Angelo Pizzo is an American screen writer and film producer, best known for Hoosiers and Rudy. Pizzo grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of a Sicilian immigrant, and attended Indiana University where he received his bachelor degree in political science. He and his family lived in Ojai, California[1] and attended film school at the University of Southern California.[2] He is also a graduate of Indiana University. After living in California for about 30 years, he and his family moved back to Bloomington, IN to raise their kids.[3] He is an avid Indiana University basketball supporter and season ticket holder.
Pizzo received an honorary doctorate from Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana, was named Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest civilian of Indiana and various other awards.[2]
Angelo has two sons, ages 11 and 14 (as of 2009).
Angelo was originally going to become a lawyer, but his father encouraged him to do something he enjoyed. He began his film/television career with Warner Brothers Television in the story development group, then moved to Time Life Films. After serving as Vice President of Feature Film Productions there[2] he worked with his former Sigma Nu fraternity brother from IU, David Anspaugh, to create Hoosiers.[3]
Hoosiers earned Pizzo two Oscar Award nominations. Hoosiers was named best sports film of all time by both ESPN and USA Today.[2] It is also in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
Pizzo wrote and produced various screenplays, usually based on a true story, and usually about athletics. He was writer and producer for Hoosiers, his first film about a small-town Indiana school winning the state basketball title; Rudy, about a young man with dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame; and The Game of Their Lives, about the U.S. Soccer Team beating the English team against all odds. He also was an associate producer on the made-for-TV movie Father Figure.[4]
He is working on various projects, including a movie based on the life of baseball player Ricky Hill and also serves on the boards of the Heartland Film Festival, Kinsey Institute, and the New Harmony Writers’ Project.[3]
Is a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.