Aaron Sorkin | |
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.jpg) Sorkin in 2016 | |
| Born | Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (1961-06-09)June 9, 1961 (age 64) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Education | Syracuse University (BFA) |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9, 1961) is an American screenwriter, playwright and film director. As a writer for stage, television, and film, he is recognized for his trademark fast-paced dialogue and extended monologues, complemented by frequent use of the storytelling technique called the "walk and talk". Sorkin has earnednumerous accolades including anAcademy Award, aBAFTA Award, fivePrimetime Emmy Awards, and threeGolden Globes.
Born in New York City, Sorkin developed a passion for writing at an early age. He rose to prominence as a writer-creator andshowrunner of the television seriesSports Night (1998–2000),The West Wing (1999–2006),Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–07), andThe Newsroom (2012–14). He is also known for his work onBroadway including the playsA Few Good Men (1989),The Farnsworth Invention (2007),To Kill a Mockingbird (2018), and the revival ofLerner and Loewe's musicalCamelot (2023).
He wrote the film screenplays forA Few Good Men (1992),The American President (1995), and severalbiopics includingCharlie Wilson's War (2007),Moneyball (2011), andSteve Jobs (2015). For writingThe Social Network (2010), he won theAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He made his directorial film debut withMolly's Game (2017), followed byThe Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) andBeing the Ricardos (2021).
Sorkin was born inManhattan, New York City,[1] to aJewish family,[2][3][4][5] on June 9, 1961.[6] He was raised in the New York suburb ofScarsdale.[7] His mother was a schoolteacher and his father a copyright lawyer who had fought inWWII and went to college on theG.I. Bill; both his older sister and brother went on to become lawyers.[8][9][10] His paternal grandfather was one of the founders of theInternational Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU).[10][11][12] He was born after a brother born before him called Daniel died at birth and has referred to himself as the "understudy."[13]
Sorkin took an early interest in acting. During childhood, his parents took him to the theatre to see shows such asWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? andThat Championship Season.[14] In the eighth grade, he played General Bullmoose in the musicalLi'l Abner.[15] He attendedScarsdale High School where he became involved in the drama and theatre club.[16] At Scarsdale High, he served as vice president of the drama club in his junior and senior years, and graduated in 1979.[17][18]
In 1979, Sorkin attendedSyracuse University. In hisfreshman year, he failed a class that was a core requirement, which caused a setback because he wanted to be an actor, and the drama department did not allow students to take the stage until they completed the core classes. Determined to do better, he returned for his sophomore year, and graduated in 1983 with aBachelor of Fine Arts degree inmusical theatre.[19] Recalling the influence of theatre teacherArthur Storch, Sorkin said: "Arthur's reputation as a director, and as a disciple ofLee Strasberg, was a big reason why a lot of us went to S.U. [Syracuse University]... 'You have the capacity to be so much better than you are', he started saying to me in September of my senior year. He was still saying it in May. On the last day of classes, he said it again, and I said, 'How?', and he answered, 'Dare to fail'. I've been coming through on his admonition ever since".[20]
I don't want to analyze myself or anything, but I think, in fact I know this to be true, that I enter the world through what I write. I grew up believing, and continue to believe, that I am a screw-up, that growing up with my family and friends, I had nothing to offer in any conversation. But when I started writing, suddenly there was something that I brought to the party that was at a high-enough level.
Sorkin moved to New York City where he spent much of the 1980s as a struggling, sporadically employed actor who worked odd jobs,[15] such as deliveringsinging telegrams,[15] driving a limousine, touring Alabama with the children's theatre company Traveling Playhouse,[8] handing out flyers promoting a hunting-and-fishing show,[15] and bartending atBroadway'sPalace Theatre.[21] One weekend, while house-sitting for a friend, he found a typewriter, started typing, and "felt a phenomenal confidence and a kind of joy that [he] had never experienced before in [his] life".[8]
He continued writing and eventually put together his first play,Removing All Doubt, which he sent to his former theatre teacher, Arthur Storch, who was impressed. In 1984,Removing All Doubt was staged for drama students at his alma mater, Syracuse University. After that, he wroteHidden in This Picture which debutedoff-off-Broadway at Steve Olsen'sWest Bank Cafe Downstairs Theatre Bar in New York City in 1988. The quality of his first two plays earned him atheatrical agent.[22] Producer John A. McQuiggan saw the production ofHidden in This Picture and commissioned Sorkin to turn the one-act into a full-length play calledMaking Movies.[23]
Sorkin was inspired to write his next play, a courtroom drama calledA Few Good Men, from a phone conversation with his sister Deborah, who had graduated fromBoston University Law School and signed up for a three-year stint with theU.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. Deborah told Sorkin that she was going toGuantanamo Bay to defend a group ofMarines who came close to killing a fellow Marine in ahazing ordered by a superior officer.[24] Sorkin took that information and wrote much of his story on cocktail napkins while bartending at the Palace Theatre.[25] When he returned home, he would transcribe the story and notes onto the computer, forming a basis from which he wrote many drafts forA Few Good Men.[26]
