Aaron Sorkin, a prominent figure in the world of entertainment, was born in Scarsdale, a picturesque suburb of New York City. His early life was marked by a deep passion for drama and theater, which led him to become heavily involved in his high school's drama and theater club. Following his graduation from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, Sorkin initially set his sights on a career in acting. However, it did not take him long to realize that his true calling lay in writing.
Sorkin's first play, "Removing All Doubt", may not have been an overnight success, but his second play, "Hidden in This Picture", premiered in 1988 at the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theater Bar. A longer version of this play, titled "Making Movies", opened at the Promenade Theater in 1990. Despite his youth and relatively limited experience, Sorkin was on the cusp of breaking into the spotlight.
In 1989, Sorkin received the prestigious Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding American Playwright for the stage version of "A Few Good Men" (1992),which later received a Golden Globe nomination. The idea for this play was born from a conversation with his older sister, Deborah, a Navy Judge Advocate General lawyer who had been sent to Guantanamo Bay to handle a case involving Marines accused of killing a fellow Marine. Deborah shared her experiences with Aaron, who spent the next year and a half crafting a Broadway play that would eventually be adapted into a movie.
Sorkin's writing career has been marked by numerous successes, including "The American President" (1995),"Malice" (1993),and "Enemy of the State" (1998),as well as his collaborations on "The Rock" (1996) and "Excess Baggage" (1997). Additionally, he was invited by Steven Spielberg to "polish" the script of "Schindler's List" (1993).
On the small screen, Sorkin has made a significant impact with his work on several TV shows, including the Golden Globe-nominated "The West Wing" (1999) and "Sports Night" (1998).