Paul Attanasio was born on November 14, 1959 in New York City, New York, USA as Paul Albert Attanasio. He is a producer and writer, known for Donnie Brasco (1997), The Sum of All Fears (2002) and Quiz Show (1994). He is married to Katie Jacobs.
Annabelle Attanasio, John Attanasio, Grace Attanasio
Parents
Connie Attanasio, Joseph Attanasio
Siblings
Mark Attanasio
Awards
BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, London Film Critics Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay, Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture, Writers Guild of America Award fo...
Movies
The Good German, The Sum of All Fears, Sphere, Donnie Brasco, Disclosure, Quiz Show, Courtroom K
TV Shows
Gideon's Crossing, Homicide: Life on the Street, Bull
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Fact
1
In the fall of 2013, Paul Attanasio was hired to rewrite the script for Hot Wheels (2018), from a draft written by Art Marcum & Matt Holloway. As of 2015, the project is still in development as a potential franchise.
2
In 1987, Paul Attanasio left The Washington Post and signed with CAA. He wrote an original script that he described as being "bad", but was good enough to open some doors. His first assignment was signing a development deal with Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. That was followed by signing a similar development deal at Columbia Pictures in 1988. He is also quoted by the LA Times stating: "and I'm doing a rewrite for a major star.", however it hasn't been disclosed what these three projects were.
3
During the mid-90s, Attanasio was hired to write the screenplay adaptation of the Allan Folsom debut novel "The Day After Tomorrow", but the project fell into limbo.
4
In the mid-90s, Paul Attanasio sold a pitch for an original script titled "The Great Unknown" to Paramount Pictures. Attanasio was going to produce it through his production company, Heel & Toe, with his wife and producing partner Katie Jacobs. Attanasio was also attached to make his directorial debut on the project, but after many drafts the project was shelved.
5
In 1994, Attanasio was adapting the New Yorker Magazine article by Richard Preston titled "Crisis in the Hot Zone" which was going to be produced with Ridley Scott directing and Robert Redford and Jodie Foster starring. However they were beaten by the similar project Outbreak (1995) and this project was canceled. It is uncertain if Attanasio ever completed a draft.
6
In the fall of 1998, Paul Attanasio was hired to adapt the yet-to-be-published A. Scott Berg biography "Lindbergh" for Steven Spielberg to produce and direct as his follow-up to Saving Private Ryan (1998). However, by the fall of 1999 it was announced that Attanasio had dropped out of the project without penning a draft, due to the anti-Semitic revelations about Charles Lindbergh's life that was detailed in the book. He was replaced by screenwriter Menno Meyjes, who had previously worked with Spielberg on The Color Purple (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). The project was shelved after Spielberg decided to pass it.
7
In 2001, Paul Attanasio signed on to adapt the Vietnam War set non-fiction book "Spite House" by Monika Jensen-Stevenson, for Oliver Stone to produce and direct at Columbia. He was also hired to doctor the screenplay for the adaptation of the Douglas Preston adventure novel "Riptide", but both projects fell into limbo.
8
In 2004, Attanasio was hired by Universal Pictures to adapt John Steinbeck's classic novel "East of Eden" for a remake that Ron Howard was going to direct with Brian Grazer producing. Attanasio wrote several drafts but by 2007, Howard decided to pass on the project. As of 2013, the project was resurrected by Universal and Brian Grazer, with Gary Ross attached to direct and Jennifer Lawrence attached to star. However, it is unknown if they will use Attanasio's draft or hire a new writer.
9
In the mid-2000s, Attanasio sold an original pitch for a 'Deliverance'-style script titled "Burnt Creek" to Universal Pictures. He wrote several drafts but by 2007, the project went into limbo.
10
Paul Attanasio has been one of the most successful and most sought after script doctors in Hollywood since the early 1990's. He has done uncredited script doctor work on Rapid Fire (1992), Speed (1994), Air Force One (1997), Armageddon (1998), Patch Adams (1998), Town & Country (2001), Poseidon (2006), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), among many others. He has also performed rewrites on scripts without credit including writing drafts for Beyond the Sea (2004), Leatherheads (2008), The Wolfman (2010) and the Oscar nominated screenplay for The Fighter (2010).
11
Father of actress Annabelle Attanasio.
12
He is the brother of Mark Attanasio, the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers.
13
Film critic for the Washington Post from 1984 to 1987.
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bull
2016
TV Series executive producer - 4 episodes
The Vatican
2013
TV Movie executive producer
House M.D.
2004-2012
TV Series executive producer - 175 episodes
Century City
2004
TV Series executive producer - 2 episodes
R.U.S./H.
2002
TV Movie executive producer
Gideon's Crossing
2000
TV Series executive producer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bull
TV Series created by - 6 episodes, 2016 written by - 1 episode, 2016
El Dandy
2015
TV Series based on the screenplay by - 1 episode
The Vatican
2013
TV Movie
Courtroom K
2008
TV Movie written by
The Good German
2006
screenplay
R.U.S./H.
2002
TV Movie
The Sum of All Fears
2002
screenplay
Gideon's Crossing
2000-2001
TV Series created by - 20 episodes
Homicide: Life on the Street
TV Series created by - 122 episodes, 1993 - 1999 written by - 2 episodes, 1993 - 1994
Sphere
1998
screenplay
Donnie Brasco
1997
screenplay
Disclosure
1994
screenplay
Quiz Show
1994
screenplay
Doctor Doctor
1989
TV Series written by - 2 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Paul Attanasio
2007
Video
Himself
Donnie Brasco: Out of the Shadows
2000
Video documentary short
Himself
Moving Pictures
1995
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
1995
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Screenplay
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1996
ALFS Award
London Critics Circle Film Awards
Screenwriter of the Year
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
BAFTA Film Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Screenplay - Adapted
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
ShoWest Award
ShoWest Convention, USA
Screenwriter of the Year
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Drama Series
House M.D. (2004)
2008
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Drama Series
House M.D. (2004)
2007
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Drama Series
House M.D. (2004)
2006
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Drama Series
House M.D. (2004)
2001
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
60 Minute Category
Gideon's Crossing (2000)
1998
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1998
Chlotrudis Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Best Screenplay
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1998
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Motion Picture
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1998
USC Scripter Award
USC Scripter Award
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1998
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1997
ACCA
Awards Circuit Community Awards
Best Adapted Screenplay
Donnie Brasco (1997)
1995
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
CFCA Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Best Screenplay
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
USC Scripter Award
USC Scripter Award
Quiz Show (1994)
1995
WGA Award (Screen)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
$15 Million
