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David Benioff Biography

Birth Name:David Friedman

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Writer, Producer, Actor, Director, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • Earned his master's in fiction writing from the University of California at Irvine in 1999
  • Married actress Amanda Peet in 2006
  • Son of former Goldman Sachs executive and senior partner Stephen Friedman
  • Adapted his first screenplay, 2002's "The 25th Hour," from his debut novel of the same name
  • Quote: "I grew up wanting to be a writer, so for me, that was always the goal - to be a novelist, not a screenwriter ․․․ If I didn't have the novels, maybe I'd be much more frustrated by not having directed yet․"
  • Quote: "[on "Game of Thrones"] "Wiser network heads might have said 'You can't kill Sean Bean nine episodes into your show․' Guess what? The lead dies ․․․ That's why HBO is HBO․ They break all the rules․""
  • Best known as the co-creator and showrunner of "Game of Thrones" and screenwriter of "Troy," "The Kite Runner" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine․"
  • Assumed his mother's maiden name to avoid confusion with other writers named David Friedman

Awards

  • 2002BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 2004IOMA-Best Adapted Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura non originale): winner
  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
  • 2008BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Adapted: nominated
  • 2008Christopher Award-Feature Films: winner
  • 2011INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form: winner
  • 2012INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012Golden Nymph-Outstanding International Producer (Drama Series): winner
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2012SFX Award-Best TV Show: nominated
  • 2012SFX Award-Best New TV Show: winner
  • 2012WGA Award (TV)-New Series: nominated
  • 2012WGA Award (TV)-Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2013BAFTA TV Award-Best International: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013INOCA TV-Best Episode of a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2013WGA Award (TV)-Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2014Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: winner
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Screenplay Competition-Best Television Drama: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2015Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: nominated
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: winner
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2015Screenplay Competition-Best Television Drama: winner
  • 2015WGA Award (TV)-Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Dragon Award-Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series: winner
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2016INOCA TV-Best Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2016PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: winner
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: winner
  • 2016USC Scripter Award-Television: nominated
  • 2016WGA Award (TV)-Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
  • 2017Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: nominated
  • 2017Hugo-Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: nominated
  • 2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2017Rondo Statuette-Best TV Presentation: nominated
  • 2017USC Scripter Award-Television: nominated
  • 2017WGA Award (TV)-Drama Series: nominated
  • 2017WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
  • 2018Dragon Award-Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series: winner
  • 2018Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode: nominated
  • 2018Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode: nominated
  • 2018IFTA Award-Best Drama: winner
  • 2018OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2018WGA Award (TV)-Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 2019Dragon Award-Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Series: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Episode of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019Founders Award-: winner
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2019OFTA Television Award-Best Drama Series: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020CinEuphoria-Merit - Honorary Award: winner
  • 2020GMS Award-Best Song Written and/or Recorded for Television: nominated
  • 2020PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated