Vince Gilligan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vince Gilligan
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Gilligan in July 2018
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George Vincent Gilligan Jr.
February 10, 1967 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
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| Alma mater | New York University (BFA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse(s) | Holly Rice |
| Awards | Full list |
George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American screenwriter and filmmaker. He is famous for creating, writing, and producing popular TV shows.
He is best known for the TV series Breaking Bad (2008–2013) and its spin-off show Better Call Saul (2015–2022). He also wrote and directed El Camino (2019), a movie that continued the Breaking Bad story.
Before these shows, Gilligan worked on the science fiction series The X-Files (1993–2002). He also helped create its spin-off, The Lone Gunmen (2001). He has won many awards for his work, including four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
George Vincent Gilligan Jr. was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 10, 1967. His mother, Gail, was a teacher, and his father, George Sr., worked with insurance. His parents divorced in 1974.
Vince and his younger brother, Patrick, grew up in Farmville and Chesterfield County, Virginia. They went to J.P. Wynne Campus School, where their mother taught. Gilligan later used the name J.P. Wynne for the fictional high school in Breaking Bad.
Discovering a Love for Film
Gilligan became best friends with Angus Wall, who later became a film editor. Vince's interest in movies started when Angus's mother, Jackie, lent him her Super 8 film cameras. He used the camera to make science fiction films with his brother Patrick. One of his first films was called Space Wreck.
A year later, he won first prize in a film competition at the University of Virginia. Jackie encouraged both Vince and Angus to work in the arts. Gilligan said she was a "wonderful lady and a real inspiration."
Early Talents and Education
Vince was recognized for his creativity from a young age. His father described him as a "studious-type young man" with a "vivid imagination." His father also introduced him to classic movies.
Gilligan won a scholarship to attend the Interlochen Center for the Arts. After eighth grade, he went to Lloyd C. Bird High School. In 1985, he graduated and then attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He earned a degree in film production.
While at NYU, he wrote the screenplay for Home Fries. He won the Virginia Governor's Screenwriting Award in 1989 for this script. A film producer named Mark Johnson was very impressed by Gilligan's writing.
Career Highlights
The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen
Gilligan got his big break when he joined the TV show The X-Files. He was a fan of the show and sent in a script. This script became an episode in the second season called "Soft Light."
He went on to write 29 more episodes for The X-Files. He also worked as a producer on many episodes. He helped create and produce The X-Files spin-off series, The Lone Gunmen. This show ran for one season with 13 episodes.
Breaking Bad and Its Universe
Gilligan created, wrote, and directed the drama series Breaking Bad for AMC. He wanted to make a show where the main character would change from a hero into a villain. He said his goal was to turn the character Walter White from a good person into a "Scarface"-like figure.
Breaking Bad was highly praised by critics and is considered one of the greatest TV dramas ever. Gilligan won many awards for his work on the series. He received four Writers Guild of America Awards and two Primetime Emmys for producing the show. In 2014, he won a Directors Guild of America Award for directing the final episode of Breaking Bad, "Felina."
Better Call Saul and El Camino
In 2013, a spin-off prequel series called Better Call Saul was announced. It focuses on the character Saul Goodman before he became Walter White's lawyer. Bob Odenkirk played the main role. Gilligan co-created the series with Breaking Bad writer Peter Gould. The first episode, which Gilligan directed, aired on February 8, 2015.
Gilligan also developed the script for El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie. This movie finished the story of Jesse Pinkman after the events of Breaking Bad. Gilligan directed and filmed the movie, which was released in October 2019.
The shows Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and El Camino are often called the "Gilliverse" by fans. Gilligan has stated that he does not plan to create any more stories related to Breaking Bad.
Other Television Projects
Battle Creek
In 2013, Gilligan worked with David Shore to create a new TV series called Battle Creek. The show was based on a script Gilligan wrote ten years earlier. It followed two police detectives working with an FBI agent. The series aired on CBS starting March 1, 2015, but it was not renewed for a second season.
Pluribus
After Better Call Saul ended, Gilligan began working on a new science fiction show called Pluribus. This show has been compared to The X-Files and The Twilight Zone. In September 2022, Apple TV+ ordered two seasons of the show. Rhea Seehorn, who was in Better Call Saul, will star in it.
