J. Michael Straczynski Net Worth
J. Michael Straczynski Net Worth is
$6 Million
J. Michael Straczynski Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
Joseph Michael Straczynski, known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or jms, is an American writer and producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, radio dramas and other media. Straczynski is a p... | Net Worth | $6 Million |
| Date Of Birth | July 17, 1954 |
| Place Of Birth | Paterson, New Jersey, United States |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.92 m) |
| Profession | Journalist, Cartoonist, Science-fiction writer, Author, Novelist, Television producer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor |
| Education | San Diego State University |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Spouse | Kathryn M. Drennan (m. 1983–2008) |
| Parents | Evelyn Pate, Charles Straczynski |
| Nicknames | JMS , Joseph Michael Straczynski , Fettes Gray , J. Micheal Straczynski , Joe Straczynski , Joe |
| Awards | Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Ray Bradbury Award |
| Nominations | BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, Saturn Award for Best Writing, Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series |
| Movies | World War Z, Underworld: Awakening, Thor, Ninja Assassin, Changeling, Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers, Babylon 5: A Call to Arms, Babylon 5: The River of Souls, Babylon 5: Thirdspace, Babylon 5: In the Beginning, Babylon 5: The Gathering, Forbidden Planet, Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For,... |
| TV Shows | Babylon 5: The Lost Tales, Jeremiah, Crusade, Babylon 5, Babylon 5: Thirdspace, Babylon 5: In the Beginning, The Real Ghostbusters, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, Sense8 |
| Star Sign | Cancer |
| # | Trademark |
|---|---|
| 1 | Use of mystical objects as plot devices |
| 2 | Science fiction stories |
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | To me science fiction is about the sense of mystery, the sense of awe. Not 'shock and awe', just 'awe'. |
| 2 | Plots almost don't matter, effects don't matter, wardrobe doesn't matter, technology doesn't matter. What matters is what William Faulkner called "The human heart in conflict with itself". |
| 3 | Speaking as an atheist, if there is to be a church of JMS, then I must become its first apostate and refuse to believe in myself (adding further insecurity to my life), and nail a whole bunch of theses to the front door on the way out... |
| 4 | (Regarding the decision to kill off the popular character of Marcus Cole on Babylon 5) "Had I known that Claudia Christian (Susan Ivanova) was not going to return in the fifth season, I might have rethought that decision and kept him around." |
| 5 | In every other science fiction series, humans are at the top of the food chain. In the Babylon 5 universe, they're in the bottom third. |
| 6 | On the prospect of future Babylon 5 feature film projects: "The only thing I can say without equivocation is that when that day comes, as the rights-holder, I will make darned sure that it's done right, because I'd rather have no B5 movie than one that doesn't live up to what fans and I myself would want to see. To that end...I can wait." |
| 7 | On the cancellation of the Babylon 5 feature film, The Memory of Shadows: "This was not the first time someone's taken a run at a B5 feature film, and it will not be the last. Eventually it will happen, because such things are simply inevitable. If they can do a Brady Bunch movie, you can be sure that sooner or later, somebody's going to do a B5 movie." |
| 8 | On casting Michael O'Hare as Jeffrey Sinclair on Babylon 5: "He's a classically trained actor, a graduate of Juliard, who just knocked us out when he came in to audition. He has a tremendous presence, and a voice vaguely reminiscent of Clint Eastwood at times. His face has a curiously haunted look, but at the same time is (I'm told by the women who go "yum" whenever he enters the room) quite appealing." |
| 9 | The loss of Richard Biggs kind of took the wind out of our sails and it's taken a while for me to feel up to saying anything about B5. This has also had the effect of slowing up anything to do with B5:TMoS (which as some of you have guessed or inferred does indeed stand for The Memory of Shadows), because in the writing we/I never imagined he wouldn't be here to be a part of it. |
| 10 | On the Babylon 5 theatrical film, The Memory of Shadows: "The only thing I can say is that phase one of the new project is a go, hence the furious writing schedule at this end of things... I've been writing my little brains out. I wouldn't go on about something in this way if it wasn't a significant development." |
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | His grandparents lived in the area which today belongs to Belarus, and fled to America from the Russian Revolution. |
| 2 | Lives in Los Angeles. |
| 3 | During college, he wrote articles for his school newspaper The Daily Aztec with such frequency that it became known among fellow students as ''The Daily Joe''. |
| 4 | He wrote the final pre-Flashpoint issues of both Superman and Wonder Woman. |
