X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Aaron Sorkin Biography

Birth Name:
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin
Birth Place:
New York, New York, United States
Profession
Screenwriter, playwright, producer

Fast Facts

  • Sold the film rights to A Few Good Men before the play even premiered
  • The plot was based on a real-life incident related to Sorkin by his sister Deborah, a Navy JAG lawyer
  • Did uncredited work rewriting the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning Holocaust drama Schindler's List
  • Turned in a 385-page first-draft screenplay for 1995's The American President
  • Unused material from that script was later adapted for the TV series The West Wing
  • Received the Humanitas Prize for the 1999 West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo
  • " Had cameo appearances in the films A Few Good Men (1992) and The American President (1995), as well as episodes of Sports Night and The West Wing
  • Originally tried to make it in show business as an actor

Awards

  • 2021Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2021Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2020Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): nominated
  • 2020Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
  • 2020Critics' Choice Awards-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2020Critics' Choice Awards-Best Director: nominated
  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2018Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2018BAFTA Film Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2017Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): nominated
  • 2017Critics' Choice Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2015Critics' Choice Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012BAFTA Film Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2012Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
  • 2012Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2011Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2011Writers Guild Awards-Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2011BAFTA Film Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2011Detroit Film Critics Society-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2011Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): nominated
  • 2011National Society of Film Critics-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 2010L.A. Film Critics Association-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2010Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): winner
  • 2010London Film Critics Association-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2010National Board of Review-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2010National Society of Film Critics-Best Screenplay: winner
  • 2010Austin Film Critics-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2008Critics' Choice Awards-Best Writer: nominated
  • 2007Washington D.C. Film Critics Association-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2003Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2002Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2000Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 1996Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1996Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1993Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated

Relationships