Jonathan Tropper

{{Infobox writer

| name = Jonathan Tropper

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|02|19|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Riverdale, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Screenwriter, author, producer

| nationality =

| alma_mater = Yeshiva University
New York University

| period = 2000–present

| genre =

| subject = fiction, humor

| movement =

| notableworks = This Is Where I Leave You, Banshee, Warrior

| children = 4

| spouse = {{marriage|Stephanie Abram|2016}}

}}

Jonathan Tropper (born February 19, 1970) is an American screenwriter, novelist, and producer.[http://www.mville.edu/about/mymville/faculty-aamp-staff/profiles/adjunct-faculty/tropper-jonathon.html Manhattanville Faculty Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129052909/http://www.mville.edu/about/mymville/faculty-aamp-staff/profiles/adjunct-faculty/tropper-jonathon.html |date=2013-01-29 }} He is the author of six novels. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the Cinemax television series Banshee (2013–2016). He is also the creator of the Cinemax television series Warrior (2019–2023) and the Apple TV+ series, Your Friends & Neighbors (2025-present).

Early life and education

Tropper was born in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York City in liberal observant Jewish home.Pfefferman, Naomi (18 September 2014). [https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/133506/jonathan-troppers-this-is-where-i-leave-you-finds-humor-during-shivah/ Jonathan Tropper’s ‘This is Where I Leave You’ finds humor during shivah] Jewish Journal. Retrieved on 19 April 2025 During his childhood he attended Camp Morasha, a co-ed Modern Orthodox sleepaway camp in the Poconos. He briefly studied in Israel when he was 18.(18 December 2009). [https://westchestermagazine.com/life-style/author-jonathan-tropper-profile/ Author Jonathan Topper Profile] Westchester Magazine. Retrieved on 20 April 2025

He studied English as an undergraduate at Yeshiva University and received a master's degree in creative writing at New York University,

Career

After university he spent eight years running a Manhattan-based company that manufactured displays for jewelry companies. He wrote at night and on weekends, ultimately publishing his first novel, Plan B, which attracted the attention of an agent, allowing him to leave his job and become a full-time writer. Five of Tropper's six books have been optioned at auction within a week of publication (The Book of Joe, How to Talk to a Widower, Everything Changes, One Last Thing Before I Go, and This Is Where I Leave You).

The themes of his books appear to stem from his personal experiences: they deal with topics such as being single, growing up, getting married, being married, getting divorced, and living in suburbia. Tropper's hometown of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York, is a main source of inspiration when creating the characters and settings in his books.{{cite web| last=Muchnick| first=Jeanne| url=http://www.westchestermagazine.com/Westchester-Magazine/January-2010/The-Author-Next-Door/| title=Tropper Uses New Rochelle as His Muse| publisher=Westchester Magazine| date=January 2010}}

How to Talk to a Widower was a 2007 selection for The Richard and Judy Show in the United Kingdom. Everything Changes was a Booksense selection. Three of Tropper's books are currently being adapted into movies. Tropper co-wrote the film adaptation of The Book of Joe with Ed Burns, who will direct.{{cite web| last=Steigrad| first=Alexandra| title=Ed Burns' Indy Streak| url=http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/ed-burns-indy-streak-5888180| website=Wwd.com| date=May 2, 2012| accessdate=February 22, 2013}} This Is Where I Leave You was published in August 2009 and was made into the 2014 film of the same name.{{cite web| last=Lussier| first=Germain| title=All-Star Cast Joins Adam Shankman's 'This Is Where I Leave You'| publisher=Film| url=https://www.slashfilm.com/allstar-cast-joins-adam-shankmans-this-leave-you/| date=May 29, 2012| accessdate=February 22, 2013}} Tropper's most recent novel, One Last Thing Before I Go, was published in August 2012. The novel was optioned by Paramount Pictures for J. J. Abrams.

Tropper co-created the television series Banshee with David Schickler. The show aired on Cinemax; Tropper served as an executive producer on the show.