| 5 | Due to a long history of alcoholism in his family, he is a strict teetotaler. |
| 6 | It was his idea to include a Transgender character among the cast of ''Sense8 (2015)''. |
| 7 | Stated publicly he was willing to knock on the door of every Babylon 5 fan and personally apologize for the third season episode "Grey 17 Is Missing", considered one of the weakest episodes of the series. He stated that for the show, the good episodes took one, perhaps two days at most to write, but this one took two weeks, and he was especially regretful about including the Zarg in the episode. |
| 8 | His father did not approve of his writing aspirations, going as far as to tear up all of his comic books when he was a teenager. This incident was later used in an issue of the ''Before Watchmen'' prequel series when Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl's father did the same with his superhero memorabilia. |
| 9 | Is called 'Joe' by his friends, family and co-workers. |
| 10 | Has said that he doesn't write comics for money, but simply because he loves them. |
| 11 | Has said that he grew up very poor. |
| 12 | His family had moved 21 times by the time he was age 17. |
| 13 | Got the idea for ''Midnight Nation'' in 1978 when he had just gotten out of a bad relationship and was going through a period of severe depression in which he would wander the streets of San Diego at nights and was astonished to find that the streets were filled with poor and homeless people at night. |
| 14 | Writing Thor and Lost Heroes for Marvel Comics, as well as writing two new big-budget features on assignment, one for Universal Studios, the other for Paramount. [November 2006] |
| 15 | Announced that his film Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows had been cancelled. [February 2005] |
| 16 | Releasing the last three issues of his original comic book, Rising Stars, following a multi-year delay. [November 2004] |
| 17 | Comics: Now also writing The Fantastic Four, The Book of Lost Souls, Squadron Supreme, and Bullet Points (miniseries), all for Marvel Comics. [March 2006] |
| 18 | Currently writing Amazing Spider-Man, Supreme Power, and an upcoming Doctor Strange project for Marvel comics [November 2003] |
| 19 | Writer, co-producer and co-director, "The Adventuers of Apocalypse Al," a 20-episode radio drama series for the Canadian Broadcasting System. Produced February 2006, to air Summer 2006, starring Cynthia Dale. [February 2006] |
| 20 | Launches Babylon5scripts.com and starts releasing all 92 scripts he wrote for Babylon 5. First TV writer in history to ever publish all their scripts for a show. When done it will total 14 volumes and 6,000+ pages of material. [October 2005] |
| 21 | He used more than 6,000 different sources of information for his screenplay for 'Changeling' so he could title it "A true story" rather than "Based on a true story". |
| 22 | He is a very big fan of Neil Gaiman and named an Alien species after him in Babylon 5. |
| 23 | Once spotted a young man dressed as a Narn at a science fiction convention. Straczynski was so impressed at the craftsmanship of the costume that he remarked, "You came out of my head, but I know for a fact that you don't work for me.". |
| 24 | During season four of Babylon 5 he would frequently dunk his hands in ice water, because they were so sore from writing. |
| 25 | While working on the Rising Stars series for Top Cow, he met one of the assistant publishers at LAX airport, who excitedly told him about interest in the project from a movie studio. According to his contract, such talks had to be pre-approved by Straczynski first. It was then that he knew that his publisher was not adhering to their contract. |
| 26 | Has a degree in clinical psychology and one in sociology. |
| 27 | Straczynski's "Changeling" was selected as one of 20 films in competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2008. |
| 28 | When speaking to a crowd he always stands, never sits. The reason is that he feels that as a writer or a screenwriter he works for the public, and an employee never sits in front of his boss. |
| 29 | Announced at WonderCon 2008 that the uncompleted Crusade series was "finished" i.e., there would be no further work done on it. |
| 30 | Despite the prevalence of religious figures and symbols in his stories and shows, he is a self-professed atheist. |
| 31 | As a struggling young writer he telephoned Harlan Ellison for advice. Ellison replied, "The reason your stories are being rejected is because you're writing crap. Stop writing crap!". |
| 32 | Cracked a molar while nervously grinding his teeth in preparation for pitching Babylon 5 to studio executives. He opted to continue with the pitch instead of having emergency dental work and doing it the next day. |
| 33 | In 2003, Straczynski rescued a Maine Coon (a breed of cat) kitten that had fallen into a landscaping drain in his yard; a 16-hour operation which ultimately involved digging up large portions of the yard and calling out the fire department and a number of plumbers. Buddy is now doing well, and rules the Straczynski household with a velvet paw. |
| 34 | Claims to have read the Bible cover to cover, twice. |