In 1988, Sorkin sold the film rights forA Few Good Men to producerDavid Brown before it premiered,[27] in a deal that was reportedly "well into six figures".[28] Brown had read an article inThe New York Times about Sorkin's one-act playHidden in This Picture, and found out Sorkin had a play calledA Few Good Men that was having Off Broadway readings.[27] Brown producedA Few Good Men on Broadway at theMusic Box Theatre. It starredTom Hulce and was directed byDon Scardino. After opening in late 1989, it ran for 497 performances.[29] Sorkin continued writingMaking Movies and in 1990 it debutedOff-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre, produced by John A. McQuiggan, and again directed by Don Scardino.[23] Meanwhile, Brown was producing forTriStar Pictures, and tried to interest them in adaptingA Few Good Men into a film, but his proposal was declined due to the lack of star actor involvement. Brown later received a phone call fromAlan Horn atCastle Rock Entertainment who was eager to make the film.Rob Reiner, a Castle Rock producing partner, opted to direct.[27]
Sorkin worked under contract for Castle Rock Entertainment,[30] where he befriended colleaguesWilliam Goldman and Rob Reiner, and met his future wife Julia Bingham, who was one of Castle Rock's business affairs lawyers.[31] Sorkin wrote several drafts of the script forA Few Good Men in his Manhattan apartment,[30] learning the craft from a book aboutscreenplay format.[22] He then spent several months at the Los Angeles offices of Castle Rock, working on the script with director Rob Reiner.[30] William Goldman (who regularly worked under contract at Castle Rock) became his mentor and helped him to adapt his stage play into a screenplay.[32] The film, directed by Reiner, starredTom Cruise,Jack Nicholson,Demi Moore andKevin Bacon, and was produced by Brown.A Few Good Men was released in 1992 and was a box office success, grossing $243 million worldwide.[33][34]
Goldman also approached Sorkin with a story premise, which Sorkin developed into the script for the thrillerMalice. Goldman oversaw the project ascreative consultant while Sorkin wrote the first two drafts. However, he had to leave the project to finish the script forA Few Good Men, so screenwriterScott Frank stepped in and wrote two drafts of theMalice screenplay. When production onA Few Good Men was completed, Sorkin resumed working onMalice right through the finalshooting script.[35]Harold Becker directed the 1993 thriller, which starredNicole Kidman andAlec Baldwin.Malice had mixed reviews;Vincent Canby inThe New York Times described the film as "deviously entertaining from its start through its finish".[36] CriticRoger Ebert gave it 2 out of 4 stars,[37] andPeter Travers in a 2000Rolling Stone review summarized it as having "suspense but no staying power".[38]
Sorkin's last screenplay under Castle Rock wasThe American President; once again he worked with William Goldman who served as a creative consultant.[39] It took Sorkin several years to write the screenplay forThe American President, which started off at 385-pages; it was eventually reduced to a standard shooting script of around 120 pages.[1] The film, also directed by Reiner, was critically acclaimed;Kenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Times described it as "genial and entertaining if not notably inspired", and believed its most interesting aspects were the "pipe dreams about the American political system and where it could theoretically be headed".[40]A Few Good Men,Malice andThe American President grossed approximately $400 million worldwide.[1]
In the second half of the 1990s, Sorkin worked as ascript doctor. He wrote somequips forSean Connery andNicolas Cage in 1996'sThe Rock.[41] He worked onExcess Baggage, a 1997 comedy about a girl who stages her own kidnapping to get her father's attention, and rewrote some ofWill Smith's scenes inEnemy of the State.[41] Sorkin collaborated withWarren Beatty on several scripts, one of which was 1998'sBulworth.[42] Beatty, known for occasionally personally financing his film projects through pre-production, also hired Sorkin to rewrite a script titledOcean of Storms which never went into production. At one point, Sorkin sued Beatty for proper compensation for his work on theOcean of Storms script; once the matter was settled, he resumed working on the script.[42][43][44][45]
Sorkin conceived the idea to write about the behind-the-scenes happenings on a sports show while residing at theFour Seasons Hotel inLos Angeles writing the screenplay forThe American President.[8][46] He would work late, with the television tuned intoESPN, watching continuous replays ofSportsCenter.[46][47] The show inspired him to try to write a feature film about a sports show but he was unable to structure the story for film, so instead he turned his idea into a television comedy series.[48][49]Sports Night was produced byDisney and debuted on theABC network in fall of 1998.[50]
Sorkin fought with ABC during the first season over the use of alaugh track and alive studio audience. The laugh track was widely decried by critics as jarring, withJoyce Millman ofSalon magazine describing it as "the most unconvincing laugh track you've ever heard".[51][52] Sorkin commented that: "Once you do shoot in front of a live audience, you have no choice but to use the laugh track. Oftentimes [enhancing the laughs] is the right thing to do. Sometimes you do need a cymbal crash. Other times, it alienates me."[51] The laugh track was gradually dialed down and was removed by the end of the first season.[53] Sorkin was triumphant in the second season when ABC agreed to his demands, unburdening thecrew of the difficulties of staging a scene for a live audience and leaving the cast with more time to rehearse.[50] AlthoughSports Night was critically acclaimed, ABC canceled the show after two seasons due to lowratings.[54][55] Sorkin entertained offers to continue the show on other television channels, but declined all the offers because they were dependent on his involvement and he was already working onThe West Wing.[46]
Stockard Channing had done an episode of the show as the First Lady ... She took me out to lunch and said she really liked doing the show and wanted to do more and started asking me questions like, "Who do you think this character is?" And those aren't questions I can answer. [As a writer] I can only answer, what do they want?
