Aaron Sorkin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aaron Sorkin
Sorkin in 2016
Born	Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (1961-06-09) June 9, 1961 (age 64) Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Film director screenwriter playwright
Alma mater	Syracuse University (BFA)
Years active	1984–present
Spouse	Julia Bingham ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2005)​
Children	1

Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9, 1961) is an American writer and director. He writes plays, movie scripts, and TV shows. Sorkin is famous for his fast-paced conversations and long speeches in his stories. He also often uses a special filming style called "walk and talk".

Sorkin has won many awards for his work. These include an Academy Award (Oscar), a BAFTA Award, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Golden Globes.

He became well-known for creating and writing TV series like Sports Night (1998–2000) and The West Wing (1999–2006). He also wrote plays for Broadway, such as A Few Good Men (1989) and To Kill a Mockingbird (2018).

Sorkin wrote the screenplays for movies like A Few Good Men (1992) and The American President (1995). He also wrote several movies about real people, including Charlie Wilson's War (2007) and Steve Jobs (2015). He won an Oscar for writing The Social Network (2010), which was about the start of Facebook.

Later, Sorkin started directing movies too. His first movie as a director was Molly's Game (2017). He then directed The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) and Being the Ricardos (2021).

Early Life and Education

Sorkin was born in Manhattan, New York City. He grew up in a town called Scarsdale. His parents often took him to see plays, which made him interested in acting from a young age.

He went to Scarsdale High School and was very involved in the drama club. He acted in school plays and was even vice president of the drama club. He graduated in 1979.

In 1979, Sorkin started college at Syracuse University. He wanted to be an actor. His theater teacher, Arthur Storch, greatly influenced him. Storch encouraged Sorkin to always try his best. Sorkin graduated in 1983 with a degree in musical theater.

Starting His Career

After college, Sorkin moved to New York City. He tried to become an actor but found it hard to get steady jobs. He worked many different part-time jobs.

One day, he found a typewriter and started writing. He felt a great sense of joy and confidence. This experience made him realize he loved writing.

He wrote his first play, Removing All Doubt, in 1984. It was performed by drama students at his old university. His second play, Hidden in This Picture, was shown in New York City in 1988. These plays helped him get a theatrical agent.

A Few Good Men

Sorkin got the idea for his next play, A Few Good Men, from his sister. She was a lawyer in the U.S. Navy. She told him about a case where some Marines were accused of hurting a fellow Marine during a hazing incident.

Sorkin started writing the story on napkins while working as a bartender. He then typed his notes onto a computer. This became the basis for A Few Good Men.

In 1988, even before the play opened, Sorkin sold the movie rights for A Few Good Men. The play opened on Broadway in 1989 and was very popular. It ran for almost 500 performances.

The film version of A Few Good Men was released in 1992. It was directed by Rob Reiner and starred famous actors like Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. The movie was a huge success, earning over $243 million worldwide.

Writing for Movies

After A Few Good Men, Sorkin continued to write movie scripts. He worked with director Rob Reiner and learned a lot from screenwriter William Goldman.

He wrote the script for the thriller Malice (1993). He also wrote The American President (1995), a movie about a U.S. president. This film was praised by critics. His first three movies earned about $400 million together.

In the late 1990s, Sorkin also helped improve scripts for other movies. He added witty lines to films like The Rock (1996) and helped rewrite scenes for Enemy of the State (1998).

Television Work

Sports Night

Sorkin got the idea for his first TV series, Sports Night, by watching a sports news show late at night. He wanted to show what happens behind the scenes of a sports program. The show started on the ABC network in 1998.

Sports Night was praised by critics, but it didn't have many viewers. ABC canceled the show after two seasons.

The West Wing

In 1997, Sorkin thought of a political drama series about the White House staff. This idea came from his research for The American President movie. The show, called The West Wing, started in 1999 on NBC.

The West Wing became very popular and won many awards. It won nine Primetime Emmy Awards in its first season, which was a record at the time. Sorkin wrote almost every episode for the first four seasons. He saw his role as mainly a writer.

In 2003, after the fourth season, Sorkin left The West Wing due to some disagreements. He later made a small appearance in the show's final episode.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

In 2005, Sorkin returned to theater to revise his play A Few Good Men for a London production. He then developed a new TV series called Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. This show was about a late-night sketch comedy show, similar to Saturday Night Live.

