Joel Surnow Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for a Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television for "The Kennedys" in 2012
• Was nominated for two Writers Guild of America Awards for Dramatic Series for "24" in 2007
• Won a Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television for "24" in 2003
• Won a Monte-Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph Award for Best International Producer for "24" in 2006
• Attended the University of California at Berkeley and graduated from the UCLA Film School in 1976
• Started out as a writer on the TV series "Bay City Blues" in 1983
• Quote: "(On "24"): "No other show in the history of television has been a suspense thriller․․․nor has there been a character like Jack Bauer, a guy that wins and loses at the same time and who is politically incorrect but taps into everyone's id․""
• Best known as the creator and executive producer of the TV series "24" and "La Femme Nikita․"
• Was also a writer and co-executive producer on the TV series "The Equalizer," "Falcon Crest," and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures․"
• Directed three episodes of the TV series "La Femme Nikita․"