Sorkin conceived the political dramaThe West Wing in 1997 when he went unprepared to a lunch with producerJohn Wells; in a panic he pitched to Wells a series centered on the senior staff of the White House,[1] using leftover ideas from his script forThe American President.[57] He told Wells about his visits to the White House while doing research forThe American President, and they found themselves discussingpublic service and the passion of the people who serve. Wells took the concept and pitched it toNBC, but was told to wait due to theClinton–Lewinsky scandal. There was a concern that television audiences would not be able to take a series about the White House seriously.[58] A year later, other networks started showing interest inThe West Wing. NBC decided to give the project the green-light despite their previous reluctance.[57] Thepilot debuted in the fall of 1999 and was produced byWarner Bros. Television.[57]
The West Wing garnered ninePrimetime Emmy Awards for itsdebut season, making the series a record holder for most Emmys won by a series in a single season at the time.[59] Following the awardsceremony, there was a dispute about the acceptance speech forOutstanding Writing for a Drama Series.The West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo" won, which was awarded to Sorkin andRick Cleveland, butThe New York Times reported that Sorkin ushered Cleveland off the stage before he could say a few words.[60] The story behind "In Excelsis Deo" is based on Cleveland's father, aKorean War veteran who spent the last years of his life on the street, as Cleveland explained in an essay titled "I Was the Dumb Looking Guy with the Wire-Rimmed Glasses".[61] Sorkin and Cleveland continued their dispute in a public web forum atMighty Big TV in which Sorkin explained that he gives his writers "Story By" credit on a rotating basis "by way of a gratuity" and that he had thrown out Cleveland's script and started from scratch.[62] Sorkin eventually apologized to Cleveland.[63] Cleveland and Sorkin also won theWriters Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama at the53rd Writer Guild of America Awards for "In Excelsis Deo".[64]
In 2001, after completing thesecond season ofThe West Wing, Sorkin had adrug relapse, and was arrested atHollywood Burbank Airport for possession ofhallucinogenic mushrooms,marijuana, andcrack cocaine. He was ordered by a court to attend a drug diversion program.[65] There was huge media interest but he did make a successful recovery.[14] In 2002, Sorkin criticizedNBC News anchorTom Brokaw's television special about a day in the life of a president, "The Bush White House: Inside the Real West Wing", comparing it to the act of sending a valentine to PresidentGeorge W. Bush instead of real news reporting.[66]The West Wing aired on the same network, and so at the request of NBC's Entertainment PresidentJeff Zucker, Sorkin apologized, but later said, "there should be a difference between what NBC News does and whatThe West Wing TV series does."[67][68]
Sorkin wrote 87 screenplays forThe West Wing, which is nearly every episode during the show's first four Emmy-winning seasons.[69] Sorkin described his role in the creative process as "not so much [that of] ashowrunner or a producer. I'm really a writer."[46] He admitted that this approach can have its drawbacks, saying "Out of 88 [West Wing] episodes that I did we were on time and on budget never, not once."[26] In 2003, at the end of thefourth season, Sorkin and fellow executive producerThomas Schlamme left the show due to internal conflicts at Warner Bros. Television, causing John Wells to serve as showrunner.[70][71] Sorkin never watched any episodes beyond his writing tenure apart from a minute of the fifth season's first episode, describing the experience as "like watching somebody make out with my girlfriend."[72] Sorkin later returned in the series finale for acameo appearance as a guest at the inauguration of Matthew Santos.
