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Mitchell Hurwitz Biography

Birth Name:Mitchell D. Hurwitz

Birth Place:Anaheim, California, United States

Profession Producer, Writer, Actor, Director

Fast Facts

  • Received the 2009 Outstanding Television Writer Award at the Austin Film Festival
  • Won the Golden Nymph for Outstanding Producer of the Year at the 2005 Monte-Carlo TV Festival
  • Was chosen by Ron Howard to create a show about a rich, dysfunctional family, that would turn into the pilot episode of "Arrested Development․"
  • After college, he worked as a staff writer for "Nurses," "Golden Girls," "The Golden Palace" and "The Ellen Show․"
  • Quote: "Television is a very writer-driven business, and it's one of the he few parts of entertainment where writers are treated with respect․"
  • Quote: "(On having a developing storyline of "Arrested Development") "We kind of like the audience to think that we do, but we really don't․ We kind of make it up as we go along․""
  • Frequently creates projects that are an adaptation of foreign shows, including "The Thick of It," "Sit Down, Shut Up," "Absolutely Fabulous," etc
  • In 1985, he graduated from Georgetown University where he majored in English and Theology
  • Co-founded a chocolate-chip cookie business when he was 12 years old
  • Based the "Arrested Development" character's name "Maeby" on a combination of the names of his daughters May and Phoebe

Awards

  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2004Gold Derby TV Award-Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2004Future Classic Award-: winner
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2005Golden Nymph-Outstanding Producer of the Year - Comedy: winner
  • 2005PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2005WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Comedy: winner
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: winner
  • 2006PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2007WGA Award (TV)-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Decade: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Decade: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Episode of the Year: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Writing in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013OFTA Television Award-Best Direction in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014American Comedy Award-Best Comedy Director - TV: nominated
  • 2014American Comedy Award-Best Comedy Writing - TV: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated