David Simon was born on the 9th February 1960, in Washington, D.C., USA, and is a writer, producer, and journalist, best known as the creator of several TV series including “Homicide: Life on the Street” (1993-1999), “The Wire” (2002-2008), and “Treme” (2010-2013). Simon’s career started in 1982.
Have you ever wondered how rich David Simon is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Simon’s net worth is as high as $15 million, an amount earned through his successful career as a television writer. In addition to creating highly-rated series, Simon has also worked as a journalist, and published two non-fiction books which improved his wealth.
David Simon Net Worth $15 Million
David Judah Simon was born a son of Bernard, a former journalist and then public relations director for B’nai B’rith, and Dorothy Simon, a homemaker. Simon grew up in a Jewish family with his brother Gary, and sister Linda who died in 1990. David went to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland, where he wrote for the school’s newspaper.
Later, Simon studied at the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated in 1983, but he started his journalism career in 1982 as a police reporter at the Baltimore Sun, and stayed there until 1995. In 1991, David published his first book “Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets” which gained a lot of popularity, and the producers wanted it on the screen, so in 1993, the TV series “Homicide: Life on the Street” came out. The series aired for seven seasons and won four Primetime Emmy Awards. Simon also produced 45 episodes from 1997 to 1999. His net worth rose steadily.
In 1997, Simon’s next book “The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood” was published, but this time he was a co-author with Ed Burns. Three years later, the mini-series “The Corner” came out, and won three Emmy’s with Simon producing all six episodes. However, his best-known project thus far was creating one of the acknowledged best series ever – “The Wire”. The story follows law enforcement in a fight with a criminal in the city of Baltimore; the show was aired for five seasons from 2002 to 2008, and Simon worked as an executive producer on 52 out of 60 episodes. “The Wire” was a huge international hit and generated millions of dollars to Simon’s bank account.
After “The Wire” ended, Simon created a seven-episode miniseries called “Generation Kill” in 2008. The series is about the Rolling Stone reporter and his experiences during the American bombing of Iraq in 2003 – the show was a big success and won three Emmy’s. Simon then worked as a writer and executive producer of the musical-drama series “Treme”, which aired for four seasons and also won an Emmy Award. Most recently, Simon wrote six episodes for the miniseries “Show Me a Hero” in 2015 that won a Golden Globe Award. He is currently in the middle of writing of “The Deuce”, which will be premiered in 2017, about the New York City of the ’70’s and ’80’s during the porn and prostitution era in Manhattan – James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal will star.
Regarding his personal life, David Simon married graphic artist Kayle Tucker in 1991, and they have a son but divorced in 1998. David later married Baltimore novelist and former Sun reporter Laura Lippman in 2008 and had a daughter in 2010.
MacArthur Fellowship, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Dramatic Series, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, Edg...
Nominations
Writers Guild of America Award for Television: New Series, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series, Edgar Award for Best Television Episode Teleplay, TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama, British A...
Movies
In the Mood
TV Shows
Show Me a Hero, Treme, Generation Kill, The Wire, The Corner, The Deuce
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Trademark
1
Extensive story Arcs with frequent Callbacks
2
Known for creating Docu Dramas which cast a neutral eye on well known Insititutions such as the Police Department,The Drug Trade and the U.S Militairy
[in defense of the NSA surveillance program] To loudly proclaim our indignation at the maintenance of an essential and comprehensive database, while at the same time insisting on a proactive response to the inevitable attempts at terrorism is as childish as it is obtuse.
2
The trick to making a story matter is that every now and then, somebody you care about has to go. If it's somebody that you don't care about, then it doesn't really have - the stakes aren't there. But if you do that every now and then, then the story matters to people. And there are actual stakes involved, emotional stakes.
3
(Discussing whether he hopes The Wire (2002) will cause reforms of the institutions portrayed in the series) I'll tell you what, this would be enough for me: The next time the drug czar or Ashcroft or any of these guys stands up and declares, 'With a little fine-tuning, with a few more prison cells, and a few more lawyers, a few more cops, a little better armament, and another omnibus crime bill that adds 15 more death-penalty statutes, we can win the war on drugs' -- if a slightly larger percentage of the American population looks at him and goes, 'You are so full of shit' ... that would be gratifying.