In 2005, Sorkin returned to theatre; he revised his playA Few Good Men for a production at London'sWest End. The play opened at theTheatre Royal Haymarket in the fall of the same year and was directed byDavid Esbjornson, withRob Lowe ofThe West Wing in the lead role.[73] Sorkin toldThe Charlie Rose Show that he was developing a television series based on a late-night sketch comedy show similar toSaturday Night Live.[26][74] In October 2005, a pilot script dubbedStudio 7 on the Sunset Strip, written by him and Schlamme as producer, started circulating in Hollywood and online. In that same month, NBC bought the rights fromWarner Bros. Television to air the series on their network for a near-record license fee after a bidding war with CBS.[75] The show's name was later changed toStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Sorkin described the show as having "autobiographical elements" to it and "characters that are based on actual people" but said that it departs from those beginnings to look at the backstage maneuverings at a late nightsketch comedy show.[76]
On September 18, 2006, thepilot forStudio 60 aired on NBC, directed by Schlamme. The pilot was critically acclaimed and viewed by an audience of over 12 million, but the show experienced a significant drop in viewership mid-season. Even before the first episode aired, there was a large amount of thoughtful and scrupulous criticism in the press, as well as negative analysis frombloggers.[77] In January 2007, Sorkin spoke out against the press for reporting heavily on the low ratings, and for using blogs and unemployed comedy writers as sources.[78] After two months hiatus,Studio 60 resumed airing the last episodes of season one, which would be its only season.[79]
As early as 2003, Sorkin was writing aspec script about inventorPhilo Farnsworth; he was approached by producerFred Zollo in the 1990s about adapting Elma Farnsworth's memoir into abiographical film.[14][80] The following year, he completed the film screenplay,The Farnsworth Invention, which was acquired byNew Line Cinema with Schlamme as director. The story is about thepatent battle between Farnsworth andRCA tycoonDavid Sarnoff for the technology that allowed the first television transmissions in the United States.[81] No additional details were released about the film. Shortly, Sorkin was contacted by Jocelyn Clarke of theAbbey Theatre inDublin, requesting he write a play for them, a commission which he accepted.[82] Sorkin decided to rewriteThe Farnsworth Invention as a play.[14][82] He delivered a first draft of the play to the Abbey Theatre in early 2005, and a production was planned for 2007 withLa Jolla Playhouse deciding to stage a workshop production of the play in collaboration with the Abbey Theatre. In 2006, Abbey Theatre's new management quit involvement withThe Farnsworth Invention.[82] Despite this, La Jolla Playhouse carried on withSteven Spielberg serving as a producer.[83] The production opened under La Jolla's signaturePage To Stage program which allowed Sorkin and directorDes McAnuff to develop the play from show-to-show according to audience reactions and feedback; the play ran from February 20, 2007, through March 25, 2007.[84][85] A Broadway production followed soon after, beginning inpreviews, and opening on November 14, 2007; however, the play was delayed by the2007 Broadway stagehand strike.[86][87]The Farnsworth Invention eventually opened at the Music Box Theatre on December 3, 2007, and closed on March 2, 2008.[88][89]
In 2004, Sorkin was commissioned byUniversal Pictures to adaptGeorge Crile's non-fiction bookCharlie Wilson's War forTom Hanks' production companyPlaytone.[90] The biographical comedy,Charlie Wilson's War, is about the colorful Texas congressmanCharlie Wilson who funded theCIA's secret war against the formerSoviet Union in Afghanistan.[91] Directed byMike Nichols, and written by Sorkin, the film was released in 2007 and starred Tom Hanks,Julia Roberts andPhilip Seymour Hoffman.[92] The film earned five nominations at the Golden Globes, includingBest Screenplay for Sorkin.[93]
In August 2008, Sorkin announced that he had agreed to write a script forSony Pictures and producerScott Rudin about the beginnings ofFacebook.[94]David Fincher'sThe Social Network, based onBen Mezrich's non fiction bookThe Accidental Billionaires, was released on October 1, 2010. It was a critical and commercial success; Sorkin won anAcademy Award,BAFTA and a Golden Globe for the screenplay.[95][96][97]
A year later, Sorkin received nominations in the same award categories for co-writingMoneyball.[97][98][99] It is based onMichael Lewis's 2003 non-fictionbook of the same name, an account of theOakland Athleticsbaseball team's2002 season and their general managerBilly Beane's attempts to assemble a competitive team. The film was directed byBennett Miller, and starredBrad Pitt,Jonah Hill, andPhilip Seymour Hoffman. Peter Travers ofRolling Stone called the script "dynamite", in which Sorkin's "sharply witty touch is everywhere".[100]
In 2011, Sorkin played himself on the series30 Rock, episode "Plan B", where he did a "walk and talk" withLiz Lemon played byTina Fey.[101] While still working on the screenplay forThe Social Network, Sorkin was contemplating a television drama about the behind-the-scenes events at acable news program.[102] Talks had been ongoing between Sorkin andHBO since 2010.[103] To research the news industry, Sorkin observed the production crew atMSNBC'sCountdown with Keith Olbermann, and quizzedParker Spitzer's staff.[104] He also spent time shadowingHardball with Chris Matthews, as well as other programs onFox News andCNN.[105] Sorkin toldTV Guide that he intended to take a less cynical view of the media: "They're going to be trying to do well in a context where it's very difficult to do well when there are commercial concerns and political concerns and corporate concerns."[106] Sorkin decided that rather than have his characters react to fictional news events as on his earlier series, it would be set in the recent past and track real-world stories largely as they unfolded, to give a greater sense of realism.[107]
[T]he trick is to follow the rules of classic storytelling. Drama is basically about one thing: Somebody wants something, and something or someone is standing in the way of him getting it. What he wants—the money, the girl, the ticket to Philadelphia—doesn't really matter. But whatever it is, the audience has to want it for him.
