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Ian Brennan Biography

Birth Name:Ian Brennan

Birth Place:Mount Prospect, Illinois, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • A 2001 graduate of Loyala University Chicago, where he majored in Theatre and Spanish
  • After buying "Screenwriting for Dummies" in 2005, finished the first draft of "Glee" as a film but got no interest for years until a TV producer friend gave a copy to writer-producer Ryan Murphy at the gym, leading to rewrites for TV and landing a deal with Fox within 15 hours of being received
  • Quote: "Always knew I’d be an actor, never thought I’d be a writer․ Waking up every morning is like winning the lottery․"
  • Quote: "There’s no such thing as your one big break․ They happen again and again․"
  • Quote: "(On the most interesting part of his job) "I laugh really, really hard every single day․""
  • Writer, producer, actor best known for his work on TV's "Glee․"
  • Also a stage performer since high school, where his musical director was also the choir director who Brennan credits with inspiring him

Awards

  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010TV Quick Award-Best New Drama: winner
  • 2010WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010WGA Award (TV)-New Series: nominated
  • 2011BAFTA TV Award-Best International: nominated
  • 2011National Television Award-Digital Choice: nominated
  • 2011PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011TV Quick Award-Best Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2020Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2021WGA Award (TV)-Original Long Form: nominated
  • 2022WGA Award (TV)-Adapted Long Form: nominated
  • 2023BAFTA TV Award-International: winner
  • 2023PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated