Adam Herz is a renowned screenwriter and producer, particularly recognized for his role in creating the iconic American Pie movie franchise. He penned the original screenplay for American Pie, which catapulted to global success and became a cultural phenomenon, grossing nearly a billion dollars at the box office and generating substantial ancillary revenues.
Born and raised in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, Herz drew inspiration from his high school alma mater, which later became the fictional setting for "East Great Falls High." He graduated from the University of Michigan and subsequently relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked as a production assistant while concurrently writing his first spec script. This script, initially titled "Untitled Teenage Sex Comedy That Can Be Made For Under Ten Million Dollars," was later renamed American Pie and was released less than a year after its sale to studios.
Herz founded the production company Terra Firma Films, securing a first-look deal with Universal Studios for many years. Through Terra Firma, he established the Emerging Writers Program, providing a platform for young and aspiring writers to hone their craft and gain entry into the film industry.
More recently, Herz created, wrote, and executive produced the half-hour comedy series Best Intentions, intended to replace Pop Network's critically acclaimed Schitt's Creek. Although the pilot broke testing records and a full season was just days away from production, parent company Viacom instructed Pop to abandon all scripted programming due to COVID lockdowns, ultimately killing the show and the work of hundreds of people.