Simon Rich

Rich was born and raised in New York City. His parents are writers. His family is Jewish but they were not religious when he was growing up.{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Tami Kamin |date=November 4, 2019 |title=Jewish writer Simon Rich wins Thurber Prize for American Humor |url=https://www.columbusjewishnews.com/news/local_news/jewish-writer-simon-rich-wins-thurber-prize-for-american-humor/article_c68fc864-ff2d-11e9-aff2-83f2014f427d.html |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Columbus Jewish News |language=en}} His mother is Gail Winston while his father is columnist Frank Rich. His older brother is novelist Nathaniel Rich. His step-mother, Alex Witchel, is a reporter for The New York Times.{{Cite news |last=Nance |first=Kevin |title=Simon Rich on Spoiled Brats |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-spoiled-brats-simon-rich-20141024-story.html |date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630165330/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-spoiled-brats-simon-rich-20141024-story.html |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |url-status=dead}}

Rich attended The Town School and the Dalton School. After graduating, he enrolled at Harvard University, where he became president of the Harvard Lampoon. He was classmates with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.{{Cite episode |title=Kristin Chenoweth/Tim Robinson/Simon Rich/Taku Hirano|series=Late Night with Seth Meyers|network=NBC |date=July 20, 2021 |season=8}}

After graduating from Harvard, Rich wrote for Saturday Night Live for four years (2007-2011).{{cite web|last=Gamerman|first=Ellen|work=Wall Street Journal|title=A Hamster’s Take on His Bratty Owner

|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/spoiled-brats-writer-simon-rich-on-his-inability-to-learn-from-success-1415031020|date=November 3, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2024}} The staff was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy/Variety Series in 2009 and 2010. Rich departed to work as a staff writer for Pixar. In 2013 and 2014, Rich was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list.{{cite web|work=Forbes |title=30 under 30: Entertainment – Simon Rich |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45edfge/simon-rich/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110041002/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45edfge/simon-rich/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2013 |access-date=September 17, 2024}}

Rich has had pieces published in McSweeney's, The Believer,{{cite magazine|last=Rich |first=Simon |url=http://www.believermag.com/issues/201206/?read=interview_rich|title=Simon Rich in conversation with Simon Rich |date=June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216065158/http://www.believermag.com/issues/201206/?read=interview_rich |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |magazine=The Believer |url-status=dead}} GQ,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhdVsTwq43MC&pg=PT1|title=Elliot Allagash|last1=Rich|first1=Simon|date=August 5, 2010|isbn=978-1847653147}} The Observer magazine,{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/series/rich-pickings|title=Rich pickings – Simon Rich's weekly humour column for the Observer Magazine|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2018}} Mad magazine,{{cite web|url=http://www.madmagazine.com/tags/simon-rich|title=Simon Rich|work=Mad|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203214648/http://www.madmagazine.com/tags/simon-rich |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |url-status=dead}} Vanity Fair,{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/contributor/simon-rich|title=Simon Rich|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306084914/http://www.vanityfair.com/contributor/simon-rich |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |url-status=live}} UK Glamour, Italian GQ, Italian Granta,{{cite web|url=http://www.grantaitalia.it/author/simon-rich/|title=Simon Rich|work=Granta Italia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425045642/http://www.grantaitalia.it/author/simon-rich/ |archive-date=April 25, 2016 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |url-status=dead}} NPR.com,{{Cite news|last=Rich |first=Simon |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/22/144123663/have-pacifier-will-travel-babies-on-board|title=One Airplane And Two Brawling, Bawling Babies|publisher=NPR|date=December 22, 2011 |access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en}} NPR's "Selected Shorts,"{{cite web|last=Rich |first=Simon |url=http://www.wnyc.org/story/selected-shorts-love-songs/|title= Selected Shorts: Love Songs? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404195619/http://www.wnyc.org/story/selected-shorts-love-songs/|archive-date=April 4, 2014|publisher=WNYC |url-status=dead|date=October 11, 2013 |access-date=June 23, 2014}} and The Barcelona Review,{{Cite web|last=Rich |first=Simon|url=http://www.barcelonareview.com/78/e_sr.html|title=Scared Straight|website=The Barcelona Review|access-date=August 1, 2018}} among other publications.

