Danny Strong

{{Infobox person

| image = Danny Strong 2013 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Strong in 2013

| name = Danny Strong

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|41|2015|9|8}}

| birth_place = Manhattan Beach, California, U.S.

| alma_mater = University of Southern California

| occupation = {{comma separated entries|Actor|film|television writer|director|producer}}

| years active = 1994–present

| partner = Caitlin Mehner (2013–present; engaged)

}}

Danny Strong (born {{birth based on age as of date|41|2015|9|8|noage=1}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-09-08 |title=A Day in the Life of Danny Strong - WSJ|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-danny-strong-1441722395 |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Mail Online |language=en}}) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. As an actor, Strong is best known for his roles as Jonathan Levinson in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doyle McMaster in Gilmore Girls and Danny Siegel in Mad Men. He also wrote the screenplays for Recount, the HBO adaptation Game Change, The Butler, and co-wrote the two-part finale of The Hunger Games film trilogy, Mockingjay – Part 1 and Mockingjay – Part 2. Strong also is a co-creator, executive producer, director, and writer for the Fox series Empire and created, wrote and directed the award-winning Hulu miniseries Dopesick.

Strong has won two Emmy Awards, two Writers Guild of America Awards, a Producers Guild of America Award, two Peabody Awards and an NAACP Image Award.

Early life

Strong was born in Manhattan Beach, California.{{Cite web |title=Danny Strong |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/danny-strong/credits/3030279688/ |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}} He grew up in a Jewish family of Lithuanian, Russian, and Polish origin.{{cite news| url= http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywood/article/the_jewish_writer_and_actor_whos_the_voice_of_black_america |work= Jewish Journal |title= The Jewish writer and actor who's 'the voice of black America'| first= Curt |last= Schleier| date= September 11, 2015}} He began acting at a young age. As a child, Strong rented videos from Video Archives and became friends with Quentin Tarantino, who worked there as a clerk. "I would just literally sit and chat with him for 45 minutes, an hour at a time about movies, and he got me turned on to all these different movies that 10-year-olds don't see."{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/19/an-interview-with-danny-strong|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030623165016/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/403/403660p1.html?fromint=1|archive-date=June 23, 2003|title=An Interview with Danny Strong|work= IGN.com | date=May 19, 2003 |access-date=October 27, 2014}} By the time he was 10, Strong became more infatuated with the world of film and was sending his photo to agents.{{cite web|url=https://www.emeraldcityjournal.com/2021/09/danny-strong-biography/|title=Danny Biography & Career |work= Emerald City Journal Newspaper|date=September 14, 2021 |access-date=September 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://parade.com/604383/jerylbrunner/five-cool-things-about-actordirectorwriter-danny-strong/|title=Five Cool Things About Actor/Director/Writer Danny Strong|work= Parade |date=September 27, 2017 | publisher= |access-date=September 27, 2017}}

Strong attended Mira Costa High School,{{Cite web|url=https://miracostaalumni.com/hall-of-fame/|title=Hall Of Fame|website=Mira Costa High School Alumni| date= October 11, 2019| access-date=2020-01-22}} and then studied film and theatre at the University of Southern California.{{cite web| url= http://www.slayground.net/danny/bio.html|title=Biography|website= slayground.net| publisher= The Official Danny Strong Website|access-date=October 27, 2014|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109055928/http://www.slayground.net/danny/bio.html|url-status=dead}}

