Screenwriters

Largely known for popularizing the teen movie genre in the 1980s, John Hughes had dropped out of university to work as an ad copywriter and then a comedy writer. He soared to fame with his stories in National Lampoon magazine and then directed many films of the National Lampoon franchise.

English actor and producer, Tom Hard,y has been active in the entertainment industry for more than two decades. Starting his career as a model, he soon branched out into acting and did not take long to become a beloved TV actor. He has performed in theaters as well. In the 2000s, he made his film debut.

British-American writer and director, Christopher Nolan is known for his distinctive kind of films which are often intelligent, deep and nonlinear. He gained international recognition with Memento and further reached greater heights with big budget movies like The Dark Knight film series, Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk. The multiple award winning director began shooting short films at the age of seven.

Seth MacFarlane is best known as the creator of animated television series Family Guy and American Dad. He won many awards for Family Guy, including couple of Emmys. He also created and starred in the sci-fi comedy-drama television series The Orville. He’s worked in films too and acted in and directed Ted and Ted 2. He is also an accomplished singer.

One of the most celebrated British actresses, Emma Thompson has received plaudits for her work in films, television and stage. Her film credits include Howards End, The Remains of the Day as well as Sense and Sensibility which she also wrote. Her television appearances include miniseries Angels in America. The award winning actress is also an author, activist and comedian.

Martin Scorsese is widely considered one of the most influential and significant film directors in the history of the American film industry. One of the most decorated film directors, Scorsese has nine Oscar nominations, the most for any living director. He has also founded many non-profit organizations like The Film Foundation and World Cinema Foundation.

Australian actress, Rebel Wilson, started her acting career with television in Australia and then gained wider recognition after appearing in Hollywood films. Struck by Lightning, Bachelorette, Isn't It Romantic, The Hustle, Cats and Jojo Rabbit are some of the notable films she has acted in. She received critical appreciation for the 2012 film, Pitch Perfect, and subsequently acted in its two sequels.

Perhaps the most loved Willy Wonka of them all, Gene Wilder was one of the main reasons for the popularity of the iconic character, which he played in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Apart from acting and writing, Gene was also instrumental in promoting cancer awareness through his organization Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center.

The quintessential action queen of Hollywood, Michelle Rodriguez is known for appearing in many successful action films, including the Fast & Furious franchise. Regarded as a Hollywood bad girl, Michelle has had many brushes with the law. An openly bisexual actress, she also serves as an inspiration to the LGBT community.

Mel Brooks is the director of iconic comedy films and spoofs like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety and Spaceballs. He is also an actor and a writer and has written for many films. He has received many awards and accolades and won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film. The Producers, in 1969.

American filmmaker, Orson Welles, acted in and directed the 1941 film, Citizen Kane, which is considered to be one the greatest movies ever made. Though hailed as a genius, many of his films didn’t work at the box office. The Stranger, Macbeth, Chimes at Midnight, Touch of Evil and The Trial are some of the other films that he directed.

Comedian, writer, actor, director, and television producer Larry David is best known as the co-creator of the television series Seinfeld. He discovered his talent for comedy as a college student and began his career as a stand-up performer. After a few years of struggle, he achieved success and went on to become an accomplished actor, director, and producer.

Phil Hartman was a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He is credited with helping Paul Reubens develop his famous character, Pee-wee Herman, as part of his contribution to the popular comedy group The Groundlings. After he was murdered in 1998, Hartman was honored with several awards. In 2015, Rolling Stone named him one of the greatest Saturday Night Live cast members.

American filmmaker David Lynch is widely regarded as one of the most influential and accomplished directors of the modern era. Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, The Straight Story, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire are some of his acclaimed films. He was given an honorary Oscar in 2019. He is also a painter and a musician.

Francis Ford Coppola is an American filmmaker. Widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers ever, Francis Ford Coppola was a prominent figure in the Hollywood Renaissance filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. A much revered and celebrated filmmaker, he is credited with directing some of the greatest films of all time, including The Godfather movie series.

A comedian, actor, and writer, Colin Jost has played a major role in the success of the popular TV show, Saturday Night Live; he is the writer of the show since 2005. Colin Jost has won many awards for his contribution to the famous show and has had a major impact in the show's overall success for many years now.

John Cusack started his career as a teen actor. He is known for his unconventional choice of films. Grosse Pointe Blank, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, The Raven and The Grifters are some of his notable films. He is also known as an activist and has often taken a strong stand on issues like war, drone usage, civil liberties, press freedom and whistleblowers.

