J. J. Abrams facts for kids

Quick facts for kids J. J. Abrams
Abrams in 2015
Born	Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (1966-06-27) June 27, 1966 (age 59) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Sarah Lawrence College
Occupation	Film director film producer screenwriter composer
Years active	1982–present
Spouse(s)	Katie McGrath ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	3, including Gracie
Parent(s)	Gerald W. Abrams Carol Ann Kelvin

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (born June 27, 1966) is an American filmmaker and composer. He is well-known for his exciting work in action, drama, and science fiction movies and TV shows. Abrams has written and produced many popular films. These include Regarding Henry (1991), Forever Young (1992), Armageddon (1998), and Cloverfield (2008). He also worked on Star Trek (2009) and the Star Wars sequel movies The Force Awakens (2015) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). His films have earned over $4 billion worldwide. This makes him one of the highest-grossing film directors ever.

Abrams has also created many TV series. Some of these are Felicity (1998–2002), Alias (2001–2006), Lost (2004–2010), and Fringe (2008–2013). He won two Emmy Awards for Lost. These awards were for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series.

His work as a film director includes Mission: Impossible III (2006), Star Trek (2009), Super 8 (2011), and Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). He also directed, produced, and co-wrote The Force Awakens. This was the seventh movie in the Star Wars Skywalker Saga. It was also the first film in the sequel trilogy. The Force Awakens is his highest-grossing film. It is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. He returned to Star Wars as an executive producer for The Last Jedi (2017). He also directed, produced, and co-wrote The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Abrams often works with the same people. These include producer Bryan Burk, producer/directors Damon Lindelof and Tommy Gormley, and actors Greg Grunberg and Keri Russell. He also works with composers Michael Giacchino and John Williams, and writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

Early Life and Education

J. J. Abrams was born on June 27, 1966, in New York City. His father, Gerald W. Abrams, was a TV producer. His mother, Carol Ann Abrams, was a TV executive producer, author, and law academic. His sister, Tracy Rosen, is a screenwriter.

His family moved to Los Angeles by 1971. Abrams went to Palisades Charter High School. After high school, he decided to go to Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Abrams's Film Career

Starting in Movies

Abrams's first job in movies was at age 16. He wrote music for the 1982 horror film Nightbeast. While in college, he wrote a movie idea with Jill Mazursky. This idea became Taking Care of Business, his first movie to be made. It starred Charles Grodin and James Belushi.

He then wrote Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford. He also wrote Forever Young, starring Mel Gibson. In 1997, he co-wrote the comedy Gone Fishin'.

In 1994, Abrams was part of a group called "Propellerheads." They worked with computer animation. Abrams also helped write the screenplay for the 1998 film Armageddon. That same year, he started working in television with Felicity. He co-created and produced this show. He also wrote its opening theme music.

Big Successes in the 2000s

Abrams at the 2010 Time 100 Gala in Manhattan

In 2001, Abrams started his own company, Bad Robot. With this company, he created and produced the TV show Alias. He also co-created and produced Lost. Abrams wrote the theme music for both Alias and Lost. He directed the first two parts of the Lost pilot episode.

In 2001, Abrams also co-wrote and produced the horror movie Joy Ride. In 2006, he directed his first feature film, Mission: Impossible III, starring Tom Cruise.

In 2008, Abrams produced the monster movie Cloverfield. In 2009, he directed the science fiction film Star Trek. He also co-created and produced the TV series Fringe for FOX. He wrote the theme music for Fringe too.

Movies and Shows in the 2010s

Abrams speaking at San Diego Comic-Con in mid-2010

Abrams wrote and directed the science fiction thriller Super 8. He also produced it with Steven Spielberg. The movie came out on June 10, 2011.

Abrams directed the sequel to Star Trek, called Star Trek Into Darkness, which was released in May 2013. Critics generally liked the film.

On January 25, 2013, Disney and Lucasfilm announced that Abrams would direct and produce Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This was the seventh movie in the Star Wars series. Abrams directed, produced, and co-wrote the screenplay for The Force Awakens. It opened in theaters on December 18, 2015. The film was very successful at the box office and received good reviews.

Abrams also produced Star Trek Beyond, released in 2016. In 2018, he produced The Cloverfield Paradox and Overlord. He also produced the fourth, fifth, and sixth Mission: Impossible films.

In September 2017, Abrams returned to direct and co-write Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The film was released in December 2019.

Recent Work in the 2020s

In September 2019, Abrams and his company, Bad Robot, signed a big deal with WarnerMedia. This deal included projects for HBO and Warner Bros. Pictures. In April 2020, it was announced that Abrams would develop three new shows for HBO Max. These were Duster, Overlook, and Justice League Dark. Duster was released in 2025.

Abrams was one of the producers for an animated short film called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. It was shown on BBC One at Christmas 2022.

Abrams also served as executive producer and co-creator for a new Batman animated series called Batman: Caped Crusader. The first eleven episodes premiered on August 1, 2024.

On May 8, 2024, it was announced that Abrams would write and direct a new untitled film. Glen Powell was in early talks to star in the project. Bad Robot is the production company. The company's deal with Warner Bros. was extended in August 2024.

Future projects include Flowervale Street, a Hot Wheels film, and an animated film based on Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go!.

Bad Robot Production Company

Bad Robot's Santa Monica headquarters

In 2001, Abrams started his own production company called Bad Robot. It works with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. Bad Robot first focused on TV shows. Later, it started making movies. The first movie produced by Bad Robot was Joy Ride (2001).

Bad Robot is famous for shows like Lost. It also produced the Star Trek Kelvin timeline movies. Other well-known projects include the Mission: Impossible films and the Cloverfield franchise. Bad Robot also produced the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Other Creative Work

Video Games

A video game called Spyjinx was being developed by Abrams, Bad Robot, and Chair Entertainment. A test version was launched on April 2, 2020. The test ended a year later, and the game was not fully released.

Books and Comics

On October 29, 2013, a novel called S. was released. It was written by Doug Dorst based on an idea by Abrams.

In 2019, Abrams started writing for Marvel Comics. He co-authored the comic book series Spider-Man with his son, Henry. The first issue of the comic included the death of Mary Jane Watson. It then jumped forward twelve years in time. The main character of the series became Ben Parker, the son of Peter Parker and Mary Jane.

Personal Life

Abrams is married to Katie McGrath, who works in public relations. They have three children. His daughter, Gracie Abrams, is a pop singer-songwriter. The family lives in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. Abrams is Jewish, and his wife is Catholic. He sometimes takes his children to religious services on Jewish holidays.

Abrams is part of the Creative Council for Represent.Us. This is a group that works against corruption. He also serves on the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) Board of Governors. In September 2024, Abrams signed a letter with other Hollywood professionals. The letter asked California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign an AI safety bill.

Filmography

Film

Acting credits

Other roles

Television

Executive producer only

• What About Brian (2006–07)
• Six Degrees (2006–07)
• Believe (2014)
• 11.22.63 (2016) (Miniseries)
• Roadies (2016)
• Westworld (2016–2022)
• Castle Rock (2018–19)
• Little Voice (2020)
• Lovecraft Country (2020)
• Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
• Lisey's Story (2021) (Miniseries)
• UFO (2021)
• Presumed Innocent (2024)
• Batman: Caped Crusader (2024–present)

Acting credits

Theatre

Producer

• The Play That Goes Wrong (2017) (Broadway version)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: J. J. Abrams para niños