Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a
Canadian-
American screenwriter,
producer and
film director. He spent his early career producing and directing various American and Canadian television network series.
Early life and education
Paul Haggis was born on March 10, 1953, in
London, Ontario,
the son of Mary Yvonne (née Metcalf) and Edward H. Haggis.
The Gallery Theatre in London, Ontario was owned by his parents, and Haggis gained experience in the field through work at the theatre.
He attended St. Thomas More Elementary School,
and after being inspired by
Alfred Hitchcock and
Jean-Luc Godard, proceeded to study art at
H. B. Beal Secondary School.
After viewing
Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film
Blowup, he traveled to
England with the intent of becoming a
fashion photographer.
Haggis later went back to
Canada, in order to pursue studies in
cinematography at
Fanshawe College.
In 1975, Haggis moved to
Los Angeles,
California to begin a career in writing in the entertainment industry.
Career
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
The Tracey Ullman Show,
Due South,
L.A. Law, and
EZ Streets.
He helped to create the television series
Walker, Texas Ranger and
Family Law.
Haggis served as
executive producer on series including
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 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.
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.
was his first experience as director of a major feature film.
Critical reception of
Crash was positive, and
Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005.
It was 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.
Personal life
Haggis is married to actress/singer
Deborah Rennard and lives in
Santa Monica, California.
Haggis is a former member of the
Church of Scientology.
He maintained active membership in the organization for 35 years.
He left the organization in October 2009.
He was motivated to leave Scientology in reaction to statements made by the
San Diego branch of the Church of Scientology in support of
Proposition 8, the legislative move to ban
gay marriage in
California.
Haggis wrote to
Tommy Davis, the Church's spokesman, and requested that he denounce these statements; when Davis remained silent, Haggis responded that "Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."
Haggis went on to list other grievances against Scientology, including its policy of
disconnection, and the smearing of its ex-members through the leaking of their personal details.
commented on defections of Haggis and actor
Jason Beghe from Scientology, "The decision of Beghe and Haggis to quit Scientology appears to have caused the movement its greatest recent PR difficulties, not least because of its dependence on Hollywood figures as both a source of revenue for its most expensive courses and an advertisement for the religion."
Filmography
Films
[
]]]
| Year
| Film
| Role
| Notes
|
| 1993
| Red Hot
| Screenwriter, Director |
|
| 2004
| Million Dollar Baby
| Screenwriter, Producer |
|
| Crash
| Story, Screenwriter, Composer, Director, Producer |
|
| 2006
| The Last Kiss
| Screenwriter |
|
| Flags of Our Fathers
| Screenwriter |
|
| Letters from Iwo Jima
| Story, Executive Producer |
|
| Casino Royale
| Screenplay (rewrite/adaptation) |
|
| 2007
| In the Valley of Elah
| Story (screenplay adaptation), Director, Producer |
|
| 2008
| Quantum of Solace
| Screenwriter |
|
| 2009
| Terminator Salvation
| Writer (rewrite) |
|
| TBA
| The Next Three Days
| Writer, Director
|
|
Television
| Year
| Title
| Role
| Notes
|
| 1987
| Return of the Shaggy Dog
| Screenwriter |
|
| 1987-1988
| thirtysomething
| Supervising producer, Writer, Director
|
|
| 1989-1990
| City
| Creator
|
|
| 1993-2001
| Walker, Texas Ranger
| Co-creator
|
|
| 1994-1999
| Due South
| Creator, Executive Producer, Screenwriter, Unit Director |
|
| 1996-1997
| EZ Streets
| Creator, Executive producer
|
|
| 1997
| Walker, Texas Ranger: Sons of Thunder
| Creator, Director |
|
| 2005
| Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire
| Director |
|
| 2007
| The Black Donnellys
| Creator
|
|
Awards and nominations
