Edward Zwick

Biography: Edward Zwick is best known for his original series, thirtysomething, My So-Called Life, and Once and Again, which he collaborated with work life partner and co-creator Marshall Herskovitz. He began his career with his award-winning student film, Timothy and the Angel which he made in 1975 while a directing fellow at the American Film Institute. This film brought him to the attention of the producers of Family (ABC) who hired him as a story editor in 1976. Here he also worked with Marshall. Over the next four years, Zwick got his first taste of mainstream success as a writer, director and finally producer (in its last season) of the warmhearted drama series. After helming the TV-movies Having It All and Paper Dolls (both ABC, 1982), he scored critically with the Emmy-winning Special Bulletin (NBC), which marked the beginning of his collaboration with writing-producing partner Marshall Herskovitz. Two years later, they formed Bedford Falls Productions.
Zwick made his first film at directing About Last Night (1986), an adaptation of David Mamet's play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, before returning to the small screen with the first fruit from Bedford Falls, ABC's polished, Emmy-winning show thirtysomething (1987-91). His second feature, Glory (1989), a stirring and long overdue tribute to the black soldiers who fought for the Union cause in the Civil War. This was followed by Leaving Normal (1992).
Zwick returned for Legends of the Fall (1994), a sprawling family saga adapted from Jim Harrison's novella about a retired officer (Anthony Hopkins) and his three sons (Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas) living in Montana. He and Herskovitz brought the much-praised My So-Called Life (ABC, 1994-95) to the small screen but failed to repeat their earlier success with thirtysomething and it was canceled after 19 episodes.
Zwick's next two features were contemporary dramas, both starring Denzel Washington -- Courage Under Fire (1996) and The Siege (1998). Zwick and Herskovitz's then made the highly-praised but low-rated relationship drama Relativity, (ABC 1996-97) disappeared quickly. They came back in 1999 with another critically hit Once and Again, which lasted three seasons. They appeared in 2001 on a reunion show for thirtysomething on BRAVO.… Expand