Paul Weitz (filmmaker)

Paul Weitz

Born Paul John Weitz
November 19, 1965
New York City, New York, United States
Spouse(s) Patricia Brown (2001–present)
Children Jane Antonia Weitz (b. 2004)
Parent(s) Susan Kohner
John Weitz

Paul John Weitz (born November 19, 1965) is an American film producer, screenwriter, actor, and film director. He is the brother of filmmaker Chris Weitz.

Personal life

Weitz was born in New York City, New York. He is son of the actress Susan Kohner and Berlin-born novelist/fashion designer John Weitz (born Hans Werner Weitz),[1] and the grandson of Bohemia-born producer Paul Kohner and Mexican actress Lupita Tovar. His grandmother, Lupita, starred in Santa, Mexico's first talkie, in 1932. His father, and maternal grandfather, were Jewish, and his maternal grandmother was Catholic; he was raised in a "nonreligious" household.[2][3]

Growing up in New York City, he attended The Allen-Stevenson School and later Collegiate. Then, he graduated from Wesleyan University, where he wrote the play Mango Tea. The play was performed off-Broadway.

Career

Weitz first achieved mainstream success by co-writing the successful animated film Antz with his brother Chris and Todd Alcott. Alongside his brother, he then achieved a new level of notoriety by directing the teen comedy smash hit American Pie. Weitz followed this with his greatest critical success when he co-directed 2002's About a Boy, an adaption of Nick Hornby's novel which earned him and his brother an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The brothers have since worked on establishing separate film careers, although they often serve as a producers on each other's projects. Weitz has written and directed the well-received romantic comedy In Good Company and the political satire American Dreamz, which faced mixed reviews. Additional writing credits include the television show Cracking Up.

He has also directed an adaptation of Darren Shan's young adult novel Cirque du Freak called The Vampire's Assistant. He directed the 2010 film Little Fockers, the sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers.

Subsequently he wrote and directed Being Flynn, an adaptation of Nick Flynn's memoir Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, starring Robert De Niro, and directed the movie Admission, starring Tina Fey.

In addition to film, Weitz has written a number of plays, including Roulette, Privilege, Show People, and Trust, all of which have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City.[4] Trust starring Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Sutton Foster, and Ari Graynor, directed by Peter DuBois ran at Second Stage Theatre .[5] It will be produced in Brazil, Germany and Greece in 2013. Second Stage previously produced Privilege and Show People and produced Lonely, I'm Not, starring Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby a new comedy by Weitz in 2012. Lonely, I'm Not was a New York Times critics pick.

Filmography

Paul and Chris Weitz
Paul Weitz

References

  1. ↑ Kelley, Tina (October 4, 2002). "John Weitz, 79, Fashion Designer Turned Historian, Dies". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ Pfefferman, Naomi (2003-03-13). "Jewishjournal.com". Jewishjournal.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  3. ↑ Bloom, Nate. "Interfaithfamily.com". Interfaithfamily.com. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  4. ↑ "Lortel Archives". Lortel.org. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
  5. ↑ "Second Stage Theatre". 2st.com. Retrieved 2011-02-09.

External links