In October 2017, it was announced that his series Warrior, based on Bruce Lee's original idea and set against the Tong Wars of 19th century San Francisco, received a straight-to-series order at Cinemax. The series debuted on Cinemax in April 2019 to critical acclaim.{{Cite web|last=Nguyen|first=Hanh|date=2019-04-05|title='Warrior' Review: Bruce Lee's Vision of Chinese in the Old West Comes to Rowdy, Violent Life on Cinemax|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/warrior-review-bruce-lee-cinemax-1202056366/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=IndieWire|language=en}} Tropper served as showrunner and executive producer. Justin Lin, director of multiple Fast and Furious films and Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, served as executive producers.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/warrior-cinemax-cast-director-bruce-lee-inspired-martial-arts-series-1202185298/|title='Warrior': Cinemax Sets Cast & Director For Bruce Lee-Inspired Martial Arts Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2017-10-11|work=Deadline|access-date=2017-10-20|language=en-US}}

In 2020, Tropper took over as showrunner and executive producer of the Apple TV+ science fiction series See (2019–2022), starring Jason Momoa, Alfre Woodard, and Dave Bautista.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2020-01-13|title='See': Dave Bautista Joins Season 2 Of Apple Drama Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/see-dave-bautista-cast-season-2-apple-drama-series-jason-momoa-1202827233/|access-date=2020-06-09|website=Deadline|language=en}}

Personal life

Tropper was previously married to Elizabeth Parker, with whom he has three children.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/nyregion/westchester/05writerwe.html?_r=0|title=Writing as Vicarious Experience|first=Tammy |last=La Gorce|work=The New York Times |date=3 October 2008 |accessdate=2 November 2018}}Shapiro, Laurie Gwen (23 August 2012).[https://forward.com/culture/161493/jonathan-tropper-never-gave-up-on-dream/ Jonathan Tropper Never Gave Up on Dream] The Forward. Retrieved on 19 April 2025 In 2016, he remarried Stephanie Abram, with whom he has one child.

Films

Tropper wrote the screenplay for the 2014 film adaptation of his novel This is Where I Leave You. Shawn Levy directed, and the film co-starred Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver and Jane Fonda. Tropper later produced and wrote the screenplay for Kodachrome (2017), starring Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews,{{Cite news|last=Kenigsberg|first=Ben|date=2018-04-19|title=Review: 'Kodachrome,' an Ode to Color Film, Now Streaming Near You|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/19/movies/kodachrome-review.html|access-date=2020-06-09|issn=0362-4331}} and was acquired by Netflix.{{Cite web|title=Toronto: Netflix Acquires Elizabeth Olsen-Starrer 'Kodachrome'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kodachrome-netflix-deal-tiff-2017-1036787|access-date=2020-06-09|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=11 September 2017 |language=en}}

Tropper wrote the screenplay for The Adam Project, a science-fiction thriller starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Shawn Levy.{{Cite web|title=Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy Reteam for Time-Travel Adventure Movie From Skydance (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ryan-reynolds-shawn-levy-reteam-time-travel-movie-1291613|access-date=2020-06-09|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 April 2020 |language=en}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Title

!width=65| Writer

!width=65| Producer

2014

| This Is Where I Leave You

| {{yes}}

| {{yes|Executive}}

2017

| Kodachrome

| {{yes}}

2018

| Irreplaceable You

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

2022

| The Adam Project

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2027

| Star Wars: Starfighter

|{{yes}}

|{{no}}

TBA

| The Wrecking Crew

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

TBA

| Matchbox

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

= Television =

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Title

! width="65" | Creator

! Showrunner

! width="65" | Director

! width="65" | Writer

! width="65" | Executive
Producer

! Notes

2013–2014

| scope="row" |Banshee Origins

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

2013–2016

| Banshee

| {{yes}}

| Directed episode "Only One Way a Dogfight Ends";
Wrote 17 episodes

2017

|Vinyl

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Episode: "Whispered Secrets"

2019–2022

|See

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| Wrote 7 episodes

2019–2023

| Warrior

| {{yes}}

| Directed episode "Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard";
Wrote 8 episodes

2025–present

|Your Friends and Neighbors

| {{yes}}

| Series creator, wrote four episodes

Bibliography

2000 – Plan B ({{ISBN|978-0312272760}})
2004 – The Book of Joe ({{ISBN|978-0385338103}})
2005 – Everything Changes ({{ISBN|978-0385337427}})
2007 – How to Talk to a Widower ({{ISBN|978-0385338912}})
2009 – This Is Where I Leave You ({{ISBN|978-0525951278}})
2012 – One Last Thing Before I Go ({{ISBN|978-0525952367}})

References

External links

{{IMDb name|2267086}}
[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/books/13maslin.html?ref=books/ New York Times book review, This Is Where I Leave You ]
[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/books/excerpt-this-is-where-i-leave-you.html?ref=books/ New York Times, excerpt from This Is Where I Leave You]

Category:1970 births

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:American male novelists

Category:Living people

Category:Writers from New Rochelle, New York

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:Jewish American screenwriters

Category:New York University alumni

Category:20th-century American novelists

Category:Jewish American novelists