His writing has also been selected for numerous anthologies including The Best of McSweeney's,{{cite web|url=https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/the-best-of-mcsweeneys-1|title=The Best of McSweeney's|work=McSweeney's |access-date=September 17, 2024}} and I Found This Funny, edited by Judd Apatow.{{cite web|url=https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/i-found-this-funny|title=I Found This Funny|work=McSweeney's|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105194343/https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/i-found-this-funny|archivedate=November 5, 2013|url-status=dead |access-date=September 17, 2024}}

In 2013, Sony Pictures acquired the film rights to Rich's four-part novella Sell Out, which was originally published by The New Yorker that same year.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/sell-out-part-one|title=Sell Out: Part One|last=Rich|first=Simon|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en|date=January 28, 2013|access-date=January 31, 2020}}

Rich wrote the screenplay for the film An American Pickle, which premiered in 2020. Seth Rogen starred in the dual lead roles and served as producer.{{Cite news|last=Sneider |first=Jeff |url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/seth-rogen-and-evan-goldberg-sell-out-sony-exclusive-94386/|title=Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to Sell Out for Sony (Exclusive)|date=May 29, 2013|work=TheWrap|access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308122419/https://www.thewrap.com/seth-rogen-and-evan-goldberg-sell-out-sony-exclusive-94386/|archive-date=March 8, 2023|url-status=dead}}

Rich is slated to write the script based on the illustrated book Unicorn Executions, to be produced by Universal Studios.{{Cite news|last=Ford |first=Rebecca|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-wins-bidding-war-unicorn-663533|title=Universal Wins Bidding War for Unicorn Executions (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 6, 2013|access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en}}

As an undergraduate at Harvard University in 2007, Rich received a two-book contract from Random House.{{cite web|last=Seward |first=Zachary M. |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518038|title=Rich '06–'07 Scores a Home Run in Debut | website=The Harvard Crimson |date=April 6, 2007 | access-date = August 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010051803/http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=518038|archive-date=October 10, 2007|url-status=dead}} His first book, a collection of short humor pieces entitled Ant Farm: And Other Desperate Situations, was published in 2007 and was nominated for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. His second collection, Free Range Chickens, was published in 2008.

Rich released his third collection of stories, The Last Girlfriend on Earth, in 2013. Reception was favorable, with The Washington Post praising the book as "hilarious," declaring, "it just might be the best one-night stand you'll ever have."{{cite news|last=Wilwol |first=John |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-last-girlfriend-on-earth-by-simon-rich/2013/02/05/0e0bd5c6-6cb8-11e2-8740-9b58f43c191a_story.html|title=The Last Girlfriend on Earth, by Simon Rich|date=February 5, 2013|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 17, 2024}}

