CineScope
Paul Haggis picture

Paul Haggis

Writing
Known For

72 Years Old

Haggis began to work as a writer for television programs, including The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life. With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer. During the 1980s and 1990s, Haggis wrote for television series including thirtysomething, The Tracey Ullman Show, FM, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets. He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger; Family Law; and Due South. Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law. He gained recognition in the film industry for his work on the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, which Allmovie described as a "serious milestone" for the writer/producer, and as "his first high-profile foray into feature film". Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole. Haggis later acquired the rights to the stories, and developed them into the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. Clint Eastwood portrayed the lead character in the film. Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis. Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture. After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash. Haggis came up with the story for the film on his own, and then wrote and directed the film, which allowed him greater control over his work. Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film. Highly positive upon release, critical reception of Crash has since polarized, although Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005. Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations. Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film: Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay. With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years. Haggis said that he wrote Crash to "bust liberals", arguing that his fellow liberals were not honest with themselves about the nature of race and racism because they believed that most racial problems had already been resolved in American society.

Born

London, Ontario, Canada on 10th March 1953

All Credits

Late Night with Seth Meyers Image
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Image
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
Entourage Image
Entourage
The Oscars Image
The Oscars
Self
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath Image
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath
Self
Kulturplatz Image
Kulturplatz
Self
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief Image
Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Self - Interviewee
The Evolution of Clint Eastwood Image
The Evolution of Clint Eastwood
Self
Casting By Image
Casting By
Self
The Business End: Violence in Cinema Image
The Business End: Violence in Cinema
Self
Miss Representation Image
Miss Representation
Self
Becoming Bond Image
Becoming Bond
Self
The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Paul Haggis Image
The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Paul Haggis
Himself
MLE Image
MLE
Director
The Road to Casino Royale Image
The Road to Casino Royale
Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation Image
Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation
No Image
Mulholland Drive - Ein Hollywood-Mythos
Self