David Frankel
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
David Frankel was an American filmmaker and screenwriter best known for directing such widely popular films as "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) and "Marley and Me" (2008). Born and raised in New York City, Frankel always dreamed of making movies for a living. He would spend hours by himself, watching classics from the 30s and 40s, while fantasizing of one day being behind the camera. He moved to Hollywood in his early 20s, with his sights set on becoming a director. It would be a long road to movie stardom, however, before Frankel got his start in the cutthroat world of Hollywood moviemaking. Like most young directors, he got his start working as a writer, having penned several episodes for the sitcom "Doctor Doctor" (CBS, 1989-1991) and co-scripting the Gene Wilder comedy "Funny About Love" (1990) for director Leonard Nimoy. In 1992 he co-wrote the screenplay for the romantic comedy "Nervous Ticks" (1992), and soon after created the TV series "Grapevine" (CBS, 1992). That show, however, was cancelled after 6 episodes. Having waded in obscurity for close to a decade, Frankel broke out in 1996 when he wrote and directed the comedic short film "Dear Diary." The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short, thus turning Frankel into an overnight sensation. Before long he started helming episodes of the HBO miniseries' "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) and "Band of Brothers" (2001), as well as episodes of "Sex and the City" (HBO, 1998-2004) and "Entourage" (HBO, 2004-2011). He made huge waves in the business in 2006 by directing Meryl Streep to an Oscar nod in "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), and followed that up with the hits "Marley and Me" (2008) and "The Big Year" (2011). In 2016 Frankel returned to the director's chair with "Collateral Beauty." Released in December of 2016, the film starred Will Smith as a New York ad man who suffers a nervous breakdown.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Life Events
1981
Wrote article for <i>Esquire</i> magazine about John McEnroe
1986
Wrote and was supervising producer on "The Ellen Burstyn Show" (ABC)
1989
Produced and directed episodes of the CBS sitcom "Doctor, Doctor"
1990
Co-wrote the feature film "Funny About Love" with Norman Steinberg
1991
With Steinberg created, wrote and penned lyrics for the theme song for "Teech" (CBS)
1992
Created, wrote and directed the short-lived CBS series "Grapevine"
1993
Received solo screenplay credit for "Nervous Ticks"
1995
Feature directorial debut, "Miami Rhapsody"; also wrote and produced
1996
Directed the pilot for the TV series "Dear Diary"; show was released as a short film and won an Oscar
1998
Directed an episode of the HBO series "From the Earth to the Moon"
2000
Wrote, executive produced and directed episodes of CBS' remake of "Grapevine"
2001
Directed an episode of the acclaimed HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers"
2001
Helmed several episodes of the HBO series "Sex and the City"
2004
Directed the pilot episode of "Entourage" (HBO)
2006
Helmed the feature adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada"
2008
Directed Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson in "Marley and Me"
2011
Helmed comedy feature "The Big Year," starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Steve Martin
2016
Directed the Will Smith drama "Collateral Beauty"
Family
Companions
