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IMDbPro

Vince Gilligan

  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00055
Vince Gilligan
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George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American writer, producer, and director. He is known for his television work, specifically as creator, head writer, executive producer, and director of Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. He was a writer and producer for The X-Files and was the co-creator of its spin-off The Lone Gunmen.

Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have received widespread critical acclaim, with Gilligan winning two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Writers Guild of America Awards, two Critics' Choice Television Awards and Producers Guild of America Awards, one Directors Guild of America Award and a BAFTA. Outside of television, he co-wrote the screenplay for the 2008 film Hancock.

Gilligan was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of Gail, a grade school teacher, and George Vincent Gilligan Sr., an insurance claims adjuster. His parents divorced in 1974 and he and his younger brother, Patrick, were raised in Farmville and Chesterfield County, and attended the laboratory school run by Longwood College. Growing up, Gilligan became best friends with future film editor and film title designer Angus Wall. His interest in film began when Wall's mother, Jackie, who also taught alongside Gilligan's mother, would lend her Super 8 film cameras to him. He used the camera to make science fiction films with Patrick. One of his first films was entitled Space Wreck, starring his brother in the lead role. One year later, he won first prize for his age group in a film competition at the University of Virginia.

Jackie would take Wall and Gilligan to Richmond and drop them off at Cloverleaf Mall to see films, and encourage both of them to pursue a career in the arts. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for Jackie. She was a wonderful lady and a real inspiration," he recalls. Gilligan was recognized for his talents and creativity at an early age. George Sr. described him as a "kind of a studious-type young man, and he liked to read, and he had a vivid imagination". He introduced Gilligan to film noir classics, as well as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood Westerns on late-night television. Gilligan won a scholarship to attend the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts. After eighth grade, he moved back to Chesterfield to attend high school.

After graduating from Lloyd C. Bird High School in 1985, Gilligan went on to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts on a scholarship, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in film production. While at NYU, he wrote the screenplay for Home Fries; Gilligan received the Virginia Governor's Screenwriting Award in 1989 for the screenplay, which was later turned into a film. One of the judges of the competition was Mark Johnson, a film producer. He was impressed by Gilligan, saying he "was the most imaginative writer I'd ever read".
BornFebruary 10, 1967
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornFebruary 10, 1967
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00055
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 17 wins & 58 nominations total

    Photos95

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    + 91
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    Known for

    Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)
    The X-Files
    8.6
    TV Series
    • Producer
    Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
    Breaking Bad
    9.5
    TV Series
    • Producer(showrunner)
    Aaron Paul in El Camino (2019)
    El Camino
    7.3
    • Producer
    • 2019
    Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul (2015)
    Better Call Saul
    9.0
    TV Series
    • Producer

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Producer



    • Untitled Vince Gilligan Apple TV+ Series
      • executive producer
      • In Production
      • TV Series



    • Better Call Saul: Filmmaker Training (2022)
      Better Call Saul: Filmmaker Training
      7.7
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2022
    • Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul (2015)
      Better Call Saul
      9.0
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2015–2022
    • Better Call Saul: Ethics Training with Kim Wexler (2020)
      Better Call Saul: Ethics Training with Kim Wexler
      8.1
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2020
    • Aaron Paul in El Camino (2019)
      El Camino
      7.3
      • producer
      • 2019
    • Jonathan Banks in Better Call Saul: Madrigal Electromotive Security Training (2018)
      Better Call Saul: Madrigal Electromotive Security Training
      7.8
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2018
    • Better Call Saul: Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training (2017)
      Better Call Saul: Los Pollos Hermanos Employee Training
      8.1
      TV Mini Series
      • executive producer
      • 2017
    • Battle Creek (2015)
      Battle Creek
      7.2
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2015
    • Breaking Bad: Breaking Ice (2013)
      Breaking Bad: Breaking Ice
      5.6
      Video
      • executive producer
      • 2013
    • Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
      Breaking Bad
      9.5
      TV Series
      • executive producer (showrunner)
      • 2008–2013
    • Aaron Paul in Chicks 'N' Guns: Behind the Scenes (2013)
      Chicks 'N' Guns: Behind the Scenes
      8.0
      Video
      • executive producer
      • 2013
    • A.M.P.E.D. (2007)
      A.M.P.E.D.
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • executive producer
      • 2007
    • Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)
      The X-Files
      8.6
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • co-executive producer
      • supervising producer ...
      • 1996–2002
    • Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, and Bruce Harwood in The Lone Gunmen (2001)
      The Lone Gunmen
      7.3
      TV Series
      • executive producer
      • 2001
    • Scott Bairstow, Samantha Mathis, D.B. Sweeney, Max Martini, Rachel Hayward, Terry O'Quinn, and Sarah-Jane Redmond in Harsh Realm (1999)
      Harsh Realm
      7.0
      TV Series
      • consulting producer
      • 1999–2000

    Writer



    • Untitled Vince Gilligan Apple TV+ Series
      • created by
      • In Production
      • TV Series