HBO ordered a pilot episode in January 2011 with the working titleMore as This Story Develops, with Scott Rudin serving as an executive producer.[105] In September, HBO ordered a 10-episode series ofThe Newsroom with a premiere date of June 2012.[109][110][111] A day after the second episode aired, HBO renewed the series for a second season.[112] Sorkin saidThe Newsroom "is meant to be an idealistic, romantic, swashbuckling, sometimes comedic but very optimistic, upward-looking look at a group of people who are often looked at cynically. The same as withThe West Wing, where ordinarily in popular culture our leaders are portrayed either as Machiavellian or dumb; I wanted to do something different and show a highly competent group of people."[113] The series concluded after its third season.
In 2015,Danny Boyle's biographical dramaSteve Jobs was released. The screenplay by Sorkin was based onWalter Isaacson's biography ofSteve Jobs,[114] and starredMichael Fassbender as Jobs,Kate Winslet asJoanna Hoffman,Jeff Daniels asJohn Sculley, andSeth Rogen asSteve Wozniak. Sorkin expressed hesitation for tackling the film, saying "it was a little like writing about the Beatles—that there are so many people out there who know so much about him [Jobs] and who revere him that I just saw a minefield of disappointment. [...] Hopefully, when I'm done with my research, I'll be in the same ball park of knowledge about Steve Jobs".[115] He won a Golden Globe Award forBest Screenplay,[116] although some journalists were surprised that he did not receive an Academy Award nomination in the same category.[117]
In February 2016, it was announced that Sorkin would adaptHarper Lee'sTo Kill a Mockingbird for the stage, reuniting withJeff Daniels, who would portrayAtticus Finch. This would be Sorkin's first collaboration with directorBartlett Sher.[118] HisBroadway adaptation opened on December 13, 2018, to positive reviews at theShubert Theatre.[119][120] The play received nineTony Award nominations, although notably not forBest Play. Despite initial legal disputes with theHarper Lee estate and controversy regarding actions by producerScott Rudin, the play was a financial success where it transferred to theWest End and embarked on a national tour. The play returned to Broadway following theCOVID-19 pandemic, with Daniels returning to the role.[citation needed]
Next, Sorkin made his directorial debut withMolly's Game, an adaptation of entrepreneurMolly Bloom's memoir. He also wrote the script for the film, which starredJessica Chastain andIdris Elba.[121][122][123][124] Production began in 2016 and the film was released in December 2017 to mostly positive reviews; Sorkin received his third Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.[125][126] On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,Molly's Game garnered an approval rating of 81% based on 297 reviews, with an average rating of 7.07/10.[127]
Sorkin toldVanity Fair in July 2020 that Steven Spielberg offered him a job in 2006 about "a movie about theriots at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention andthe trial that followed".[128] However, after meeting at Spielberg's home, Sorkin said, "I left not knowing what the hell he was talking about."[128] On July 12, 2007,Variety magazine reported that Sorkin had signed a deal withDreamWorks to write three scripts. The first wasThe Trial of the Chicago 7, which Sorkin was already developing with Spielberg,Walter Parkes andLaurie MacDonald.[129] In March 2010, Sorkin's agent,Ari Emanuel, had stated that the project was proving "tough to get together".[130] In late July 2013, it was announced thatPaul Greengrass would be directing,[131] but Sorkin eventually both wrote and directed the film.[132] Focusing on theChicago Seven (andBobby Seale), the film began alimited release on September 25, 2020, before streaming onNetflix.[133][134] At the78th Golden Globes, Sorkin won Best Screenplay, and was nominated for Best Director.[135]
In September 2015,Entertainment Weekly reported that Sorkin was writing abiopic that would focus on the twenty-year marriage ofLucille Ball andDesi Arnaz, and their work on a comedy series,I Love Lucy.Cate Blanchett was originally to star as Ball.[136] In 2017,Amazon Studios acquired the rights to the film.[137] In January 2021, it was announced that Blanchett had been replaced byNicole Kidman, andJavier Bardem had been cast as Desi Arnaz. TitledBeing the Ricardos (2021), it was directed by Sorkin and received a limited theatrical release on December 10, 2021, before streaming onPrime Video on December 21.[138] Paul Byrnes ofThe Sydney Morning Herald praised the film's dialogue,[139] while the critic fromThe Irish Times opined that the film lacked "spark or insight".[140]
It was announced that Sorkin would be reuniting with directorBartlett Sher to write a revised book for the Broadway revival of theLerner and Loewe musicalCamelot starringPhillipa Soo andAndrew Burnap. The production was set to begin atLincoln Center'sVivian Beaumont Theater on November 3, 2022,[141] but was moved back to April 13, 2023.[142]
In March 2007, it was reported that Sorkin had signed on to write a musical adaptation of the hit 2002 recordYoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by psychedelic-rock bandThe Flaming Lips, collaborating with directorDes McAnuff who had been developing the project.[143][144][145] In August 2008, McAnuff announced that Sorkin had been commissioned by theStratford Shakespeare Festival to write an adaptation ofChekhov'sThe Cherry Orchard.[146] In 2010, Sorkin reportedly obtained the film rights to Andrew Young's bookThe Politician (about SenatorJohn Edwards), and announced that he would make his debut as a film director while adapting the book for the screen.[147]