Career

=Acting=

Strong is known for playing Jonathan Levinson on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Paris Geller's boyfriend Doyle McMaster on Gilmore Girls, but he has also appeared in films such as Pleasantville, Dangerous Minds, Seabiscuit, the spoof Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth, and was in the film Sydney White as the Grumpy dork, Gurkin. Strong has also had guest parts in sitcoms such as Seinfeld, Clueless, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Over the Top, Grey's Anatomy, Boy Meets World and How I Met Your Mother and has also guest-lectured in acting classes on finding a job as an actor. In the popular AMC series Mad Men he played Danny Siegel, a young man with no talent, trying to break into the advertising industry, later making a career in Hollywood. Strong also appeared on the HBO series Girls in the third and fourth seasons; and appeared on the fifth and sixth seasons of Justified as Albert Fekus, a rapist prison guard. He also starred in Billions as Todd Krakow, Secretary of the Treasury. Strong was set to appear in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Dean Martin.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-strong-sydney-sweeney-join-once-a-time-hollywood-1129521|title=Danny Strong, Sydney Sweeney Join 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|date=August 27, 2018|access-date=May 24, 2019}} However, his scenes were cut from the film.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/05/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-leonardo-dicaprio-brad-pitt-movie-stars-cannes-1202143792/|title='Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' Delivers a Mega Movie Star Bromance: Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt|website=IndieWire|first=Anne|last=Thompson|date=May 22, 2019|access-date=May 24, 2019}}

=Writing=

At 25, in the hopes of being the lead actor in his own film, Strong wrote a dark comedy about two men who kill an elderly man for his rent-controlled apartment. The film never materialized, but it sparked his desire to become a full-time writer. His first successful script was Recount, a film about the 2000 US Elections, produced by HBO and directed by Jay Roach.{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/05/16/recount/|author=Flynn, Gillian|date=May 16, 2008|access-date=January 18, 2022|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|title=TV Review: Recount}} The film starred Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Denis Leary, John Hurt and Tom Wilkinson and premiered on May 25, 2008.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/23/danny-strong-on-writing-the-recount|title=Danny Strong on Writing the Recount|author=Fickett, Travis|date=May 22, 2008|access-date=November 24, 2013}} The script had been voted number one on the 2007 Hollywood Black List,{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2007/12/black-list-2007-1-danny-strongs-recount-4316/|title= Black List 2007's Best Liked Screenplays|author=Finke, Nikki|date=December 7, 2007|access-date=November 24, 2013}} a list of the "most liked" but unproduced scripts as voted on by the Hollywood community and insiders.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-dec-13-la-et-black-list-20111213-story.html|title= A "Black List" that's a career boost|author=Sperling, Nicole|date=December 13, 2011|access-date=January 18, 2022|work=Los Angeles Times}} Strong was nominated for a 2008 Emmy Award for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for Recount. The film was nominated for Best Television Miniseries or Film at the 66th Golden Globe Awards and won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for Television Movie as well as the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay for a Television movie.[http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/2008pte/60thpte_nomswin.php Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]

Strong followed up Recount with the 2012 film adaptation of Game Change, based on the book written by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-tv-column-hbo-announces-new-mccainpalin-film-game-change/2011/03/09/ABeXGwP_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Lisa | last=de Moraes | title=The TV Column: HBO announces new McCain/Palin film, 'Game Change' | date=March 10, 2011}} The film starred Julianne Moore and aired on HBO on March 10, 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hbo-schedules-veep-game-change-281269|title= HBO Schedules "Veep," "Game Change"|author=Goldberg, Lesley|date=January 12, 2012|access-date=November 24, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} In 2012, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for Game Change.[http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2012/Outstanding%20Writing%20for%20a%20Miniseries,%20Movie%20or%20a%20Dramatic%20Special Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for 2012 – Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special] The film was also awarded a Peabody Award, which recognizes distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals.{{cite web|title=Peabody Awards Winner Database|url=http://peabodyawards.com/past-winners/peabody-search/?pb_query=2012&pb_year=1&pb_search=1&submit=Search+Now|access-date=February 6, 2014|archive-date=September 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913235959/http://peabodyawards.com/past-winners/peabody-search/?pb_query=2012&pb_year=1&pb_search=1&submit=Search+Now|url-status=dead}}

In February 2012, he was hired to write the screenplay for the film adaptation of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, whose production has been stalled since 2013.{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Owen |title=New Writer For The Lost Symbol |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/new-writer-lost-symbol/ |website=Empire |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=January 3, 2012}}{{Cite web|title = UPDATE: Tom Hanks And Ron Howard To Return For Next Dan Brown Movie 'Inferno'; Sony Sets December 2015 Release Date|url = https://deadline.com/2013/07/sony-dates-latest-dan-brown-movie-inferno-for-december-2015-will-come-before-lost-symbol-542282/|website = Deadline| date=July 16, 2013 |access-date = October 26, 2015|language = en}}

