sportsmen of the Apocalypse" 3
1997 "Feud for Thought" 11
"Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks" 12
1998 The Wonderful World of Disney 1 "Disneys Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure" 27
The Tony Danza Show 1 "C'gar Face" 6
"Vision Quest" 14
2000 Malcolm in the Middle 1 "Lois vs. Evil" 9
2014 The Knick 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
2015 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

References
  1. "Jack Amiel - Maisha Film Lab". Maisha Film Lab. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  2. Travers, Ben (2014-08-06). "'The Knick' Creators on How They Went From Writing Studio Rom-Coms to Steven Soderbergh's New TV Show". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  3. "Jack Amiel | HuffPost". www.huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  4. Foundas, Scott (2004-03-28). "The Prince & Me". Variety. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  5. "THE KNICK Showrunners Jack Amiel and Michael Begler on Bringing Their Show to Life | Nerdist". Nerdist. 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  6. "The Shaggy Dog | Film Review | Slant Magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  7. Jr, Mike Fleming (2013-05-23). "Steven Soderbergh Will Interrupt Retirement To Direct And Produce Cinemax Series 'The Knick' With Clive Owen Starring". Deadline. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  8. "Cinemax Gives Steven Soderbergh's 'The Knick' Early Season 2 Renewal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
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