Leonard Schiller was born in Brooklyn in 1936, before relocating to outside of San Diego, California, where he spent his formative years. After attending Pepperdine College in Los Angeles, Schiller embarked on a distinguished career as a photojournalist, working for renowned publications such as Life magazine, Paris Match, The Sunday Times, Time, Newsweek, Stern, and The Saturday Evening Post.
Schiller's literary endeavors began with the publication of his first book, LSD, in 1966, followed by the release of eleven more books, including W. Eugene Smith's Minamata and Norman Mailer's Marilyn. His collaborations with notable figures such as Albert Goldman and Norman Mailer resulted in the production of several notable works, including Ladies and Gentleman, Lenny Bruce, The Executioner's Song, and Oswald's Tale.
Schiller's own books, including American Tragedy, Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, Cape May Court House, and Into the Mirror, have achieved national bestseller status and secured spots on the New York Times Bestseller list. He has also directed seven motion pictures and miniseries for television, garnering five Emmy Awards for his work on The Executioner's Song and Peter the Great.
Schiller's television credits include producing and directing several notable mini-series, including American Tragedy, Perfect Murder, Perfect Town, and Into the Mirror, all of which aired on CBS. Following the passing of Norman Mailer in 2008, Schiller was appointed Senior Advisor to the Norman Mailer Estate and Managing Director of The Norman Mailer Center and Writers Colony, which he co-founded with Norris Mailer.
As a testament to his enduring connection with Mailer, Schiller represents the Norman Mailer Licensing company and has served as a close friend and collaborator on five of Mailer's works. In addition to his literary pursuits, Schiller has also worked as a consultant to political campaigns and major corporations, offering expertise in crisis management, branding, public imaging, and the strategic use of social networking.
Schiller has also lent his expertise as an on-air analyst to NBC news, and has consulted for esteemed organizations such as TASCHEN Publishing, Annie Leibovitz Studio, Steven Klein Studio, The Alfred Wertheimer Estate, Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, and others. His written contributions have appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The Daily Beast, and others.
In 2007, Schiller exhibited his own photographs for the first time in the USA, showcasing his work "Marilyn Monroe and America in the 1960s." The exhibition has since toured numerous international destinations, including Beijing, China; Sofia, Bulgaria; Hong Kong; Salzburg, Austria; Berlin, Germany; Miami, Florida; and London, England.
