Eric Simonson (born June 27, 1960, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American writer and director in theatre, film and opera. He is a member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and the author of plays Lombardi, Fake, Honest, Magic/Bird and Bronx Bombers. He won the 2005 Academy Award for his short documentary A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical in 1993 for The Song of Jacob Zulu.
He was nominated for a 1987 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "The Normal Heart", at the Next Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.
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He was awarded the 1987 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Director of a Play for "Waiting for Godot", at the Bailiwick Repertory Company in Chicago, Illinois.
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One of 115 invitees to join AMPAS in 2007.
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Was nominated for Broadway's 1993 Tony Award as Best Director (Play) for "The Song of Jacob Zulu."
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Member of Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
We Know You Have a Choice
2015
Short
House of Stairs
2015
Short
Studs Terkel: Listening to America
2009
TV Short documentary
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
2005
Documentary short
Topa Topa Bluffs
2002
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom
2000
Short documentary
Hamlet
2000/II
TV Movie
Ladies Room L.A.
2000
Short
On Tiptoe: The Music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
2000
Documentary
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Fold
2016/II
Short executive producer completed
Killing Reagan
2016
TV Movie executive producer
We Know You Have a Choice
2015
Short producer
House of Stairs
2015
Short producer
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
2005
Documentary short producer
Topa Topa Bluffs
2002
producer
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom
2000
Short documentary producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Topa Topa Bluffs
2002
Dental Hygenist
Hamlet
2000/II
TV Movie
Second Grave Digger
Seinfeld
1997
TV Series
Friend
The Untouchables
1994
TV Series
Missing Persons
1994
TV Series
Charlie Winstead
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Killing Reagan
2016
TV Movie
We Know You Have a Choice
2015
Short writer
House of Stairs
2015
Short writer
Hamlet
2000/II
TV Movie
Editor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Studs Terkel: Listening to America
2009
TV Short documentary
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin
2005
Documentary short
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
My Buddy Rick: The Making of a One-Man Show
2009
Documentary
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Station Agent
2003
special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 78th Annual Academy Awards
2006
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Best Documentary Short Film
Steppenwolf Theatre Company: 25 Years on the Edge
2000
Documentary
Himself
The 47th Annual Tony Awards
1993
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Direction of a Play
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Gold Remi Award
WorldFest Houston
Comedy - Black / Dark
We Know You Have a Choice (2015)
2015
Award of Excellence Special Mention
Best Shorts Competition
Film Short
We Know You Have a Choice (2015)
2006
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Documentary, Short Subjects
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin (2005)
2001
IDA Award
International Documentary Association
Short Documentaries
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom (2000)
2000
Viewer's Choice Award
Temecula Valley International Film Festival
Best Short Film
Ladies Room L.A. (2000)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
LAIFF July Award
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards
Best Comedy/Dramedy
We Know You Have a Choice (2015)
2011
Emmy
News & Documentary Emmy Awards
Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form
Studs Terkel: Listening to America (2009)
2009
Video Source Award
International Documentary Association
Studs Terkel: Listening to America (2009)
2002
Emmy
News & Documentary Emmy Awards
Outstanding Cultural and Artistic Programming - Long Form
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom (2000)
2001
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Documentary, Short Subjects
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom (2000)
Known for movies
We Know You Have a Choice (2015) as Director
Hamlet (2000) as Director
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom (2000) as Director
A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin (2005) as Director
$18 Million