In November 2010, it was reported that Sorkin would write a musical based on the life ofHoudini, with music byDanny Elfman.[148] In January 2012,Stephen Schwartz was reported to be writing the music and lyrics, with Sorkin making his debut as alibrettist. The musical was expected for release in 2013–14; Sorkin said: "The chance to collaborate with Stephen Schwartz [the director],Jack O'Brien, andHugh Jackman on a new Broadway musical is a huge gift."[149] In January 2013, he quit the project, citing film and television commitments.[150]
In March 2016, it was announced that Sorkin would adaptA Few Good Men for a live production on NBC, originally slated to air in 2017;[151] as of November 2017[update], "Sorkin is still mulling the project".[152]
In November 2024,Deadline reported thatWarner Bros. had made a deal for Sorkin to write and possibly direct a film about the founder of the Israeli air force,Al Schwimmer.[153] According to the article, he was also still working separately on a project that would be a continuation of the themes that were the focus ofThe Social Network, as he had previously hinted at in a 2024 podcast conversation.[154][155] In June 2025,Deadline reported that he would be writing and directing a follow-up toThe Social Network based on the documents known as theFacebook Files, officially announced asThe Social Reckoning in September 2025.[156][157]
You almost never see how anyone travels from point A to point C [in most TV shows]. I wanted the audience to witness every journey these people took. It all had a purpose, even seeing them order lunch. It just seemed to be the proper visual rhythm with which to marry Aaron's words. I got lucky that it worked.
Sorkin has written for the theater, film, and television, and in each medium his level of collaboration with other creators has varied. He began in theater, which involved a largely solitary writing process, then moved into film, where he collaborated with director Rob Reiner and screenwriter William Goldman, and eventually worked in television, where he collaborated very closely with directorThomas Schlamme for nearly a decade on the showsSports Night,The West Wing andStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip; he now moves between all three media. He had a habit ofchain smoking while he spent long hours plotting out scripts in his office, though he quit smoking after having a stroke in 2022.[7][158] He describes his writing process as physical because he will often stand up and speak the dialogue he is developing.[78]
ANew York Times article byPeter de Jonge explained that "The West Wing is never plotted out for more than a few weeks ahead and has no major story lines", which De Jonge believed was because "with characters who have no flaws, it is impossible to give them significant arcs".[8] Sorkin has stated: "I seldom plan ahead, not because I don't think it's good to plan ahead, there just isn't time."[56] Sorkin has also said, "As a writer, I don't like to answer questions until the very moment that I have to." TheSeattle Post-Intelligencer's TV critic John Levesque has commented that Sorkin's writing process "can make for ill-advised plot developments".[1] Further complicating the matter, in television, Sorkin will have a hand in writing every episode, rarely letting other writers earn full credit on a script.[8] De Jonge reported that ex-writers ofThe West Wing have claimed that "even by the spotlight-hogging standards of Hollywood, Sorkin has been exceptionally ungenerous in his sharing of writing credit".[8] In a comment toGQ magazine in 2008, Sorkin said, "I'm helped by a staff of people who have great ideas, but the scripts aren't written by committee."[159]
Sorkin's long-term collaboration with Schlamme began in early 1998 when they found they shared common creative ground on the soon to be producedSports Night.[46][160] Their successful partnership in television is one in which Sorkin focuses on writing the scripts while Schlammeexecutive produces and occasionally directs; they have worked together onSports Night,The West Wing, andStudio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Schlamme will create the look of the shows, work with the other directors, discuss the scripts with Sorkin as soon as they are turned in, make design and casting decisions, and attend the budget meetings; Sorkin tends to stick strictly to writing.[46] In response to what he perceived as unfair criticism ofThe Newsroom, Jacob Drum ofDigital Americana wrote, "The essential truth that the critics miss is thatThe Newsroom is Sorkin being Sorkin as he always has been and always will be: one part pioneer; one part self-conscious romantic; two parts actual Lewis & Clark-style pioneer, trapping his way across an old, old idea of an America that can always stand to raise its game—but most importantly, spinning a good yarn while he does so."[161]
For me, the writing experience is very much like a date. It's not unusual that I'm really funny here and really smart here and maybe showing some anger over here so she sees maybe I have this dark side. I want it to have been worth it for everyone to sit through it for however long I ask them to.
