Biography
Playwright-turned-screenwriter Aaron Sorkin created some of the most intelligent, optimistic and entertaining television ever seen. Through verbal flourishes and idealistic characters who seemed to only fail from undying loyalty, Sorkin presented a fictional world that seemed at odds with his own harsh reality. But his unflinching onscreen idealism was made honest by the sheer density and scope of his writing, particularly on "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006), Sorkin's oft-awarded and highly-rated series about the inner workings of a White House populated by bright-eyed staffers and a charismatic president. Prior to that hugely successful show, Sorkin wrote a number of popular and critically acclaimed movies like "A Few Good Men" (1988), "Malice" (1993) and "The American President" (1995). He also created the popular half-hour series, "Sports Night" (ABC, 1998-2000) and the short-lived drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC, 2006-07). Following an adaptation of "Charlie Wilson's War" (2007), Sorkin reached the apex of his screenwriting career by winning an Oscar for his work on "The Social Network" (2010) and continued receiving critical acclaim for "Moneyball" (2011) and "Steve Jobs" (2015), though his cable drama "The Newsroom" (HBO 2012-14) received more mixed reviews. After decades as a top screenwriter, Sorkin moved into directing with the high-stakes gambling thriller "Molly's Game" (2017). Though he had endured his share of personal problems, including a battle with crack cocaine, Sorkin maintained a high creative output and established himself as a bona fide moneymaker for the powers-that-be.
