Who is Michael Schur?
American screenwriter, producer, director and actor Michael Herbert Schur was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan USA, on 29 October 1975, making Scorpio his zodiac sign. He has 18 writing, 21 producing and four acting credits, while he’s perhaps known best for producing all 50 episodes of the critically acclaimed fantasy comedy series “The Good Place”, which starred Jameela Jamil, William Jackson Harper and Kristen Bell, and follows the afterlife of four people; the series aired from 2016 through 2020, and won 34 of its 180 award nominations.
Education and early life
Michael was raised in West Hartford, Connecticut by his Jewish parents Anne Herbert and Warren M. Schur; not many details about them have been disclosed, because Michael respects their privacy.
He was 11 years old when he read the collection of humorous essays “Without Feathers” by Woody Allen, and thus fell in love with comedy; Michael revealed that he’d found the book on his father’s bookshelf, and stayed up reading until sunrise.
He studied at William H. Hall High School, and upon matriculating in 1994, enrolled at Harvard University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1997; during his time there, he was president of the university’s humor publication “The Harvard Lampoon”.
Writing credits
Michael’s writing debut was 138 episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy show “Saturday Night Live” from 1997 through 2004, while in the meantime wrote the 2002 TV special “NBC 75th Anniversary Special”, and the 2003 TV special “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special”.
The year 2005 saw him write two episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy series “The Comeback”, which starred Lance Barber and Lisa Kudrow, and was created by Michael Patrick King. It follows a once popular actress who’s trying to make a comeback, and the series won three of its 26 award nominations. Michael then went on to write the 2006 fantasy comedy movie “Totally Awesome”, 10 episodes of the short mystery comedy series “The Office: The Accountants”, and 10 episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy “The Office”.
From 2009 through 2015, Michael wrote all 124 episodes of the comedy series “Parks and Recreation”, which starred Jim O’Heir and Amy Poehler, and was also created by Greg Daniels. It follows a group of a small city’s public officials, and the series won 25 of its 180 award nominations.
He wrote the 2016 episode “Nosedive” of the mystery science fiction series “Black Mirror”, and in 2019 two episodes of the comedy series “Konttori”, and two episodes of the comedy series “The Office”.
From 2013 through 2021, Michael wrote 153 episodes of the hit crime comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, which starred Stephanie Beatriz and Andy Samberg, and was also created by Dan Goor. It follows the lives of Detective Jake Peralta and his colleagues, and the series won 19 of its 153 award nominations.
Most recently, in 2021 and 2022, Michael wrote all the 18 episodes of the comedy series “Rutherford Falls”, which starred Michael Greyeyes and Ed Helms, and was also created by Sierra Teller Ornelas; it follows Nathan Rutherford who’s fighting the moving of an historical statue in his hometown, and the series won one of its eight award nominations.
Michael’s currently writing the upcoming series “Field of Dreams”.
Producing credits
Michael’s producing debut was 40 episodes of the comedy show “Saturday Night Live” from 2002 through 2004, while he also produced the 2003 TV special “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Halftime Special”.
He produced 12 episodes of the 2005 series “The Comeback” and 71 episodes of the series “The Office” from 2005 through 2008. Michael co-produced the 2009 comedy movie “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men”, which starred Ben Shenkman and Julianne Nicholson, and was written and directed by John Krasinski. It follows a graduate student who’s just broken up with his long-term girlfriend, and the film was nominated for a 2009 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic.
Michael then produced the 2010 short comedy movie “Parks and Recreation Is the Wu-Tang of Comedy”, the 2014 adventure movie “Parks and Recreation in Europe”, and all 124 episodes of the comedy series “Parks and Recreation” from 2009 through 2015.
Some of his most recent work has been producing 18 episodes of the 2022 comedy series “Hacks”, 13 episodes of the 2022 series “Rutherford Falls”, and all the eight episodes of the 2023 comedy series “Primo”; he’s currently working on the upcoming movie “Grand Junction”.
On April 22, we’re welcoming #RutherfordFalls to @PeacockTV and the Mike Schur comedy universe! 🪐 Until then, which show is your fave? pic.twitter.com/f6Z5GLPFHr
— Peacock (@peacock) April 12, 2021
Acting credits
Michael played three characters in three episodes of the show “Saturday Night Live” from 1998 through 2001, and the year 2007 saw him play Paul in the episode “The Case of the Franks” of the popular romantic comedy series “The O. C.”, which starred Adam Brody and Mischa Barton, and was created by Josh Schwartz. It follows the lives of several teenagers, the series aired from 2003 through 2007, and won 15 of its 37 award nominations.
Michael went on to play Teacher in the 2008 episode “Pool Party” of the comedy series “Miss Guided”, which starred Chris Parnell and Judy Greer, and was created by Caroline Williams; it follows a woman who’s become a guidance counselor at her former high school, and the series was nominated for a 2008 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Show.
Michael’s only other role has been playing Mose in 13 episodes of the series “The Office” from 2006 through 2013.
Awards and nominations
Michael’s won 13 of his 74 award nominations. Some of his wins include a 2002 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for “Saturday Night Live”, a 2006 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for “The Office”, and a 2022 Writers Guild of America Award for Comedy Series, for “Hacks”.
Love life and marriage
Michael rarely speaks about his love life in public, but has allowed his fans a glimpse into it. He and American producer and screenwriter Jennifer Joy ‘J. J.’ Philbin married in a private ceremony on 9 October 2005; she’s probably known best for her work on the above mentioned series “The O. C.”, while she’s also known for being a daughter of the late American actor and game-show host Regis Francis Xavier Philbin and American TV personality Bette Joy Philbin.
J.J. gave birth to their son William Xavier Schur on 18 February 2008, and their daughter Ivy Elizabeth followed on 14 July 2010.
Michael hasn’t spoken about the girls whom he had dated prior to meeting J. J, he’s married to Jennifer Joy Philbin as of May 2023, and they have two children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Michael published his book “How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question” in 2022.
He’s a huge lover of animals, and this love made him become a vegetarian.
Michael owns movie rights to the novel “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace.
He’s writing under the name ‘Ken Tremendous’ for the blog firejoemorgan.com.
Michael’s followed by close to 3,000 people on Instagram, has uploaded over 250 pictures and videos, most of his content are scenes from the series “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation”.
He’s a fan of actor Steve Carell who starred in the series “The Office”, while some of Michael’s favorite movies include “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Over the Hedge” and “Beautiful Boy”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Michael’s age is 47. His hair and eyes are brown, he’s 6ft (1.83m) tall and weighs around 165lbs (75kgs).
Michael’s net worth’s been estimated at over $100 million, as of May 2023.
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