Strong wrote the screenplay for the film The Butler.DODES, RACHEL August 9, 2013, "All the Butler's Presidents". Wall Street Journal. 262 (34):D5 Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker starred in the film and it was directed by Lee Daniels.{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/interview-cast-butler-speak-authenticity-civil-rights-more|title=INTERVIEW: The Cast Of 'The Butler' Speak On Authenticity, Civil Rights & More|date=August 5, 2013|access-date=October 27, 2014}} The script was voted onto the 2010 Hollywood Black List.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2007/04/2007-cannes-film-festival-official-poster-2010/|title= The Black List 2010: Screenplay Roster|author=Finke, Nikki|date=December 13, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2013}} It was released in August 2013 and grossed over $100 million in the US box office.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-milestone-lee-daniels-629614|title= Box Office Milestone: Lee Daniels' The Butler Hits $100 Million|author=McClintock, Pamela|date=September 15, 2013|access-date=November 24, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} He also had a cameo in the film.

{{Quote box |width=300px |quote = I write characters of every race, gender and sexual orientation. I write some characters that are animals. That's just my job. To me, writing 'Empire' is not more difficult than Sarah Palin [in 'Game Change']. ... I mean, I'm not a Republican from Alaska. |author = Danny Strong |source = HuffPost interview, June 2015Duca, Lauren (June 10, 2015), [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/danny-strong-doyle-empire_n_7542820 "How Doyle From 'Gilmore Girls' Came Up With The Idea For 'Empire'"], HuffPost.}}

In December 2013, Strong signed on to pen the new screenplay for the film adaptation of the musical Guys and Dolls, which originally premiered on Broadway in 1950.{{cite web|last=Champion|first=Lindsay|title=It's Good Old Reliable Danny Strong! Hunger Games Screenwriter to Pen Guys & Dolls Movie Reboot|url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/173702/its-good-old-reliable-danny-strong-hunger-games-screenwriter-to-pen-guys-dolls-movie-reboot/|publisher=Broadway.com|access-date=December 18, 2013}}

Strong also co-created the TV series Empire with Daniels in 2014, for which he has written and directed multiple episodes.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/monique-claims-she-was-offered-tariji-p-hensons-empire-role-cookie/|title= 'Empire' Co-Creator Disputes Mo'Nique's Claim She Was Offered Taraji P. Henson's Breakout Cookie Roler|author=Gilman, Greg|date=March 4, 2015}}

Strong co-wrote the two-part Mockingjay, the finale of The Hunger Games series.{{cite web |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/12/06/danny-strong-interview-game-change-mockingjay/|title= Danny Strong on writing 'Game Change' and 'Mockingjay'|author=Busis, Hillary|date=December 6, 2012|access-date=November 24, 2013}} Part 1 was released on November 21, 2014, and Part 2 was released on November 20, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.deadline.com/2012/07/hunger-games-mockingjay-release-dates-set-lionsgate-november-2014-2015/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712002142/http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/hunger-games-mockingjay-release-dates-set-lionsgate-november-2014-2015/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|title= Lionsgate Dates 'Hunger Game' Finale: 2-Part 'Mockingjay'|author=The Deadline Team|date=July 10, 2012|access-date=November 24, 2013}}{{cite web|title=The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, first trailer|url=https://www.screendaily.com/watch-the-mockingjay-part-1-trailer/5075712.article|website=Screen Daily|publisher=Screen International|access-date=January 18, 2022}}

In October 2021, Strong released Dopesick, a Hulu exclusive miniseries exploring the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma's role in America's opioid crisis.{{Cite web |last=Hammond |first=Pete |date=2022-05-23 |title='Dopesick' Creator Danny Strong On Taking On Big Pharma, Plus Why He Can't Resist Tackling Controversial True Stories – Behind The Lens |url=https://deadline.com/video/danny-strong-career-interview-dopesick-behind-the-lens/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} The series was influenced by Beth Macy's book by the same name and starred Michael Keaton, who earned a SAG award for his performance.{{Cite web |title=Danny Strong Unravels Big Pharma's Web of Deceit in 'Dopesick' |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/danny-strong-dopesick-interview |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=W Magazine |date=October 11, 2021 |language=en}} The critically acclaimed show was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards and won the Peabody Award along with many other awards and honors.