| 35 | Although he attended his 20-year high school reunion, he only found one former classmate who "sort of" remembered him. |
| 36 | First met Harlan Ellison in person when both were walking the picket line during the Hollywood Writer's Strike in 1991. |
| 37 | Said to have come up with the inspiration for Babylon 5 while taking a shower. |
| 38 | Winner of the Inkpot and Eisner Awards, San Diego International Comic Arts Exposition, 1993 and 2002, respectively. |
| 39 | A frequent speaker at conventions and seminars, Straczynski has spoken to crowds in the thousands in England and throughout the United States. He has also spoken at a variety of universities, including the the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab (which pronounced Babylon 5 one of the three seminal American science fiction series, the other two being the original Twilight Zone and Star Trek series) and UCLA. |
| 40 | Creator and "father" of scifi-show Babylon 5, which won two Hugo Awards. |
| 41 | Wrote the comic book series Rising Stars, Midnight Nation, and the one-shot Dream Police for comic book publisher Image/Top Cow's imprint "Joe's Comics." He also wrote a hardcover all-ages storybook, Delicate Creatures. |
| 42 | In addition to his successful television career, has found new stardom as a writer of comic books. As the new writer of the Amazing Spiderman, he managed to triple that book's sales in less than a year. |
| 43 | He was a host of "Hour 25", a weekly science fiction talk radio show in L.A. for 5 years. |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Mars | 2017 | TV Series created by - 1 episode pre-production | |
| Rod Serling's Night Gallery | TV Mini-Series pre-production | ||
| Sense8 | TV Series created by - 22 episodes, 2015 - 2017 written by - 22 episodes, 2015 - 2017 | ||
| World War Z | 2013 | screen story | |
| Thor in the Playroom | 2013 | Video short story - uncredited | |
| Underworld: Awakening | 2012 | screenplay | |
| Thor | 2011 | story | |
| Babylon 5 X3: Terran Conflict | 2010 | Video Game creator | |
| Ninja Assassin | 2009 | screenplay | |
| Changeling | 2008 | written by | |
| Babylon 5: The Lost Tales | 2007 | Video creator / written by | |
| Jeremiah | TV Series creator - 34 episodes, 2002 - 2004 written by - 21 episodes, 2002 - 2004 story - 1 episode, 2003 teleplay - 1 episode, 2003 excerpts - 1 episode, 2002 | ||
| Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight | 2002 | TV Movie written by | |
| Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For | 2000 | TV Movie written by | |
| Crusade | TV Series creator - 13 episodes, 1999 written by - 10 episodes, 1999 | ||
| Babylon 5: A Call to Arms | 1999 | TV Movie creator / written by | |
| Babylon 5 | TV Series creator - 110 episodes, 1994 - 1998 writer - 69 episodes, 1994 - 1998 written by - 21 episodes, 1994 - 1998 story - 1 episode, 1998 teleplay - 1 episode, 1998 story & teleplay - 1 episode, 1998 | ||
| Babylon 5: The River of Souls | 1998 | TV Movie creator / written by | |
| Babylon 5: Thirdspace | 1998 | TV Movie creator / written by | |
| Babylon 5: In the Beginning | 1998 | TV Movie creator / written by | |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | 1993 | TV Series written by - 1 episode | |
| Babylon 5: The Gathering | 1993 | TV Movie written by | |
| Murder, She Wrote | 1991-1993 | TV Series written by - 7 episodes | |
| Jake and the Fatman | TV Series written by - 3 episodes, 1990 story by - 1 episode, 1990 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1990 | ||
| The Real Ghostbusters | TV Series writer - 13 episodes, 1986 - 1987 written by - 8 episodes, 1986 - 1990 story editor - 4 episodes, 1990 | ||
| Captain Power: The Beginning | 1989 | TV Movie written by | |
| Nightmare Classics | 1989 | TV Series teleplay - 1 episode | |
| The Twilight Zone | TV Series written by - 10 episodes, 1986 - 1989 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1988 story by - 1 episode, 1988 | ||
| Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | TV Series writer - 10 episodes, 1987 - 1988 story - 4 episodes, 1987 - 1988 teleplay - 2 episodes, 1987 | ||
| Spiral Zone | 1987 | TV Series 1 episode | |
| CBS Storybreak | 1987 | TV Series teleplay - 1 episode | |
| Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors | 1985 | TV Series writer - 13 episodes | |
| She-Ra: Princess of Power | TV Series written by - 4 episodes, 1985 writer - 3 episodes, 1985 teleplay - 1 episode, 1985 story - 1 episode, 1985 | ||
| He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | 1984-1985 | TV Series writer - 9 episodes |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Mars | 2017 | TV Series executive producer pre-production | |
| Rod Serling's Night Gallery | TV Mini-Series executive producer pre-production | ||
| Sense8 | 2015-2016 | TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes | |
| Babylon 5: The Lost Tales | 2007 | Video executive producer | |
| Jeremiah | 2002-2004 | TV Series executive producer - 34 episodes | |
| Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight | 2002 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For | 2000 | TV Movie producer | |
| Crusade | 1999 | TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes | |
