Paul Weitz Biography

Paul Weitz is the son of Oscar-nominated actress Susan Kohner and designer/writer John Weitz, and the grandson of agent/producer Paul Kohner and actress Lupita Tovar. He grew up in New York, and went on to graduate from Wesleyan University with a degree in filmmaking. During his final year, his play, Mango Tea, was produced off-Broadway starring Marisa Tomei and Rob Morrow. With his brother Chris as co-writer, Paul gained valuable experience doing rewrites and script doctoring for films such as Madeline (1998) before they co-wrote the animated flick Antz (1998), starring the voice of Woody Allen. The following year they made their directorial debut with their screenplay, American Pie (1999). The raunchy comedy was a box office success, earning more than US$100 million at the domestic box office, and spawned two sequels (which the Weitzes executive produced, but did not write or direct).

The brothers wrote the sequel Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), starring Eddie Murphy, and made their acting debut in the independent film Chuck & Buck (2000). They directed Chris Rock in a film they didn't pen called Down to Earth (2001), but the film was reviled by the majority of critics.

They had much more luck when they wrote and directed the critically-acclaimed About a Boy (2002), based on the novel by Nick Hornby and starring Hugh Grant. The brothers received their first Oscar nomination for their screenplay, as well as nominations from the BAFTA awards and the Writers Guild of America. The film was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, and won an award for Best Studio Comedy Feature from the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

On television, the Weitzes wrote and executive-produced the WB sitcom Off Center (2001 to 2003) and directed the Fox comedy series Cracking Up (2004). Paul went on to helm the 2012 drama Being Flynn starring Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore, before turning to television.'

From 2014 to 2018 he was busy creating, writing and directing the Prime Video original series Mozart in the Jungle, which won a Golden Globe in 2016 for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical.

He returned to the big screen with the indie drama Bel Canto (2018), starring Julianne Moore. Next up for Paul is the big screen drama Fatherhood (2021), starring Kevin Hart.

Paul lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Patricia.

Filmography: (director)

Fatherhood (2021)
Bel Canto (2018)
Grandma (2015)
Admission (2013)

Being Flynn (2012)
Little Fockers (2010)
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009)
American Dreamz (2006)
In Good Company (2005)
About a Boy (2002)
Down to Earth (2001)
American Pie (1999)