person poster

Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1953-03-10 (72 years old)

Place of Birth

London, Ontario, Canada

Paul Haggis

Biography:

Haggis began to work as a writer for television programs, including The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life. With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer. During the 1980s and 1990s, Haggis wrote for television series including thirtysomething, The Tracey Ullman Show, FM, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets. He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger; Family Law; and Due South. Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law.

He gained recognition in the film industry for his work on the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, which Allmovie described as a "serious milestone" for the writer/producer, and as "his first high-profile foray into feature film". Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole.

Haggis later acquired the rights to the stories, and developed them into the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. Clint Eastwood portrayed the lead character in the film. Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis. Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture.

After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash. Haggis came up with the story for the film on his own, and then wrote and directed the film, which allowed him greater control over his work. Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film. Highly positive upon release, critical reception of Crash has since polarized, although Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005.

Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations. Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film: Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay. With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years.

Haggis said that he wrote Crash to "bust liberals", arguing that his fellow liberals were not honest with themselves about the nature of race and racism because they believed that most racial problems had already been resolved in American society.

Known For

Production

2015

Show Me a Hero as Executive Producer

2014

Third Person as Producer

2010

2008

Crash as Producer

2007

The Black Donnellys as Executive Producer

2006

2005

Crash as Producer

2004

1999

Family Law as Producer

1990

City as Producer

1987

thirtysomething as Producer

Writing

2021

Walker as Original Series Creator

2014

Third Person as Screenplay

2010

The Next Three Days as Screenplay

2008

Quantum of Solace as Screenplay

2006

Flags of Our Fathers as Screenplay
The Last Kiss as Screenplay
Casino Royale as Screenplay

2005

Crash as Screenplay
Crash as Story

2004

Million Dollar Baby as Screenplay

2003

Mister Sterling as Writer

1999

Family Law as Writer

1996

EZ Streets as Writer

1994

Due South as Writer
Due South as Writer
Due South as Teleplay
Due South as Story

1993

Red Hot as Writer

1986

L.A. Law as Writer

1985

CBS Storybreak as Teleplay

1984

Who's the Boss? as Writer

1981

Mr. Merlin as Writer

1979

1978

1977

The Love Boat as Writer

1975

Directing

2018

5B as Director

2015

Show Me a Hero as Director

2014

Third Person as Director

2007

2005

Crash as Director

1999

Family Law as Director

1996

EZ Streets as Director

1994

Due South as Director

1993

Red Hot as Director

1990

You Take the Kids as Director

Crew

2009

Kopf oder Zahl as Thanks

Creator

2007

1999

Family Law as Creator

1997

Michael Hayes as Creator

1996

EZ Streets as Creator

1994

Due South as Creator

1993

1990

City as Creator