Ron Nyswaner

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Ron Nyswaner
James Schamus (left) and Nyswaner (right), 2009
Born (1956-10-05) October 5, 1956
Clarksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Pittsburgh (BA)
Columbia University (MFA)
OccupationsFilm director, writer

Ronald L. Nyswaner (/ˈnaɪswɑːnər/ NY-swahn-ər ; born October 5, 1956) is an American screenwriter and film director.[1] He is a Peabody Award[2] winner, and has been nominated for numerous awards including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

He is known for his screenplays Smithereens (1982), Philadelphia (1993), The Painted Veil (2006), Freeheld (2015), and My Policeman (2022). He is also known as a writer and producer of the Showtime series Ray Donovan (2013–2015), Homeland (2017–2018), and the historical drama series Fellow Travelers (2023).

Early life and education

Nyswaner was born in Clarksville, Pennsylvania. He later attended the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University.[3]

Career

Nyswaner wrote his first screenplay for the Susan Seidelman film Smithereens. After two other notable screenplays for Swing Shift and Mrs. Soffel, he gave his directorial debut with The Prince of Pennsylvania in 1988, a film with Keanu Reeves and Fred Ward.

Nyswaner, who is openly gay[4] and an activist for gay rights, has often worked on movies dealing with subjects such as homosexuality, homophobia, and AIDS. In 1993, he came to worldwide prominence for his screenplay to the Academy Award-winning movie Philadelphia, directed by Jonathan Demme. It earned him nominations at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs.

After several years of working for television, he wrote the screenplay for the 2006 film The Painted Veil, based on the novel by W. Somerset Maugham. He received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award and won the award of the National Board of Review in 2006.

From 2015 to 2017, he was an executive producer for the Showtime TV series Homeland.

In 2015, Nyswaner directed the documentary film She's the Best Thing in It, featuring Mary Louise Wilson, which he coproduced along with Jeffrey Schwarz and Neda Armian.[5]

Nyswaner created the historical drama miniseries Fellow Travelers in 2023, which won a Peabody Award[6] at the 84th ceremony in 2024.

Filmography

Film

As a director

Year Title Notes
1988The Prince of Pennsylvaniaalso written
2012Why Stop Now?co-directed with Phil Dorling; also written
2015She's the Best Thing in Itdocumentary

As a writer

Year Title Notes
1982Smithereens
1984Mrs. Soffel
1989Gross Anatomy
1990Love Hurts
1993Philadelphia
2006The Painted Veil
2015Freeheld
2022My Policeman

Television

Year Title Notes Ref.
2003Soldier's GirlTelevision movie
2006Filthy GorgeousTelevision movie
2013–2014Ray DonovanWrote 4 episodes; also co-executive producer
2015–2018HomelandWrote 9 episodes; also co-executive producer
2020Murder on Middle BeachCo-executive producer only
2023Fellow TravelersScreenwriter and executive producer[7]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Project Result
1988Deauville Film FestivalCritics PrizeThe Prince of PennsylvaniaNominated
1989Independent Spirit AwardsBest First FeatureNominated
1993Academy AwardBest Original ScreenplayPhiladelphia Nominated
1993Golden Globe AwardsBest ScreenplayNominated
1993British Academy Film AwardsBest Original ScreenplayNominated
1993Writers Guild of America AwardsBest Original ScreenplayNominated
2006Independent Spirit AwardsBest ScreenplayThe Painted VeilNominated
2006National Board of ReviewBest Adapted ScreenplayWon
2014Writers Guild of America AwardsNew SeriesRay DonovanNominated
2015SXSW Film FestivalGrand Jury Documentary PrizeShe's The Best Thing in ItNominated
2015Woodstock Film FestivalAudience AwardWon
2016Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Drama SeriesHomelandNominated
2024Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or MovieFellow TravelersNominated
2024Peabody AwardsChronicling LGBTQ+ History Over 50 YearsFellow TravelersWon

Bibliography

In 2004, he published Blue Days, Black Nights: A Memoir, which chronicles his relationship with alcohol, drugs, and hustlers.

References

  1. "Ron Nyswaner". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. "Fellow Travelers".
  3. Soloski, Alexis (October 23, 2023). "To Make 'Fellow Travelers,' Ron Nyswaner Had to Fall in Love". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  4. Nyswaner, Ron (2004), Blue Days, Black Nights: A Memoir, Advocate Books, ISBN 1-55583-889-8
  5. Setoodeh, Ramin (December 18, 2015). "SXSW Doc 'She's the Best Thing in It' Sells to GoDigital (EXCLUSIVE)". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  6. "Fellow Travelers".
  7. Otterson, Joe (July 11, 2022). "'Bridgerton' Star Jonathan Bailey Joins Matt Bomer in Showtime Limited Series 'Fellow Travelers'". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2022.