— Sorkin on his writing as characterized by mentorWilliam Goldman[1]
As a writer, Sorkin is recognized for his trademark fast-paced dialogue and extended monologues, complemented by frequent collaboratorThomas Schlamme's storytelling technique called the "walk and talk". These sequences consist of singletracking shots of long duration involving multiple characters engaging in conversation as they move through the set; characters enter and exit the conversation as the shot continues without any cuts. Sorkin is also known for writing memorable lines, such as "You can't handle the truth!" fromA Few Good Men and the partly Latin tirade against God: "You getHoynes!" inThe West Wing episode "Two Cathedrals".[8] For television, onehallmark of Sorkin'swriter's voice is the repartee that his characters engage in as they small talk and banter about whimsical events taking place within an episode, and interject obscure popular culture references into conversation.[162] Although his scripts are lauded for being literate,[8][15][163] Sorkin has been criticized for often turning in scripts that areoverwrought.[164] His mentorWilliam Goldman has commented that normally in visual media speeches are avoided, but that Sorkin has a talent for dialogue and gets away with breaking this rule.[39] His portrayal of women has been criticized by several commentators, with female characters in his works often subordinate, written to support the main male characters, ditzy and incompetent or ostensibly professional while still being depicted as overly emotional and needing to be rescued by men.[165][166]
In 2012 and 2013, a fan created a YouTube video compilation showing how Sorkin tended to reuse certain lines of dialogue. The creator said the project was not a critique but was intended as a "playful excursion through Sorkin's wonderful world of words" with Sorkin also getting in touch with him personally.[167][168][169][170]
Sorkin married Julia Bingham in 1996 and divorced in 2005, with his workaholic habits and drug abuse reported to be a partial cause.[171][172] Sorkin and Bingham have one daughter, Roxanne Sophie, known as Roxy.[13][173] They were going to have a boy called Charlie four years earlier who died before birth.[13] He datedKristin Chenoweth, who played Annabeth Schott onThe West Wing, for several years (after Sorkin had left the show).[174] He has also reportedly dated columnistMaureen Dowd and actressKristin Davis.[175][176] In 2021, Sorkin andPaulina Porizkova dated for a few months.[177][178]
A consistent supporter of theDemocratic Party, Sorkin has made substantial political campaign contributions to candidates between 1999 and 2011, according to CampaignMoney.com.[179] During the2004 US presidential election campaign, the liberal advocacy groupMoveOn'spolitical action committee enlisted Sorkin and Rob Reiner to create one of their anti-Bushcampaign advertisements.[180] In August 2008, Sorkin was involved in aGeneration Obama event at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills, California, participating in a panel discussion subsequent to a screening ofFrank Capra'sMr. Smith Goes to Washington.[181] However, Sorkin does not consider himself a political activist: "I've met political activists, and they're for real. I've never marched anyplace or done anything that takes more effort than writing a check in terms of activism".[72] In 2016, after PresidentDonald Trump won the election, Sorkin wrote an open letter to his daughter Roxy and her mother Julia.[182]
In 1987, Sorkin started using marijuana and cocaine. He said cocaine gave him relief from certain nervous tensions that occur on a regular basis.[8] In 1995, he sought rehabilitation at theHazelden Institute in Minnesota, on the advice of Bingham to combat his addiction.[183] In early 2001, Sorkin and his colleaguesJohn Spencer andMartin Sheen received the Phoenix Rising Award for overcoming their drug abuse. However, on April 15, 2001, Sorkin was arrested when security guards atHollywood Burbank Airport found that he was in possession ofhallucinogenic mushrooms,marijuana,crack cocaine, and a metalcrack pipe.[8][184] He was court-ordered to adrug diversion program,[14][65] while still working onThe West Wing.[171][172] In a commencement speech for Syracuse University on May 13, 2012, Sorkin said he has not used cocaine for eleven years.[185]
In 2012, Sorkin said he enjoyed watchingThe Office,Parks and Recreation,The Good Wife,Homeland andModern Family.[186] In 2011,The Good Wife had featured a storyline about a technology executive suing a screenwriter that appeared to be inspired by Sorkin's role as a screenwriter ofThe Social Network.[187][188][189]
In November 2022, Sorkin had astroke which was caused byhypertension. He later called it "a loud wake-up call" to improve his health, and said he quit smoking, changed his diet, and began exercising daily as a result.[158][190]
