Edward Zwick Biography

(Filmmaker)

Birthday: October 8, 1952 (Libra)

Born In: Winnetka, Illinois, United States

Edward Zwick is an American director and producer best known for directing the epic historical movie ‘Glory’. Born in a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, he attended New Trier High School before moving to the Harvard University. After graduating from AFI Conservatory, he worked as a journalist with magazines before making his debut in the television industry in 1979, with ABC’s family drama series ‘Family,’ in which he wrote, directed, and produced several episodes. After working in several television films, he made his feature film directorial debut in 1986 in the American romantic comedy-drama film ‘About Last Night...’ He made his debut as a producer in the 1994 film ‘Legends of the Fall.’ He wrote, directed, edited and produced many television series and movies. He also runs a film production company with Marshall Herskovitz, named ‘The Bedford Falls Company.’ The company has produced many award-winning films like ‘Traffic’ and ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ both of which have been nominated for Oscars, with the latter winning one. He married writer Lynn Liberty Godshall on 24 October 1982, and has two children with her.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Edward M. Zwick

Age: 72 Years, 72 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Liberty Godshall (m. 1982)

father: Allen Zwick

mother: Ruth Ellen Zwick

children: Frankie Zwick, Jesse Zwick

Born Country: United States

Directors Screenwriters

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males

City: Chicago, Illinois

Notable Alumni: AFI Conservatory

U.S. State: Illinois

More Facts

education: Harvard University, AFI Conservatory

  • 1

    What are some of the most popular movies directed by Edward Zwick?

    Some of the most popular movies directed by Edward Zwick include "Glory," "Legends of the Fall," "Courage Under Fire," "The Last Samurai," and "Blood Diamond."
  • 2

    How did Edward Zwick get involved in the film industry?

    Edward Zwick started his career in the film industry as a writer and director, working on television shows before transitioning to feature films.
  • 3

    What is Edward Zwick's approach to directing action scenes in his movies?

    Edward Zwick is known for his meticulous attention to detail and realism when directing action scenes, often incorporating practical effects and intense choreography to enhance the authenticity of the sequences.
  • 4

    Has Edward Zwick ever collaborated with certain actors multiple times in his films?

    Yes, Edward Zwick has collaborated with actors such as Tom Cruise and Denzel Washington on multiple occasions, forming strong working relationships that have resulted in successful films.
  • 5

    How does Edward Zwick's background in theater influence his filmmaking style?

    Edward Zwick's background in theater has influenced his filmmaking style by emphasizing character development, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling, which are often key elements in his movies.
Career
Edward Zwick started working soon after graduation. He first worked as a journalist and editor for magazines like ‘The New Republic’ and ‘Rolling Stone’ before stepping into the show business. He made his television debut as a director and writer in ABC’s family drama series ‘Family’ in 1979. He went on to work on television movies like ‘Paper Dolls’ (1982) and made-for-TV screwball comedy ‘Having It All’ (1982). In 1983, he wrote, directed, and produced the television movie ‘Special Bulletin’. He then moved on to direct feature films in 1986 with the movie ‘About Last Night...’ He wrote, directed and produced the hit ABC series ‘thirtysomething’ in 1987, followed by serving as the executive producer of ‘CBS Summer Playhouse’ the same year.
In 1989, he directed the critically acclaimed drama film ‘Glory’ and earned a ‘Golden Globe Award’ for his work. He again moved to television before returning to the film industry by directing ‘Leaving Normal’ in 1992, followed by ‘Legends of the Fall’ (1994) which he also produced. After serving as the executive producer on the teen drama series ‘My So-Called Life’ from 1994 to 1995, he directed the movie ‘Courage Under Fire’ in 1996. In 1998, he produced movies like ‘Dangerous Beauty’ and ‘Shakespeare in Love’, the latter of which was critically acclaimed and won an ‘Academy Award.’ In 1999, he wrote, directed, and produced the TV series ‘Once and Again’. He then produced the crime drama film ‘Traffic’ in 2000; it received a nomination for an ‘Academy Award’.
After producing movies like ‘I Am Sam’ (2001) and ‘Abandon’ (2002), he wrote, directed and produced another award-winning film ‘The Last Samurai’ in 2003. He then directed and produced movies like ‘Blood Diamond’ (2006) and ‘Defiance’ (2008), which he also wrote. On television, he wrote and served as the executive producer of series like ‘Quarterlife’ (2008) and ‘A Marriage’ (2009). He served as the writer, director, and producer of the 2010 movie ‘Love & Other Drugs’. In 2014, he produced movies like ‘Boys of Abu Ghraib’, ‘About Alex’, and ‘Pawn Sacrifice,’ which he also directed. In 2016, he wrote and directed the movie ‘Jack Reacher: Never Go Back’, wrote the story of ‘The Great Wall’, and produced ‘The Birth of a Nation’ along with the TV series ‘Nashville’ (2016-18). In 2018, he directed and produced the film ‘Trial by Fire’.
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Family & Personal Life
Edward Zwick was born on October 8, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, to Ruth Ellen (née Reich) and Allen Zwick. He is of Jewish decadent. He studied at New Trier High School, Illinois. He then moved to study at Harvard University where received an A.B. (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in arts) in 1974. He then got enrolled at the AFI Conservatory, from where he graduated in 1975 with a Master of Fine Arts degree.
On 24 October 1982, he married writer Lynn Liberty Godshall. He has two children with her. His son Jesse Zwick was born in 1986; he is a director. His daughter Frankie Zwick, born in 1993, is a musician. Raymond Godshall Jr. is his father-in-law.
He is the co-owner of a production company named ‘The Bedford Falls Company’, which he runs along with Marshall Herskovitz.
Facts About Edward Zwick
Edward Zwick is an avid collector of antique maps and has an impressive collection that he has curated over the years.
In addition to his work in film, Zwick is also known for his philanthropic efforts, supporting various causes and organizations focused on education and social justice.
Zwick is a talented musician and can play several instruments, including the piano and guitar, which he often incorporates into his filmmaking process.
He is a dedicated environmentalist and has been actively involved in conservation efforts, particularly in protecting natural habitats and wildlife.
Zwick has a passion for travel and has visited numerous countries around the world, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and landscapes for his work in film.

Awards

Academy Awards(Oscars)
1999 Best Picture Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Primetime Emmy Awards
1988 Outstanding Drama Series Thirtysomething (1987)
1983 Outstanding Drama Special Special Bulletin (1983)
1983 Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special Special Bulletin (1983)
BAFTA Awards
1999 Best Film Shakespeare in Love (1998)
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