The Last Girlfriend on Earth was given a pilot order by FX within a week of its publishing as Man Seeking Woman.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=June 19, 2013 |title=FX Greenlights Comedy Pilot From Simon Rich & Broadway Video |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/fx-greenlights-comedy-pilot-from-simon-rich-broadway-video-524367/ |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} The show was officially ordered by FXX with the leading cast of Jay Baruchel, Eric Andre, Britt Lower and Maya Erskine, with Rich as show-runner and executive producer, making him one of the youngest creators in TV history.{{Cite web|date=July 2, 2014 |title=FXX Orders Jay Baruchel Starrer Man Seeking Woman |url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/fxx-man-seeking-woman-episodes-jay-baruchel-798944/ |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} The show was produced by Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video and ran on FXX for three seasons.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=April 4, 2017 |title=Man Seeking Woman Canceled By FXX After 3 Seasons |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/man-seeking-woman-canceled-fx-3-seasons-1202061592/ |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Rich's fourth story collection, Spoiled Brats, was published in 2014. The Guardian described it as "simply the funniest book of the year," adding, "there are sometimes three laugh-out-loud moments within the same paragraph."{{cite web|last=Haig |first=Matt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/aug/20/spoiled-brats-simon-rich-review-funniest-book-year|title=Spoiled Brats by Simon Rich review – the funniest book of the year?|date=August 20, 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=September 17, 2024}} The Evening Standard also praised the book, calling Rich "a Thurber, even a Wodehouse, for today. Who could ask for more? You can give his books to people and just watch them laugh."{{Cite news|last=Sexton |first=David |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/books/rich-pickings-that-will-make-you-laugh-out-loud-9654651.html|title=Rich pickings that will make you laugh out loud|work=Evening Standard|date=August 7, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en-GB}}

A fifth collection, Hits and Misses, was published in July 2018. NPR said that "with this book, Rich has come into his own as one of the most talented writers of comedic fiction working today."{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/07/24/628874553/hits-and-misses-doesnt-miss-a-beat|title=Hits And Misses Doesn't Miss a Beat|last=Schaub|first=Michael|date=July 24, 2018|publisher=NPR|access-date=August 14, 2018|language=en}} In 2019, Rich won the Thurber Prize for American Humor for Hits and Misses.{{cite web |title=2019 Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner |url=https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winner |website=Thurber House |access-date=November 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104075421/https://www.thurberhouse.org/thurber-prize-winner |archive-date=January 4, 2020 |url-status=dead}}

Rich's sixth story collection, New Teeth, was published in July 2021.{{cite web |title=New Teeth by Simon Rich |url=https://www.littlebrown.com/titles/simon-rich/new-teeth/9780316536684/ |website=Little, Brown and Company |year=2020 |access-date=November 16, 2021}}

His seventh short story collection, Glory Days, was published in July 2024.

Rich's third book and first novel, Elliot Allagash, was released in May 2010.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/books/review/DeHaven-t.html?ref=review|title=Mean Boys| work=The New York Times| access-date = June 1, 2010 | date=May 20, 2010 | first=Tom | last=De Haven}} In June that year, Jason Reitman optioned the movie rights to the novel.{{cite news| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jason-reitman-books-rights-allagash-24889 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Borys | last=Kit | title=Jason Reitman books rights to Allagash | date=October 14, 2010|access-date=September 17, 2024}}

In 2012, Rich published his second novel, What in God's Name, which The New York Times Book Review compared to Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/books/review/what-in-gods-name-by-simon-rich.html|title=What in God's Name, by Simon Rich|last=Cassels|first=Patrick|work=The New York Times |date=August 3, 2012 |access-date=August 1, 2018|language=en}} In 2019, the novel was adapted for the first season of the TV series Miracle Workers. The same year, Back Bay Books reissued the novel under the title Miracle Workers. Subsequently, Rich's short story "Revolution" inspired the second season of the series.

Rich's first play, All In: Comedy About Love by Simon Rich, which is based on some of his short stories, was set to premiere on Broadway on December 11, 2024. Scheduled for a 10-week run at the Hudson Theatre, the production features a rotating cast of four performers at a time, which initially included John Mulaney, Fred Armisen, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Richard Kind for the first five weeks of performances,{{cite web |last1=Culwell-Block |first1=Logan |title=John Mulaney, Renée Elise Goldsberry, More Are Bringing Short Stories by Simon Rich to Broadway |url=https://playbill.com/article/john-mulaney-renee-elise-goldsberry-more-are-bringing-short-stories-by-simon-rich-to-broadway |website=Playbill |access-date=September 17, 2024 |date=September 9, 2024}} and Lin-Manuel Miranda, Chloe Fineman, Andrew Rannells, Aidy Bryant, Sam Richardson and others in subsequent weeks.{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title=Lin-Manuel Miranda Returning to Broadway in ‘All In: Comedy About Love’ |url=https://variety.com/2024/legit/news/lin-manuel-miranda-broadway-all-in-comedy-about-love-1236153446/ |publisher=Variety |access-date=23 September 2024}}