    • Bryan Cranston in PopCorners: Breaking Bad Super Bowl Commercial - Extended Version (2023)
      PopCorners: Breaking Bad Super Bowl Commercial - Extended Version
      9.1
      Video
      • creator (uncredited)
      • 2023
    • Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul (2015)
      Better Call Saul
      9.0
      TV Series
      • created by
      • written by (creator)
      • 2015–2022
    • Aaron Paul in El Camino (2019)
      El Camino
      7.3
      • based on "Breaking Bad" by
      • written by
      • 2019
    • Battle Creek (2015)
      Battle Creek
      7.2
      TV Series
      • created by
      • story by
      • teleplay by (creator)
      • 2015
    • Metástasis (2014)
      Metástasis
      2.5
      TV Series
      • creator
      • original series
      • 2014
    • Jackamoe Buzzell in Walter White Funeral (2013)
      Walter White Funeral
      5.7
      Video
      • creator
      • 2013
    • Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
      Breaking Bad
      9.5
      TV Series
      • created by
      • written by (creator)
      • 2008–2013
    • Breaking Bad: Original Minisodes (2009)
      Breaking Bad: Original Minisodes
      7.6
      TV Series
      • creator
      • writer
      • 2009–2010
    • Will Smith in Hancock (2008)
      Hancock
      6.4
      • written by
      • 2008
    • A.M.P.E.D. (2007)
      A.M.P.E.D.
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • Writer
      • 2007
    • Night Stalker (2005)
      Night Stalker
      6.3
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 2006
    • Tom Sizemore in Robbery Homicide Division (2002)
      Robbery Homicide Division
      7.9
      TV Series
      • written by
      • 2002
    • Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)
      The X-Files
      8.6
      TV Series
      • written by
      • teleplay by
      • 1995–2002
    • Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, and Bruce Harwood in The Lone Gunmen (2001)
      The Lone Gunmen
      7.3
      TV Series
      • creator
      • written by
      • 2001
    • Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson in Home Fries (1998)
      Home Fries
      5.1
      • written by
      • 1998

    Director



    • Untitled Vince Gilligan Apple TV+ Series
      • Director
      • In Production
      • TV Series



    • Bryan Cranston in PopCorners: Breaking Bad Super Bowl Commercial - Extended Version (2023)
      PopCorners: Breaking Bad Super Bowl Commercial - Extended Version
      9.1
      Video
      • Director (uncredited)
      • 2023
    • Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul (2015)
      Better Call Saul
      9.0
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2015–2022
    • Aaron Paul in El Camino (2019)
      El Camino
      7.3
      • Director (directed by)
      • 2019
    • Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
      Breaking Bad
      9.5
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2008–2013
    • Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)
      The X-Files
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2000–2002

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos8

    'El Camino' Cooks Up "Breaking Bad" Easter Eggs
    Clip 3:36
    'El Camino' Cooks Up "Breaking Bad" Easter Eggs
    1720
    Gray Matter
    Clip 2:02
    Gray Matter
    6
    Gray Matter
    Clip 2:02
    Gray Matter
    6
    Crazy Handful of Nothing
    Clip 2:06
    Crazy Handful of Nothing
    64
    Cancer Man
    Clip 2:08
    Cancer Man
    84
    ... And the Bag's In the River
    Clip 1:35
    ... And the Bag's In the River
    55
    Cat's In the Bag
    Clip 1:58
    Cat's In the Bag
    11

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Alternative name
      • Vince Gilligan and the BB Gang
    • Height
      • 6′ (1.83 m)
    • Born
      • February 10, 1967
      • Richmond, Virginia, USA
    • Parents
        Gail Gilligan
    • Other works
      Music video for "David Duchovny" by Bree Sharp - Himself
    • Publicity listings
      • 1 Print Biography
      • 3 Interviews
      • 4 Articles

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Includes frequent references to his girlfriend, Holly, in his scripts.
    • Quotes
      I guess I learned and am in the process of learning that less is more and oftentimes it's a benefit when you don't throw the kitchen sink at it... Especially that you don't make any of your plotting decisions out of fear or desperation. That is an important lesson for anyone to learn, to keep to the story and the characters simple rather than letting it all get away from you in an effort to please what is perceived to be an increasingly attention-deprived audience. The show's either gonna work for you or not. The odds tell you it won't. Most shows don't work. And when they do work, it's kind of like winning the lottery. With Breaking Bad I feel like I pulled the lever at the slot machine, and it came up cherries. If it was something I did, I don't know if I could repeat it. Having said that, in hindsight, my good fortune was that I didn't have the opportunity to go with my first instincts and throw the kitchen sink plot-wise into our first season. If I'd done that, I would have painted myself into some seriously unpleasant plot corners. My general philosophy now more than ever is to give the audience the least possible, which sounds like a weird philosophy, but you want to parcel things out as slowly you can. Of course what that means is, you want to parcel things out as slowly as you can while keeping things gripping and interesting. I don't necessarily believe the conventional wisdom that the audience is more restless than ever and always needs more stimulation. People still like storytelling that can slow down enough to explore characters and examine them closely. I think there's still room for that. Hopefully, that never gets lost completely.
    • Trademark
        Black comedy

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