Studio 60 aired on NBC in 2006. The first episode was well-received, but the show's viewership dropped. It was canceled after only one season.

The Farnsworth Invention

Sorkin also wrote a play called The Farnsworth Invention. This play is about Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of television, and his legal battle with David Sarnoff of RCA. The play opened on Broadway in 2007.

Back to Movies and The Newsroom

In 2007, Sorkin wrote the movie Charlie Wilson's War. It was about a real-life congressman who helped fund a secret war in Afghanistan. The film starred Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

The Social Network

In 2008, Sorkin agreed to write a movie about the beginning of Facebook. This film, The Social Network, was released in 2010. It was a big success with both critics and audiences. Sorkin won an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for his screenplay.

Moneyball and The Newsroom

A year later, Sorkin was nominated for more awards for co-writing Moneyball (2011). This movie was about a baseball team, the Oakland Athletics, and their general manager's unique way of building a competitive team.

Around this time, Sorkin also started thinking about a TV drama about a cable news program. He spent time watching news shows and talking to their staff to research. He wanted to show news reporters trying to do good work despite challenges.

This led to the HBO series The Newsroom, which premiered in 2012. The show was set in the recent past and covered real-world news events. It ran for three seasons.

Steve Jobs

In 2015, Sorkin wrote the screenplay for Steve Jobs, a movie about the co-founder of Apple. The film starred Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs. Sorkin won a Golden Globe for this screenplay.

Directing Films and More Broadway Work

To Kill a Mockingbird

In 2016, it was announced that Sorkin would adapt Harper Lee's famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird for the stage. The play opened on Broadway in 2018 and received good reviews. It was also performed in London and went on a national tour.

Directing Movies

Sorkin made his debut as a film director with Molly's Game (2017). He also wrote the script for this movie, which was based on a real person's memoir. The film received mostly positive reviews.

He then wrote and directed The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020). This movie was about a group of people who were put on trial after protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Sorkin won a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for this film.

His next film as a director was Being the Ricardos (2021). This movie focused on the marriage of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the stars of the classic TV show I Love Lucy.

Camelot

In 2023, Sorkin worked on a revised version of the classic musical Camelot for a Broadway revival.

Writing Style

Sorkin is known for his unique writing style. He often uses very fast-paced conversations and long, powerful speeches. His frequent collaborator, director Thomas Schlamme, often uses a filming technique called "walk and talk". This involves long shots where characters talk while moving through a scene, with no cuts.

Sorkin's scripts are praised for being smart and full of memorable lines. He often includes witty banter and references to popular culture in his TV shows.

Personal Life

Aaron Sorkin married Julia Bingham in 1996, and they divorced in 2005. They have one daughter, Roxy.

Sorkin supports the Democratic Party. He has contributed to political campaigns. In 2008, he participated in an event for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. However, he says he is not a political activist and mainly supports causes by writing checks.

In 2022, Sorkin had a stroke. He said it was a "wake-up call" to improve his health. As a result, he quit smoking, changed his diet, and started exercising daily.

Filmography

Film

Acting roles

Television

Acting roles

Plays

Playwright

Awards and Nominations

Sorkin has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars) for these films:

• 83rd Academy Awards: Won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Social Network (2010).
• 84th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Moneyball (2011).
• 90th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Molly's Game (2017).
• 93rd Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Original Screenplay for The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020).

He has been nominated for ten Golden Globe Awards, winning three for Best Screenplay for: The Social Network (2011), Steve Jobs (2015), and The Trial of the Chicago Seven (2020). He has also received five British Academy Film Awards nominations, winning one for The Social Network (2010). He has also received fourteen Writers Guild of America Award nominations, winning twice for The West Wing and The Social Network (2010). He has received seven Critics' Choice Movie Awards nominations, winning consecutively for Best Screenplay for The Social Network and Moneyball.

For his television work, Sorkin has received nine Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He won four awards for Outstanding Drama Series for The West Wing in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. He also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for The West Wing episode: "In Excelsis Deo" in 2000.

Images for kids

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  A Few Good Men at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket on August 31, 2005.

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  Sorkin discussing The Farnsworth Invention at the Music Box Theatre, November 2007.

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  Sorkin interviewed William Goldman at the Screenwriting Expo, 2008.

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  Sorkin at a Generation Obama event, following a screening of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 2008.

See Also

In Spanish: Aaron Sorkin para niños