Dan Griffin was born in Connecticut to Irish parents, the eldest of five siblings. From a young age, he demonstrated his ability to balance responsibilities with his creative and artistic side. In first grade, he began creating and drawing stories for his classmates, often during class as well.
As he grew older, Griffin's involvement in the arts continued to flourish. He started singing on stage at the age of six and went on to sing with the renowned Golden Chordsmen barbershop singing chorus. By the time he was 12, he had competed in state and western New England competitions.
Griffin's talents extended beyond the arts, as he excelled in various sports, including soccer, gymnastics, and Irish step-dancing. He was so skilled in gymnastics that by seventh grade, he was one of the top competitors in the region, which led him to leave Connecticut and attend school in New York.
While pursuing his education and gymnastics, Griffin continued to write and illustrate. He won numerous awards in local competitions and eventually made it to the national gymnastic finals. Griffin's academic achievements were also impressive, and he was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Tragedy struck in 1992 when Griffin was hit by a car and spent over a month in a coma. Miraculously, he recovered and went on to study Justice and Law at Western Connecticut State University. However, he soon switched to Theatre Arts with a minor in writing.
Griffin's writing talent led him to be hired by Quest Comics, where he worked as a writer. He eventually left college without graduating to pursue a career in acting, landing a small role on the TV series C.P.W. in 1995.
Griffin's journey to Hollywood was marked by bit parts in films and close calls for various commercials. It was on the set of Gattaca in 1997 that he met Andrew Niccol, who encouraged him to pursue screenwriting.
Griffin's brother Sean reached out to him around this time, inviting him to join a new Irish rock band, The Ruffians. Griffin learned to play the bass guitar and began writing songs with his brother. He also honed his writing craft, penning two TV series, a feature film, and a TV series with other writers.
In the early 2000s, Griffin began to focus more on his film work, securing a film option with Skylar Entertainment and landing bit parts in several films. He also formed a production company with filmmaker Jamie Lazarus, working on a few short films and a music video.
Griffin's career took a new turn in 2005 when he began working on new media projects, including engineering a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He also met actress and R&B artist Janet Miranda, who introduced him to the world of film financing.
Griffin's networking skills and ability to secure film financing led to a new direction in his career. He worked with Miranda on several projects and eventually formed a strong bond with film expert Ms. Davis.
In the last year, Griffin has been applying his skills to foster and grow his career as a producer. He has been involved in the governance board that brought in the new Film Tax Incentives for the state of Connecticut and helped open the doors for the construction of Utopia, the largest film studio in the US.