Simon Rich has called Woody Allen his hero, specifically citing his short-story collections as major influences. He has also cited Roald Dahl and Mel Brooks as influences.{{cite web|url= https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/a-wealth-of-humor-from-simon-rich/|title= A wealth of humor from Simon Rich|website= JewishStandard|accessdate= January 6, 2025}}{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/09/simon-rich-author-spoiled-brats-interview-short-stories|title= Simon Rich: 'Art? It's for Maniacs'|website= The Guardian|accessdate= January 6, 2025}}

Rich lives in Los Angeles with his wife, author Kathleen Hale.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/26/books/review/simon-rich-by-the-book.html|title=Simon Rich: By the Book| work=The New York Times| access-date = February 12, 2019 | date=July 26, 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://believermag.com/contributor/kathleen-hale/|title=Kathleen Hale |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510184122/https://believermag.com/contributor/kathleen-hale/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |magazine=The Believer |url-status=dead}} They have two daughters.

Regarding his religious beliefs, he previously called himself an atheist. However, in a 2019 interview, he said, "To call yourself an atheist means you are certain about something, and I am not sure about anything."

{{Incomplete list|date=July 2022}}{{bots|deny=Citation bot}}

• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Elliot Allagash |location=New York |publisher=Random House |date=2010}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=What in God's Name |date=2012 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York|author-mask=1}} (Reissued in 2019 under the title Miracle Workers)

;Collections

• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Ant Farm: And Other Desperate Situations |location=New York |publisher=Random House |date=2007}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Free Range Chickens |date=2008 |publisher=Random House |location=New York|author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=The Last Girlfriend on Earth: And Other Love Stories |date=2013 |publisher=Reagan Arthur Books |location=New York|author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Spoiled Brats |date=2014 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York|author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Hits & Misses: Stories |date=2018 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York|author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=New Teeth: Stories |date=2021 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York|author-mask=1}}
• {{cite book |ref=none |title=Glory Days: Stories |date=2024 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York|author-mask=1}}

• {{cite magazine |ref=none |date=May 24, 2010 |title=Your new college graduate : a parents' guide |department=Shouts & Murmurs |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=86 |issue=14 |pages=33 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/05/24/your-new-college-graduate-a-parents-guide }}
• {{cite magazine |ref=none |date=May 2, 2022 |title=Mario |department=Shouts & Murmurs |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=98 |issue=10 |pages=26–29 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/25/mario-not-so-super-at-forty }}Title in the online table of contents is "Mario, not so super at forty".
• {{cite magazine |ref=none |date=September 5, 2022 |title=History report |department=Shouts & Murmurs |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=98 |issue=27 |pages=21–23 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/05/when-i-was-a-boy-back-before-earth-got-too-hot-to-live-on }}Title in the online table of contents is "When I was a boy, back before Earth got too hot to live on ...".

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;Notes

{{reflist|30em|group=lower-alpha}}

{{reflist|25em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/simon-rich Work by Rich] in The New Yorker
• [http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/2007/11/podcast-simon-rich-author-of-ant-farm.html Interview with and readings by Rich] on The Sound of Young America public-radio program

{{Authority control}}

{{Thurber Prize for American Humor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rich, Simon}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

Category:American male novelists

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American male television writers

Category:American people of Jewish descent

Category:American television writers

Category:Dalton School alumni

Category:The Harvard Lampoon alumni

Category:Jewish American comedians

Category:Jewish male comedians

Category:Jewish American novelists

Category:Jewish American screenwriters

Category:The New Yorker people

Category:Novelists from New York (state)

Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)

Category:Comedians from New York City