=Directing=

Strong made his directorial debut with the biographical film on the life of author J. D. Salinger, Rebel in the Rye.{{cite news|last1=McClintock|first1=Pamela|last2=Ford|first2=Rebecca|title=Danny Strong Making Directorial Debut With Biopic 'Salinger's War' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-strong-making-directorial-debut-699966|access-date=April 28, 2016|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 29, 2014}} The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by IFC Films. He followed this up by directing the last two episodes of the award-winning limited series Dopesick for he which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Directors Guild Award for Best Director of a Limited Series. He has also directed several episodes of Empire.

Personal life

Strong became engaged to actress Caitlin Mehner on December 29, 2016, in Hawaii after meeting her three years earlier.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/gilmore-girls-star-danny-strong-engaged-to-girlfriend-caitlin-mehner/amp/|title=Gilmore Girls Star Danny Strong Engaged to Girlfriend Caitlin Mehner|publisher=People|date=December 30, 2016|access-date=January 18, 2022|first=Karen|last=Mizoguchi}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result
rowspan=14\| 2022 \|Final Draft Awards \|TV Writer of the Year \|rowspan=14\| Dopesick \| {{won}}
TCA Awards \|Best Limited Series \| {{won}}
Golden Globe Awards \|Best Limited Series \| {{nom}}
Television Academy Honors \| \| {{won}}
Peabody Award \| \| {{won}}
rowspan=3\| Primetime Emmy Awards \|Outstanding Director of a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie \| {{nom}}
Outstanding Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie \| {{nom}}
USC Scripter Awards \|Best TV Adaptation \| {{won}}
Producers Guild of America Awards \|Best Limited Series \| {{nom}}
Directors Guild of America Award \|Best Director of a Limited Series \| {{nom}}
Final Draft Awards \|Storyteller of the Year for Television \| {{won}}
GLAAD Awards \|Best Limited Series \| {{nom}}
Critics Choice Awards \|Best Limited Series \| {{nom}}
rowspan=4\| 2016 \| NAACP Image Award \| Outstanding Drama Series \| rowspan=6\| Empire \| {{won}}
NAACP Image Award \| Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series \| {{nom}}
Critics' Choice Television Award \| Best Drama Series \| {{nom}}
Golden Globe Awards \| Best Television Series – Drama \| {{nom}}
rowspan=2\| 2015 \| TCA Awards \| Program of the Year \| {{won}}
AFI Award \| Television Program of the Year \| {{won}}
rowspan=2\| 2014 \| NAACP Image Award \| Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture \| The Butler \| {{nom}}
Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square \| Recognizing a contemporary storyteller whose work has had a significant impact on the public dialogue. \| Game Change, Recount, The Butler \| {{won}}
rowspan=5\| 2013 \| Golden Globe Awards \| Best Limited or Anthology Series or TV Film \|rowspan=8\| Game Change \| {{won}}
Peabody Award \| \| {{won}}
Producers Guild of America Awards \| Best Long-Form TV \| {{won}}
Writers Guild of America Awards \| TV: Long Form – Adapted \| {{won}}
PEN Center USA Awards \| Best Teleplay \| {{won}}
rowspan=3\| 2012 \| rowspan=2\| Primetime Emmy Awards \| Outstanding TV Movie \| {{won}}
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie \| {{won}}
American Film Institute Top 10 \| TV Program of the Year \| {{won}}
2009 \| Writers Guild of America Awards \| Long Form – Original \| rowspan=3\| Recount \| {{won}}
rowspan=2\| 2008 \| Primetime Emmy Awards \| Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie \| {{nom}}
American Film Institute Top 10 \| TV Program of the Year \| {{won}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Association

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

rowspan=14| 2022

|Final Draft Awards

|TV Writer of the Year

|rowspan=14| Dopesick

| {{won}}

TCA Awards