Paul Lieberstein facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Lieberstein
Lieberstein in 2008
Born	Paul Bevan Lieberstein (1967-02-22) February 22, 1967 (age 58) Westport, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation	Screenwriter director producer actor
Alma mater	Hamilton College (BA)
Genre	Situation comedy
Years active	1992–present
Spouse	Janine Serafin Poreba ​ (m. 2008)​
Relatives	Warren Lieberstein (brother) Susanne Daniels (sister) Greg Daniels (brother-in-law)

Paul Bevan Lieberstein is an American actor, writer, and director. He was born on February 22, 1967. He is famous for his work on the TV show The Office. On the show, he was a writer, an executive producer, and played the character Toby Flenderson. He also won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work.

Early Life and Education

Paul Lieberstein grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. His parents are Judith and Stanley Lieberstein. His family is Jewish.

He went to Conard High School. There, he wrote his first TV comedy show with friends. He also played the vibraphone in the school band. After high school, he attended Hamilton College. He studied economics and graduated in 1989. He once thought about becoming a financier.

After college, Lieberstein moved to New York City. His first job was as an auditor, which is someone who checks financial records. He worked there for six months. Then, he worked part-time at his father's law firm. He worked as little as possible so he could focus on his writing.

Paul Lieberstein's Career Journey

Paul Lieberstein and a writing partner found an agent and moved to Los Angeles. His first writing job was for the show Clarissa Explains It All. However, he was fired after one season when he and his writing partner stopped working together.

He then worked briefly on other TV shows like Weird Science and The Naked Truth. Later, his brother-in-law, Greg Daniels, asked him to join the team for King of the Hill. He also worked as a producer on The Drew Carey Show and The Newsroom.

In 2017, he became the main producer for the show Ghosted. In 2018, Lieberstein wrote and directed his first movie, Song of Back and Neck. This movie was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2020, he announced plans for a new TV comedy about office life during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project became the TV movie Out of Office.

Working on The Office

Paul Lieberstein joined The Office as a writer from the very beginning of the American version. Greg Daniels also asked him to act in the show. Daniels wanted some of the writers to understand what it was like to be in front of the camera. Lieberstein said he learned a lot about acting on The Office. He often found it challenging when Steve Carell would make up new lines during scenes.

In 2008, Variety magazine reported that Lieberstein would become one of the main executive producers for The Office. He was in charge of the show from season five to season eight.

In 2012, it was announced that Lieberstein would leave his role as the showrunner. He planned to focus on a new show about Rainn Wilson's character, Dwight Schrute. The new show was called The Farm. Lieberstein was going to be the showrunner for this new series. However, in October 2012, the TV network NBC decided not to make the show.

Paul Lieberstein's Family Life

Paul Lieberstein's sister, Susanne Daniels, used to be in charge of programming for YouTube Premium. She is married to writer and producer Greg Daniels. Paul's brother, Warren Lieberstein, was married to Paul's The Office co-star Angela Kinsey. Paul's cousin, Paul Faust, was the inspiration for the character "Cool Guy Paul" in The Office episode "Chair Model".

Paul Lieberstein married Janine Serafin Poreba on July 19, 2008. The wedding took place at a restaurant in New York City.

He has also been part of the advisory board for Young Storytellers. This group helps young people learn about arts education in Los Angeles.

Awards and Recognitions

Paul Lieberstein has won several awards for his work. His first Emmy Award was in 1999. He won it as a producer for "Outstanding Animated Program" for his work on King of the Hill.

His work on The Office brought him many more awards. In 2007, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Broadband Program – Comedy." This was for his work on The Office: Accountants webisodes.

As an actor, Lieberstein shared a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006. This award was for "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series." As a writer, he shared a Writers Guild of America Award for the series in 2006. He was also nominated for a WGA Award for the episode "The Coup". As a co-executive producer, he shared a 2006 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Comedy Series".

On May 22, 2011, Hamilton College gave Paul Lieberstein an honorary degree. It was a Doctorate of Fine Arts.

Filmography

Acting Roles

Directing, Producing, and Writing Work

See also

In Spanish: Paul Lieberstein para niños