David Mirkin American film and television director, screenwriter and producer. Date of Birth: 18.09.1955 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career
2. Showrunning and Directing
3. The Larry Sanders Show and The Simpsons
4. Post-Simpsons Career

Early Life and Career

David Mirkin was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a computer scientist. Initially contemplating a career in computer science, Mirkin realized his lack of aptitude after an internship at Drexel University. He eventually moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in film school at Loyola Marymount University.

Mirkin began his entertainment career as a stand-up comedian, performing at clubs such as The Comedy Store and The Improv. He made his television debut as a writer for the American adaptation of "Three's Company."

Showrunning and Directing

From 1984 to 1985, Mirkin served as executive in charge of writing for "Newhart." By 1988, he had been promoted to executive producer and showrunner, while simultaneously writing and directing episodes. He was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series" for his work on the show.

In the early 1990s, Mirkin co-created the sitcom "Get a Life" with comedian Chris Elliott, again serving as writer and director. He also helped Julie Brown and Charlie Coffey develop the pilot for "The Julie Show," which ultimately did not see the light of day.

The Larry Sanders Show and The Simpsons

From 1992 to 1993, Mirkin developed, wrote, and directed the sketch comedy show "The Edge" for Fox Network. From 1992 to 1998, he was part of the directing team for HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show."

Mirkin's most significant contribution to television was as showrunner of "The Simpsons" from 1993 to 1995. He oversaw the creation of most episodes from seasons 5 and 6, becoming the first solo showrunner in the program's history. He meticulously controlled all aspects of the episodes, including directing the voice performances. Mirkin's tenure on "The Simpsons" earned him four Emmys and a Peabody Award.

Post-Simpsons Career

After season 6, Mirkin passed the torch to showrunners Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, though he continued to advise them on technical matters such as editing and sound mixing. He occasionally returned to the program as an executive producer, including for two episodes in season 9 and four in season 7.

Mirkin also made notable contributions to the development of Lisa Simpson's vegetarianism, a topic close to his heart as a lifelong vegan. He directed two feature films, "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" (1997) and "Heartbreakers" (2001). Initially hesitant to take on "Heartbreakers" due to the script, Mirkin was eventually given permission to rewrite it, completing the work in one year.