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John Wells Biography
Birth Name:John Marcum Wells
Birth Place:Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Profession Producer, Writer, Director, Script department
Fast Facts
- In honor of him, a studio theatre at Carnegie Mellon bears his name
- Received the David Suskind Achievement Award from the Producer's Guild of America in 2005
- Was elected in 1999 as the president of the Writer's Guild of America
- Studied at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, where he graduated in 1979
- While studying at Carnegie Mellon, he was one of the first actors to work at City Theatre
- Quote: "One of the great things and one of the horrible things about the American character is this extraordinary optimism and arrogance that everything will continue to be great and keep looking up․"
- Frequently collaborates with director Rod Holcomb on projects
- Frequently produces projects that deal with characters who provide a service to the public, such as "ER," "The West Wing," "Southland․" etc
- Is a member of USC's Television Executive Advisory Council
- Graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television in 1982
Awards
- 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1990Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1990WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 1991Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1992Humanitas Prize-90 Minute Category: nominated
- 1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series: nominated
- 1992WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 1992WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 1995PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television: winner
- 1995Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1995Wise Owl Award - Honorable Mention-Television and Theatrical Film Fiction: winner
- 1996Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
- 1996Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
- 1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 1999Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2000PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television: nominated
- 2000Vision Award-Television: winner
- 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: nominated
- 2000WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 2001Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 2001PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: winner
- 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2002PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: winner
- 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: nominated
- 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 2003Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 2003PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
- 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 2003WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 2004Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 2004PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
- 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2005Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: winner
- 2005PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama: nominated
- 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: nominated
- 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
- 2006WIN Award-Outstanding Made for Television Movies: winner
- 2006WGA Award (TV)-Dramatic Series: nominated
- 2007Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: nominated
- 2007WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
- 2010CFCA Award-Most Promising Filmmaker: nominated
- 2010Gotham Independent Film Award-Breakthrough Director: nominated
- 2010NYFCO Award-Best Debut as Director: winner
- 2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: winner
- 2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
- 2011OFTA Film Award-Best First Screenplay: nominated
- 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries or Movie: nominated
- 2012Prism Award-Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline: winner
- 2013Audience Choice Award-: nominated
- 2013Festival Award-Best Film: winner
- 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: nominated
- 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: nominated
- 2025Gotham TV Award-Breakthrough Drama Series: winner
- 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
- 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: nominated
- 2026DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series: nominated