Other Creative Work
Film Work
Gilligan's first screenplay to be produced was for the romantic comedy film Wilder Napalm in 1993. In 1998, his early screenplay Home Fries was made into a movie starring Drew Barrymore. He also helped rewrite the script for the 2008 film Hancock, which starred Will Smith.
Television Appearances
Gilligan made his acting debut in 2014 on the NBC comedy series Community. He played a cheesy actor hosting a fictional 1990s video game. He also appeared in Comedy Bang! Bang!, Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, American Dad!, and What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage.
Personal Life
Vince Gilligan has been in a relationship with Holly Rice since 1991. He referred to her as his wife in 2022. They do not have children.
Gilligan was raised Catholic but now identifies as an agnostic. He has said that he finds both strong religious beliefs and atheism difficult to fully understand.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Wilder Napalm | No | Yes | No | |
| 1998 | Home Fries | No | Yes | No | |
| 2008 | Hancock | No | Yes | No | Co-written with Vincent Ngo |
| 2019 | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Television
| Year | Title | Creator | Director | Writer | Executive producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–2002 | The X-Files | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also creative consultant, consulting producer, co-executive producer and co-producer |
| 1999–2000 | Harsh Realm | No | No | No | Consulting | |
| 2001 | The Lone Gunmen | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Co-created with Chris Carter, John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz |
| 2002 | Robbery Homicide Division | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2005 | The Night Stalker | No | No | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | A.M.P.E.D. | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Pilot Co-written with Frank Spotnitz |
| 2008–2013 | Breaking Bad | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2015–2022 | Better Call Saul | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-created with Peter Gould |
| 2015 | Battle Creek | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Co-created with David Shore |
| 2025 | Pluribus | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Upcoming series |
Television Episode Credits
| Year | Show | Season | Episode number | Episode title | Director | Writer | Original airdate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The X-Files | 2 | 23 | "Soft Light" | No | Yes | May 5, 1995 | |
| 1996 | 3 | 17 | "Pusher" | No | Yes | February 23, 1996 | ||
| 4 | 4 | "Unruhe" | No | Yes | October 27, 1996 | |||
| 10 | "Paper Hearts" | No | Yes | December 15, 1996 | ||||
| 1997 | 12 | "Leonard Betts" | No | Yes | January 26, 1997 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | ||
| 14 | "Memento Mori" | No | Yes | February 9, 1997 | Co-written with Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz and John Shiban | |||
| 20 | "Small Potatoes" | No | Yes | April 20, 1997 | ||||
| 5 | 3 | "Unusual Suspects" | No | Yes | November 16, 1997 | |||
| 6 | "Christmas Carol" | No | Yes | December 7, 1997 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 7 | "Emily" | No | Yes | December 14, 1997 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 1998 | 8 | "Kitsunegari" | No | Yes | January 4, 1998 | Co-written with Tim Minear | ||
| 12 | "Bad Blood" | No | Yes | February 22, 1998 | ||||
| 19 | "Folie a Deux" | No | Yes | May 10, 1998 | ||||
| 6 | 2 | "Drive" | No | Yes | November 15, 1998 | |||
| 4 | "Dreamland" | No | Yes | November 29, 1998 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 5 | "Dreamland II" | No | Yes | December 6, 1998 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 1999 | 10 | "Tithonus" | No | Yes | January 24, 1999 | |||
| 14 | "Monday" | No | Yes | February 28, 1999 | Co-written with John Shiban | |||
| 20 | "Three of a Kind" | No | Yes | May 2, 1999 | Co-written with John Shiban | |||
| 21 | "Field Trip" | No | Yes | May 9, 1999 | Teleplay co-written with John Shiban (story by Frank Spotnitz) | |||
| 7 | 3 | "Hungry" | No | Yes | November 21, 1999 | |||
