Jack Amiel


Jack Amiel is an American TV writer, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for co-creating Cinemax's period medical drama The Knick, and for writing the films Raising Helen, The Shaggy Dog and Big Miracle, all with writing partner Michael Begler.

Early life

Amiel was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. He attended Fieldston School in New York City, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he majored in History.
He met his future writing partner Michael Begler while they were in college together.

Career

After college, Amiel moved to Los Angeles and worked as a PA on a number of Fox sitcoms. He and Begler, who was working as a PA in New York, decided to write together shortly after, and Begler soon joined Amiel in Los Angeles. Their first writing job was on Fox's Herman's Head.
Amiel worked consistently from that point onwards, writing - with Begler - on a number of sitcoms, including Empty Nest, Minor Adjustments, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, The Tony Danza Show and Malcolm in the Middle.
In the mid-2000s, Amiel transitioned into writing feature films, penning the scripts for the romantic comedies The Prince and Me and Garry Marshall's Raising Helen, both released in 2004.
In 2006, Amiel wrote Disney's The Shaggy Dog, starring Tim Allen and Robert Downey Jr.
Amiel wrote 2012's Ken Kwapis-directed Big Miracle starring Drew Barrymore.
Cinemax picked up Amiel and Begler's The Knick to series, after they wrote the pilot script on spec. Steven Soderbergh came on board the series as director and executive producer. Amiel and Begler served as co-showrunners and executive producers, and wrote the majority of the series' episodes. The series premiered on August 8, 2014. It was renewed for a second season of 10 episodes, airing October 2015.

Filmography

Films
YearTitleRoleNotes
2004The Prince and MeScreenplay by
2004Raising HelenScreenplay by
2006The Shaggy DogScreenplay by
2007Hell on EarthWritten byTV movie; also Executive Producer
2012Big MiracleScreenplay by

Production staff
YearShowRoleNotes
1996The Jeff Foxworthy ShowCo-producer
1997The Jeff Foxworthy ShowCo-producer
1997The Tony Danza ShowProducer
1998The Tony Danza ShowProducer
2014The KnickExecutive Producer, Co-creator
2015The KnickExecutive Producer, Co-creator

Writer
YearShowSeasonEpisode titleEpisodeNotes
1994Herman's Head3"The Herm from Ipanema"17
1995Empty Nest7"The Ex-Files"19
1996Minor Adjustments1"Ask Dr. Ron"9
1996Minor Adjustments1"Baba-Doo-Wang"14
1996The Jeff Foxworthy Show2"The Poor Sportsmen of the Apocalypse"3
1997The Jeff Foxworthy Show2"Feud for Thought"11
1997The Jeff Foxworthy Show2"Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks"12
1998The Wonderful World of Disney1"Disneys Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure"27
1998The Tony Danza Show1"C'gar Face"6
1998The Tony Danza Show1"Vision Quest"14
2000Malcolm in the Middle1"Lois vs. Evil"9
2014The Knick1"Method and Madness1
2014The Knick1"Mr. Paris Shoes"2
2014The Knick1"The Busy Flea"3
2014The Knick1"Where's the Dignity"4
2014The Knick1"Start Calling Me Dad"6
2014The Knick1"Get the Rope"7
2014The Knick1"Working Late a Lot"8
2014The Knick1"Crutchfield"10
2015The Knick2"Ten Knots"1
2015The Knick2"You're No Rose"2
2015The Knick2"The Best with the Best to Get the Best"3
2015The Knick2"Wonderful Surprises"4
2015The Knick2"Williams and Walker"7
2015The Knick2"Do You Remember Moon Flower?"9
2015The Knick2"This Is All We Are"10