Christopher Cleveland's life began in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, where his formative years unfolded in the tumultuous Watts neighborhood, a hotbed of cultural and political ferment during the transformative 1960s.
Christopher's journey in the film industry began after graduating from Art Center College of Design, where he had studied the art of filmmaking. His big break came when he sold his first script, which would later be adapted into the critically acclaimed film, NIXON, directed by the renowned Oliver Stone. This initial success marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career, during which Christopher would go on to write nearly 35 scripts for both film and television.
Christopher's illustrious career has been marked by an impressive array of accolades and recognitions, with numerous awards and nominations to his name. These prestigious honors include the Humanitas Prize, the Black Reel Award, the Movieguide Award, and the NAACP Award, to name a few. His outstanding work has not gone unnoticed by the esteemed Emmy Awards, which saw fit to nominate him a staggering 13 times in 2015 for his contributions to the biographical drama BESSIE, starring the talented Queen Latifah.
This critically acclaimed film, which tells the remarkable story of the legendary Bessie Smith, earned Christopher a nomination for Best Teleplay, and its impressive run did not go unrewarded, as it ultimately took home four coveted Emmys, including the prestigious Best Television Movie award.
Christopher has had the distinct honor of working alongside an illustrious group of Academy Award-winning filmmakers, including the acclaimed director Michael Mann, the renowned actor Robert De Niro, the accomplished director Robert Zemekis, the highly respected actor Denzel Washington, the legendary director Norman Jewison, the talented director Taylor Hackford, the influential director Oliver Stone, the accomplished director Martin Cambell, the successful producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, the acclaimed director Bryan Singer, the iconic director William Friedkin, the acclaimed director Dee Rees, and the successful producer Jerry Bruckheimer, to name just a few.
Throughout his career, Christopher has had the privilege of collaborating with an impressive array of notable actors, including the talented John Malkovitch, the accomplished Milo Ventimiglia, the esteemed French actress Isabelle Huppert, the talented Mexican actor Diego Luna, the highly respected actor James Gandolfini, the influential producer Richard Zanuck and his daughter the talented Lilly Zanuck, and the iconic actor John Travolta.
Christopher has been involved in the creation and development of a multitude of notable projects throughout his illustrious career, with some of his most prominent and acclaimed works including Jerry Bruckheimer's GLORY ROAD, a sports drama film that tells the inspiring true story of the 1936 Texas Western Miners basketball team, which was the first predominantly African American team to win the NCAA championship.
Another notable project of Christopher's is THE HURRICANE, a biographical sports drama film that tells the story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a professional boxer who was wrongly convicted of murder and spent nearly two decades in prison before being exonerated. The film stars Denzel Washington in the title role and won several prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, which was bestowed upon Washington for his powerful and nuanced performance.
In addition to these notable projects, Christopher has also been involved in the development and production of McFARLAND, USA, a sports drama film that tells the true story of Jim White, a high school football coach who moves his family to McFarland, California, and inspires his team of Latino students to become a championship-winning team. The film stars Kevin Costner as Coach White and features a talented ensemble cast. McFARLAND, USA has won numerous awards and accolades, including the Heartland Film Awards, the Imagen Foundation's Best Picture Award, and the Ceasar Chavez Legacy Award, among others.
Christopher has extended his creative reach beyond the realm of film, making a significant impact in the television industry as well. His impressive television credits include the HISTORY Channel mini-series BOONE, a production spearheaded by the renowned Joel Surnow. Furthermore, Christopher has also co-produced the mini-series KING OF THIEVES alongside the talented Matt Baer and Kelly Rauch Cleveland, solidifying his versatility as a producer and his ability to excel in various mediums.