| 4 | "Millennium" | No | Yes | November 28, 1999 | Co-written with Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 2000 | 8 | "The Amazing Maleeni" | No | Yes | January 16, 2000 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | ||
| 12 | "X-Cops" | No | Yes | February 20, 2000 | ||||
| 14 | "Theef" | No | Yes | March 12, 2000 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 21 | "Je Souhaite" | Yes | Yes | May 14, 2000 | ||||
| 8 | 4 | "Roadrunners" | No | Yes | November 26, 2000 | |||
| 2001 | The Lone Gunmen | 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | No | Yes | March 4, 2001 | Co-written with Chris Carter, John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz |
| 2 | "Bond, Jimmy Bond" | No | Yes | March 11, 2001 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 7 | "Planet of the Frohikes" | No | Yes | April 6, 2001 | ||||
| 8 | "Maximum Byers" | No | Yes | April 13, 2001 | Co-written with Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 12 | "The Cap'n Toby Show" | No | Yes | June 1, 2001 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 13 | "All About Yves" | No | Yes | May 11, 2001 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 2002 | The X-Files | 9 | 7 | "John Doe" | No | Yes | January 13, 2002 | |
| 15 | "Jump the Shark" | No | Yes | April 21, 2002 | Co-written with John Shiban and Frank Spotnitz | |||
| 18 | "Sunshine Days" | Yes | Yes | May 12, 2002 | ||||
| Robbery Homicide Division | 1 | 4 | "Free and Clear" | No | Yes | October 18, 2002 | ||
| 2005 | Night Stalker | 1 | 10 | "What's the Frequency, Kolchak?" | No | Yes | March 17, 2006 | |
| 2007 | A.M.P.E.D. | Pilot | No | Yes | Unaired | Co-written with Frank Spotnitz | ||
| 2008 | Breaking Bad | 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Yes | Yes | January 20, 2008 | |
| 2 | "Cat's in the Bag..." | No | Yes | January 27, 2008 | ||||
| 3 | "...And the Bag's in the River" | No | Yes | February 10, 2008 | ||||
| 4 | "Cancer Man" | No | Yes | February 17, 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | 2 | 6 | "Peekaboo" | No | Yes | April 12, 2009 | Co-written with J. Roberts | |
| 13 | "ABQ" | No | Yes | May 31, 2009 | ||||
| 2010 | 3 | 1 | "No Más" | No | Yes | March 21, 2010 | ||
| 13 | "Full Measure" | Yes | Yes | June 13, 2010 | ||||
| 2011 | 4 | 1 | "Box Cutter" | No | Yes | July 17, 2011 | ||
| 12 | "End Times" | Yes | No | October 2, 2011 | ||||
| 13 | "Face Off" | Yes | Yes | October 9, 2011 | ||||
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | "Live Free or Die" | No | Yes | July 15, 2012 | ||
| 2 | "Madrigal" | No | Yes | July 22, 2012 | ||||
| 2013 | 16 | "Felina" | Yes | Yes | September 29, 2013 | |||
| 2015 | Battle Creek | 1 | 1 | "The Battle Creek Way" | No | Yes | March 1, 2015 | Co-written with David Shore |
| Better Call Saul | 1 | 1 | "Uno" | Yes | Yes | February 8, 2015 | Co-written with Peter Gould | |
| 2016 | 2 | 10 | "Klick" | Yes | Yes | April 18, 2016 | Co-written with Heather Marion | |
| 2017 | 3 | 1 | "Mabel" | Yes | Yes | April 10, 2017 | Co-written with Peter Gould | |
| 2 | "Witness" | Yes | No | April 17, 2017 | ||||
| 2018 | 4 | 9 | "Wiedersehen" | Yes | No | October 1, 2018 | ||
| 2020 | 5 | 8 | "Bagman" | Yes | No | April 6, 2020 | ||
| 2022 | 6 | 2 | "Carrot and Stick" | Yes | No | April 18, 2022 | ||
| 8 | "Point and Shoot" | Yes | No | July 11, 2022 | ||||
| 12 | "Waterworks" | Yes | Yes | August 8, 2022 | ||||
| 2025 | Pluribus | 1 | 1 | TBA | Yes | Yes | November 7, 2025 | |
| 2 | TBA | Yes | Yes | |||||
Acting Roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Community | Devon / Pile of Bullets' Host | Episode: "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing" |
| 2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | The Commissioner | Episode: "Lil Jon Wears a Baseball Cap and Sunglasses" |
| 2017 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Axalon (voice) | Episode: "Mr. Rippen" |
| 2018 | American Dad! | Himself (voice) | Episode: "(You Gotta) Strike for Your Right" |
| 2019 | What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage | Himself | Episode: “Spoiler” |
Awards and Nominations
See also
In Spanish: Vince Gilligan para niños
- List of Primetime Emmy Award winners
- List of Golden Globe winners
