Danny Strong Biography

(Actor)

Birthday: June 6, 1974 (Gemini)

Born In: Manhattan Beach, California, United States

Danny Strong is an American award-winning actor, writer, producer, and director. Some of his notable performances came in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, and ‘Gilmore Girls.’ Born and raised in California, he wanted to be an actor from a young age. After majoring in theater from the ‘University of Southern California,’ he earned a fellowship to teach acting at the university. Danny started his acting career with minor roles in TV series, but he soon achieved success with ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Mad Men.’ and He then ventured into screenwriting, production, and direction. He appeared in theater productions, such as ‘No Orchids for Miss Blandish,’ ‘A Devil Inside,’ and ‘Oliver!’ ‘Early Morning.’ He has written screenplays for ‘Recount,’ ‘Game Change,’ ‘Lee Daniels' The Butler,’ and ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I &II.’ He has won two ‘Emmy Awards,’ a 'Producers Guild of America Award,' an 'NAACP Image Award,' and two 'Writers Guild of America Awards.' He made his directorial debut with the biographical film (about J.D. Salinger) ‘Rebel in the Rye.’
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Quick Facts

Girlfriend: Caitlin Mehner

Also Known As: Daniel William Strong

Age: 49 Years, 49 Year Old Males

Born Country: United States

Jewish Actors Actors

Height: 5'2" (157 cm), 5'2" Males

U.S. State: California

More Facts

education: University Of Southern California

Childhood & Early Life
Danny was born Daniel W. Strong, on June 6, 1974, in Manhattan Beach, California, in a Jewish family (with Lithuanian, Russian, and Polish ancestry). Since a very young age, Strong wanted to be an actor. At the age of 8, he began sending his pictures (with letters) to agents. During his childhood, he used to visit ‘Video Archives,’ a video rental store located in Manhattan Beach, California, and became friends with Quentin Tarantino, who worked as a clerk at the store. Danny used to discuss about films with Tarantino.
He studied at the ‘Mira Costa High School,’ where he participated in school productions of ‘The Outsiders’ and ‘Cabaret.’ He won many high school drama festivals and several scholarships that helped him join the ‘University of Southern California.’
While doing high school plays, he engaged an agent, but didn’t get any work. Later, when he was at the ‘University of Southern California,’ he signed up with a new agent and appeared for auditions, but didn’t get any assignments for 4 years.
At the University of Southern California,’Danny won ‘James Pendelton Award for Acting’ and was a finalist for Kennedy Center’s ‘Irene Ryan Award.’ After graduation, he received fellowship from the ‘USC School of Theater’ to teach acting in summer session (he was the youngest to receive this fellowship).
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Career
Strong began his career with appearances on NBC series ‘Saved by the Bell: The New Class’ (1994). He made his film debut in 1995 in ‘Dangerous Minds.’
In 1996, he appeared on a few more series, including ‘Minor Adjustments,’ ‘Boy Meets World,’ and ‘3rd Rock from the Sun.’
In 1997, Strong earned recognition for his role of ‘Jonathan Levinson’ on the supernatural drama series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ He worked on the series for six years (1997-2003) and received the commendation from the ‘San Francisco Chronicle’ as ‘One of the Top Ten scene stealers on TV.’ (He originally auditioned for the part of ‘Xander Harris,’ but was cast as ‘Jonathan.’ Though he appeared in the pilot, he eventually entered the series in its second season).
Strong guest-starred on the series ‘Seinfeld’ (1997), and films ‘Lasting Silents’ (1997) and ‘Pleasantville’ (1998). In the teen sitcom ‘Clueless’ (1997-1999), he had a recurring role as ‘Marshall Gasner’ in 9 episodes. He also appeared in the 2000 horror/parody film ‘Shriek if You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth’ and in the sports film ‘Seabiscuit’ (2003). He had a starring role as ‘Phil’ in the film ‘Perpetrators of the Crime’ (1999).
Another notable role that brought him appreciation was that of ‘Doyle McMaster’ on the comedy-drama series ‘Gilmore Girls’ (2003-2007), where he appeared in 4 seasons. Strong’s other appearances were as ‘Bart’ on ‘Nip/Tuck’ (2006), as ‘Gurkin’ in ‘Sydney White’ (2007), and guest roles in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2011), ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ (2012).
During 2010-2013, Strong appeared as ‘Danny Siegel’ in multiple episodes of AMC’s period drama ‘Mad Men.’ His recent appearances include TV series ‘Girls’ (2014-2015) as ‘Pal,’ ‘Justified’ (2014-2015) as ‘Albert Fekus,’ and ‘Billions’ (2017-2019) as ‘Todd Krakow.’
He wrote the screenplay for ‘Recount,’ a 2008 political thriller about 2000 USA elections, which fetched him wide acclaim and nominations. The film earned 11 Emmy nominations (including ‘Best Writing’) and 5 ‘Golden Globe’ nominations. Strong won ‘Writer’s Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay for a TV Movie’ and the film won three ‘Primetime Emmy Awards,’ and one ‘Golden Globes Award.’
His next wrote the screenplay for the short ‘The Rooster’ (2010), and in 2012, he wrote the screenplay for the political drama film ‘Game Change.’ This screenplay earned him ‘Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special.’ The film won a ‘Peabody Award’ as well.
Thereafter Strong wrote the screenplay for the 2018 box-office hit film ‘Lee Daniels' The Butler,’ in which he also played the part of a journalist. He was the co-writer for the 2-part finale of the film series ‘The Hunger Games – Mockingjay Part I & II’ (2014 & 2015). He wrote the screenplay for the series ‘Proven Innocent’ (2019), and directed an episode of the series.
Strong co-created the musical drama series ‘Empire’ (2015-2019), for which he also wrote and directed several episodes. In 2017, Strong released his film ‘Rebel in the Rye,’ a biographical movie about life and struggles of writer J.D. Salinger. This directorial debut was premiered at the ‘2017 Sundance Film Festival.’ He also wrote the screenplay for this film, which was based on a book by Kenneth Slawenski.
Strong has also appeared on or lent his voice to TV/radio commercials for such brands as Sprint, Cadillac, McDonald's, Diet Coke, 7-Up, Tide, Hardees among many others.
Family & Personal Life
Strong got engaged to actress, producer Caitlin Mehner on December 29, 2016.

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
2012 Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Game Change (2012)
2012 Outstanding Miniseries or Movie Game Change (2012)

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