In August 2014, he signed an open letter from members of the Hollywood community condemning Hamas rocket attacks on Israel during the2014 Gaza War.[191][192] In October 2023, he was one of many Hollywood signatories of a letter calling onPresident Biden to work toward the release of all Israeli hostages after theOctober 7 attacks.[193][194] In the same month, Sorkin also droppedCAA over a post critical ofIsrael made by its co-chief of the motion pictures department, Maha Dakhil, during theGaza war.[195][196][154]
In October 2025, he was a founding signatory of a revival of theCommittee for the First Amendment.[197]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | No | Yes | |
| 1993 | Malice | No | Yes | WithScott Frank |
| 1995 | The American President | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | Charlie Wilson's War | No | Yes | |
| 2010 | The Social Network | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | Moneyball | No | Yes | WithSteven Zaillian |
| 2015 | Steve Jobs | No | Yes | |
| 2017 | Molly's Game | Yes | Yes | |
| 2020 | The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2021 | Being the Ricardos | Yes | Yes | |
| 2025 | F1 | No | uncredited | "Additional Literary Material" |
| 2026 | The Social Reckoning | Yes | Yes | Filming; Also producer |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | A Few Good Men | Man in bar |
| 1995 | The American President | Aide in bar |
| 2010 | The Social Network | Ad executive |
| 2017 | Molly's Game | Man in bar |
| Year | Title | Writer | Executive producer | Creator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1999–2006 | The West Wing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2006–07 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2012–14 | The Newsroom | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2020 | A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Acting roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Sports Night | Man at bar | Episode "Small Town" | |
| 2006 | The West Wing | Man in crowd | Episode "Tomorrow" | |
| 2009 | Entourage | Himself | Episode "The Sorkin Notes" | [198] |
| 2011 | 30 Rock | Episode "Plan B" | [199] | |
| 2025 | The Studio | Episode: "The Golden Globes" |
Playwright
| Year | Title | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Removing All Doubt | Syracuse University | |
| 1988 | Hidden in This Picture | West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theatre Bar | [200] |
| 1989 | A Few Good Men | Music Box Theatre, Broadway | [201] |
| 1990 | Making Movies | Promenade Theatre | [23] |
| 2007 | The Farnsworth Invention | La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Music Box Theatre, Broadway | [84] |
| 2018 | To Kill a Mockingbird | Shubert Theatre, Broadway (2018) Gielgud Theatre, London (2022) | [202] [203] |
| 2023 | Camelot | Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway | [204] |
Sorkin has been recognized by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the following films:
Sorkin has been nominated for tenGolden Globe Awards, winning three forBest Screenplay for:The Social Network (2011),Steve Jobs (2015), andThe Trial of the Chicago Seven (2020).[209] He has also received fiveBritish Academy Film Awards nominations, winning one forThe Social Network (2010).[210] He has also received fourteenWriters Guild of America Award nominations winning twice forThe West Wing, andThe Social Network (2010).[211][212] He has received sevenCritics' Choice Movie Awards nominations winning consecutively forBest Screenplay forThe Social Network andMoneyball.
For his work on television Sorkin has received ninePrimetime Emmy Award nominations winning four awards forOutstanding Drama Series forThe West Wing in2000,2001,2002, and2003. He also won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series forThe West Wing episode "In Excelsis Deo" in 2000.
I'm Jewish but have never had any religious training. I never went to Hebrew school.
Aaron Sorkin: "I'm Jewish"
Sorkin, who comes from a middle-class Jewish family from Scarsdale
Born: June 9, 1961
Sorkin's association with Warner Bros. follows in the footsteps of his father Bernard, a New York–based copyright expert who started with the studio 40 years ago when it wasWarner Bros.-7 Arts.
I've been healthy for six and a half years," he said. "But like any addict I'm one phone call away from that not being true.
Malice is way out of that classy league. It's got suspense but no staying power.
Mr. Sorkin's new play, "The Farnsworth Invention," based on the struggle of Philo T. Farnsworth to win recognition for his invention—television again—will begin rehearsals at the La Jolla Playhouse. Steven Spielberg is making his theatrical producing debut.
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