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David SimonAmerican writer, journalist, screenwriter and producer
Date of Birth: 01.01.1960
Country:  USA |
Content:
- David Simon: A Masterful American Storyteller
- Career as a Journalist
- "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets"
- Adapting "The Corner" for Television
- "The Wire" and Beyond
- Later Career and Personal Life
David Simon: A Masterful American Storyteller
Early Life and EducationDavid Simon was born into a Jewish family in Washington, D.C. He attended high school in Bethesda, Maryland, where he honed his writing skills as a contributor to the school newspaper, The Tattler. Simon's interest in journalism flourished during his time at the University of Maryland, where he wrote for the student newspaper, The Diamondback.
Career as a Journalist
In 1983, Simon joined The Baltimore Sun as a crime reporter. In 1988, while covering the Baltimore County Police Department's homicide division, he conceived the idea for his groundbreaking book about detectives' work.
"Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets"
Simon spent three years researching and writing "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets," which was published in 1991. The book won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime in 1992. Its success inspired Simon to pursue an adaptation for television, leading to the Emmy-winning series "Homicide: Life on the Street."
Adapting "The Corner" for Television
Teaming up with fellow reporter Ed Burns, Simon authored "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood." The book's focus on the devastating effects of drug dealing in West Baltimore resonated with HBO, who commissioned a six-hour miniseries in 2000. The series received critical acclaim and garnered three Emmy Awards.
"The Wire" and Beyond
In 2002, Simon and Burns collaborated again on the HBO series "The Wire." The show's intricate portrayal of institutions in Baltimore City earned widespread praise from television critics, despite its modest ratings.
Later Career and Personal Life
Since the conclusion of "The Wire" in 2008, Simon has continued to produce groundbreaking television shows. He created the miniseries "Generation Kill" (2008), capturing the early days of the American invasion of Iraq. Currently, Simon is working on "Treme" (2010), a series exploring the lives of New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina.
David Simon is married to Laura Lippman, a fellow writer and former Baltimore Sun journalist. This is his third marriage.