| Babylon 5: A Call to Arms | 1999 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Babylon 5 | 1994-1998 | TV Series executive producer - 110 episodes | |
| Babylon 5: The River of Souls | 1998 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Babylon 5: Thirdspace | 1998 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Babylon 5: In the Beginning | 1998 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | 1993 | TV Series supervising producer - 1993, uncredited | |
| Babylon 5: The Gathering | 1993 | TV Movie executive producer | |
| Murder, She Wrote | TV Series co-producer - 22 episodes, 1991 - 1992 producer - 8 episodes, 1992 - 1993 |
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crusade | 1999 | TV Series title designer - 1 episode | |
| Babylon 5 | 1994 | TV Series title designer - 1 episode | |
| Jake and the Fatman | 1990 | TV Series executive story consultant - 13 episodes | |
| The Twilight Zone | 1988-1989 | TV Series story editor - 30 episodes | |
| Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | 1987-1988 | TV Series executive story consultant - 22 episodes | |
| The Real Ghostbusters | 1986-1987 | TV Series story editor - 78 episodes | |
| She-Ra: Princess of Power | 1985 | TV Series story editor - 65 episodes |
Director
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babylon 5: The Lost Tales | 2007 | Video | |
| Babylon 5 | 1998 | TV Series 1 episode |
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thor | 2011 | Townie | |
| Babylon 5 | 1998 | TV Series | Maintenance Worker |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Real Ghostbusters | 1989 | TV Series writer - 1 episode |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bunglers | 2012 | Short special thanks | |
| 8 Arms to Hold You | 2004 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
| Hero in Crisis | 2004 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
| Interwoven: the Women of Spider-Man | 2004 | Video documentary short special thanks | |
| Making the Amazing | 2004 | Video documentary special thanks |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy Masters | Documentary completed | Himself | |
| Sidewalks Entertainment | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Guest |
| As Timeless as Infinity: The Twilight Zone Legacy | 2014 | Documentary | Himself |
| Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle | 2013 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Himself - Writer |
| World War Z: Looking to Science | 2013 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| World War Z: Origins | 2013 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Out of the Ashes: The Making of Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | 2012 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Thor: A Conversation | 2011 | Video short | Himself |
| Changeling - Partners in Crime: Bringing Changeling to the Screen | 2009 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Partners in Crime: Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie | 2009 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| The Movie Loft | 2009 | TV Series | Himself |
| Ain't Afraid of No Ghosts: Creating 'The Real Ghostbusters' | 2008 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Something Strange in Your Neighborhood: The Creatures of 'The Real Ghostbusters' | 2008 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| Who You Gonna Call? The Heroes of 'The Real Ghostbusters' | 2008 | Video documentary short | Himself |
| HypaSpace | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| 8 Arms to Hold You | 2004 | Video documentary short | |
| Hero in Crisis | 2004 | Video documentary short | |
| Interwoven: the Women of Spider-Man | 2004 | Video documentary short | |
| Babylon 5: Creating the Future | 2004 | Video documentary short | Himself - Creator / Executive Producer |
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Movies for Grownups Award | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Screenwriter | Changeling (2008) |
| 1999 | Bradbury Award | Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America | Babylon 5 (1994) | |
| 1997 | Hugo | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 (1994) |
| 1997 | SFX Award | SFX Awards, UK | SFX Hame of Fame for Contributions to SF/Fantasy TV in 1996 | Babylon 5 (1994) |
| 1996 | Hugo | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 (1994) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | BAFTA Film Award | BAFTA Awards | Best Screenplay - Original | Changeling (2008) |
| 2009 | Saturn Award | Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA | Best Writing | Changeling (2008) |
| 1999 | Hugo | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 (1994) |
| 1994 | Hugo | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993) |
| 1991 | WGA Award (TV) | Writers Guild of America, USA | Anthology Episode/Single Program | Nightmare Classics (1989) |
| 1988 | Gemini | Gemini Awards | Best Writing in a Dramatic Series | Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (1987) |
Known for movies
Thor (2011)
as Writer
World War Z (2013)
as Writer
Babylon 5 (1994-1998)
as Writer
Changeling (2008)
as Writer