Dan Erickson
Born
Daniel Earling Erickson

(1984-01-26) January 26, 1984 (age 40)
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Alma materWestern Washington University (BA) NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA)
Occupations
  • Television screenwriter
  • producer
  • showrunner
Years active2011-present

Dan Erickson (born January 26, 1984) is an American television screenwriter, showrunner, and producer. He created, wrote and executive produced the psychological thriller television series Severance, starring Adam Scott and Britt Lower and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, which premiered on the Apple TV+ streaming service in February 2022.[1][2][3]

Life and career

Erickson is from Olympia, Washington.[1] His parents are Mark and Lynn Erickson, a lawyer and a teacher respectively. He is a middle child, with an older brother named Matt and a younger sister named Hayley.[4] Erickson has stated that he is very close with both siblings, and that they inspired characters on Severance.[5]

He has written for Spike TV's Lip Sync Battle Pre-Show and worked in series development for now-defunct entertainment company Super Deluxe.[6]

In 2016, Erickson's pilot script for Severance was recognized by The Bloodlist.[7][8] He later submitted the script as a writing sample to Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Productions, and Stiller decided to produce the project.[9][10] In 2019, Apple TV+ picked up the project for a straight-to-series order with Endeavor Content serving as co-financer and producer.[11] Severance premiered on February 18, 2022 on Apple's streaming service to significant critical and audience acclaim.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18]

In September 2022, Erickson was named to the TIME100 Next list, which features "100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership."[19]

Acclaim for Erickson’s work continued in 2023 as he and the writers of Severance won twice at the 2023 Writers Guild of America Awards, winning Best New Series and Best Drama Series, respectively. [20]

Filmography

Year Title Writer Producer
2011 League of Wonder (short) Yes No
2016-2018 Lip Sync Battle Preshow Yes No
2022- Severance Yes Yes

Awards and honors

Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards

Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2022 Severance (for "The We We Are") Best Writing in a Streaming Series Won [21]

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2022 Severance (for "The We We Are") Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Nominated [22]

Peabody Award

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 Peabody Awards Entertainment Severance Won [23]

References

  1. ^ a b "Olympia screenwriter Dan Erickson on 'Severance' and its long journey to Apple TV+". The Seattle Times. 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  2. ^ Maas, Jennifer (2022-06-19). "The Insidious, Cryptic World of 'Severance': How Ben Stiller, Adam Scott and More Brought 'Strange Humor' to Apple's Workplace Thriller". Variety. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  3. ^ Francisco, Eric. "'Severance' is the sci-fi thriller every office worker needs — here's why". Inverse. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  4. ^ "DAN ERICKSON – Heroes and Villains". Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  5. ^ 2022 HCA TV Awards Full Ceremony: Streaming Platforms - Night 2 of Television's Big Celebration, retrieved 2022-08-22
  6. ^ Piazza, Bianca (2022-03-28). "Dan Erickson Is the Imaginative Creator and Writer of Sci-Fi Series 'Severance' — Let's Explore His Work". Distractify. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  7. ^ Piazza, Bianca (2022-03-28). "Dan Erickson Is the Imaginative Creator and Writer of Sci-Fi Series 'Severance' — Let's Explore His Work". Distractify. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  8. ^ Colangelo, B. J. (2022-07-21). "Severance Has Been In The Making For A Very Long Time [Comic-Con]". SlashFilm.com. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  9. ^ "Adam Scott Goes Back to Work". GQ. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  10. ^ Lane, Carly (2022-02-18). "'Severance': Ben Stiller and Adam Scott on the Long Road to Making the Apple TV+ Thriller Series". Collider. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  11. ^ Ausiello, Michael (2019-11-08). "Adam Scott 'Workplace Thriller' Severance Snags Apple TV+ Series Order; Ben Stiller to EP and Direct". TVLine. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  12. ^ Travers, Ben (2022-02-16). "'Severance' Review: Ben Stiller Directs a Brilliant Corporate Conspiracy Thriller That's All Too Real". IndieWire. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  13. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "Adam Scott Leads Brilliantly Original Workplace Drama Severance". RogerEbert. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  14. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (2022-02-16). "Apple TV+'s 'Severance': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  15. ^ "'Severance' Apple TV Plus Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  16. ^ Nelson, Samantha (2022-02-18). "Severance Premiere Review - "Good News About Hell" and "Half Loop"". IGN. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  17. ^ Poniewozik, James (2022-02-17). "'Severance' Review: That Makes Two of You". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  18. ^ Gilbert, Sophie (2022-02-25). "When Work Is a Terrifying Dystopia". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  19. ^ "Meet the 2022 TIME100 Next". Time. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  20. ^ "Yahoo.com". 6 March 2023.
  21. ^ "#Severance "The We, We Are" writer, Dan Erickson wins the award for Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Drama at the 2nd Annual Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards". Hollywood Critics Association Twitter. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  22. ^ "74th Emmy Awards Complete Nominations List" (PDF). Hollywood Critics Association. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  23. ^ Voyles, Blake (September 19, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Winners". Retrieved September 19, 2023.
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