Simon Pegg is a British actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter. Simon Pegg achieved popularity and is best known for playing nerdy characters. Apart from being a popular actor, he is also an ardent supporter of HeForShe, a feminist campaign. In 2020, he signed an open letter urging the wealthiest to pay more tax to help fight inequality.

Kevin James’s performance as Doug in The King of Queens earned him an Emmy Award nomination. He was active in wrestling and football in school and is also known for delivering the 2007 Pepsi 400 NASCAR command. He has also voiced characters in films such as the Hotel Transylvania series.

A multifaceted personality, Rob Schneider is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director. Beginning his career with the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, he proceeded to act in films, first appearing in supporting roles and then graduating to starring roles. He is an outspoken critic of childhood vaccinations. His daughter, Elle King, is a popular musician.

Spike Lee is a celebrated and one of the most decorated American filmmakers of his generation. Most of his critically acclaimed films explore political issues, such as urban crime and poverty, colorism in the African-American community, and race relations. Four of his films have been selected for conservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

J.J. Abrams is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He is credited with creating television series like Felicity, Alias, Lost, and Fringe. Among his most prominent contribution to the film industry are films like Mission: Impossible III and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which he directed. Apart from being a director, Abrams also works closely with an anti-corruption organization called RepresentUs. 

Best known for his role in the sitcom The King of Queens, comedian and actor, Patton Oswalt, has been active in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. From appearing in his own TV show in the 1990s to making it big as a film actor, he has had a fulfilling career. He loves dogs and has worked with PETA.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is credited with creating and writing one of the greatest TV series of the 21st century, Fleabag. She is also famous for contributing as the executive producer and head writer of another highly-acclaimed TV series, Killing Eve. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world.

Aziz Ansari is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He is credited with creating the popular comedy-drama television series Master of None. His acting skills in the series earned him a Golden Globe, making Ansari the first Asian-American actor to receive the honor. In 2016, he was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

Comedian Paul Reubens, or Pee-wee, began his career with the troupe The Groundlings. His popular stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show inspired the CBS show Pee-wee’s Playhouse; the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure; and a Netflix film. His 1991 arrest due to indecent exposure changed his image to a great extent.

Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish filmmaker and screenwriter. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and accomplished filmmakers of all time, Ingmar Bergman continues to serve as an inspiration for filmmakers like Woody Allen. His work has also influenced other prominent directors like Martin Scorsese, Thomas Vinterberg, and Richard Ayoade.

Filmmaker, actor, and comedian Kevin Smith first came to prominence in the mid-1990s with his low-budget comedy film Clerks. His unique style of comedy appealed to the audience, and he was able to establish himself in Hollywood within a few years. He also operates a website, an online blog, and a comic book store. 

William Zabka is an actor best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence in the film The Karate Kid. He started attending California State University but quit before completing his degree. He began his acting career in the mid-1980s and established himself in Hollywood within a few years. He turned a producer with the short film Most in 2003.  

Paul Hogan is an Australian actor and television presenter. He is credited with popularizing the Crocodile Dundee film series with his award-winning portrayal of Michael "Crocodile" Dundee in the movie series. Such is his popularity in Australia that Hogan was made a member of the Order of Australia for service to entertainment and tourism.

The founder of Apatow Productions, Judd Apatow is a popular American filmmaker, comedian, and screenwriter. Although often praised for his work, Apatow has also been criticized for making offensive jokes and sexist films. Also a well-known philanthropist, Judd Apatow supports nonprofit organizations, such as 826LA. He is also known for his advocacy of women in Hollywood.

New Zealand director/producer Peter Jackson is best known for his three-time Academy Award-winning work in The Return of the King, the third part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The third-highest-grossing director ever, he is also the man behind The Hobbit trilogy and the 2005 film King Kong. 

One of the most acclaimed and celebrated American filmmakers of all time, Warren Beatty has received 15 Oscar nominations as actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He has also been involved in politics as a supporter of the Democratic Party; he played an important role in organizing fundraising for George McGovern's presidential campaign. He is also known for his Casanova image.

Arthur Miller was an American essayist and playwright. Miller is credited with creating popular plays, such as Death of a Salesman, which is widely regarded as one of the best American plays of the 20th century. Thanks to his illustrious career, which spanned more than 70 years, Arthur Miller is regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest dramatists.