4
The guys we were stealing from in The Wire (2002) are the Greeks. In our heads, we're writing a Greek tragedy, but instead of the gods being petulant and jealous Olympians hurling lightning bolts down at our protagonists, it's the Postmodern institutions that are the gods. And they are gods. And no one is bigger.
A Former Baltimore Sun crime reporter, David Simon is the author of the book, "The Corner", and is also the creator of both the Baltimore-based show, The Wire (2002), and the inspiration behind the show, Homicide: Life on the Street (1993). Simon's book, "A Year on the Killing Streets", is what the show was based upon. Simon was known for his in-depth reporting in covering the drug trade in Baltimore in the 80s and early 90s. Simon forged relationships with police and drug dealers and local residents who he used as sources for his crime reporting and later, as references for the many true-life stories seen on The Wire (2002) and "The Corner", especially.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Deuce
TV Series created by - 7 episodes, 2017 written by - 2 episodes, 2017 story by - 1 episode, 2017 creator - 1 episode, 2017 post-production
Show Me a Hero
TV Mini-Series written by - 4 episodes, 2015 story by - 2 episodes, 2015
Treme
TV Series 1 episode, 2010 created by - 36 episodes, 2010 - 2013 story - 12 episodes, 2010 - 2012 written by - 7 episodes, 2010 - 2013 teleplay - 3 episodes, 2011 - 2012 creator - 1 episode, 2010
Generation Kill
TV Mini-Series story - 6 episodes, 2008 teleplay - 2 episodes, 2008 written by - 1 episode, 2008
The Wire
TV Series created by - 60 episodes, 2002 - 2008 story by - 50 episodes, 2002 - 2008 teleplay by - 20 episodes, 2002 - 2008 written by - 1 episode, 2002
The Wire: The Chronicles
2007
TV Series characters
The Corner
TV Mini-Series book "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood" - 6 episodes, 2000 written by - 5 episodes, 2000
Homicide: Life on the Street
TV Series based upon the book by - 122 episodes, 1993 - 1999 teleplay by - 7 episodes, 1994 - 1997 staff writer - 7 episodes, 1996 story by - 5 episodes, 1998 - 1999 written by - 3 episodes, 1998 - 1999
NYPD Blue
TV Series story by - 1 episode, 1996 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1996
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Deuce
2017
TV Series executive producer - 8 episodes post-production
Show Me a Hero
2015
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 6 episodes
Treme
2010-2013
TV Series executive producer - 38 episodes
Treme Musical Performances: Long Hard Journey Home
2011
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: Skokiaan
2011
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: Decoy
2011
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: I'm Gone
2011
Video executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: Got to Get You Off My Mind
2011
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: New Olreans After the City
2011
Video executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: From the Corner to the Block
2011
TV Movie executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: Gold Watch and Chain
2010
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: At the Foot of Canal Street
2010
Video short executive producer
Treme Musical Performances: The Greatest Love
2010
Video short executive producer
Generation Kill
2008
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 7 episodes
The Wire
2002-2008
TV Series executive producer - 52 episodes
The Wire: It's All Connected
2006
TV Movie documentary executive producer
The Corner
2000
TV Mini-Series executive producer - 6 episodes
Homicide: Life on the Street
1997-1999
TV Series producer - 45 episodes
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Homicide: Life on the Street
1996-1997
TV Series story editor - 22 episodes
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Wire
2003-2008
TV Series
Sun Staff Member / Reporter
The Corner
2000
TV Mini-Series
Officer
Homicide: Life on the Street
1998
TV Series
Suspect
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Biggie and Tupac
2002
Documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Días de cine
2016
TV Series
Himself
Drunk History
2015
TV Series
Himself
The Men in Blazers Show
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
CBS This Morning
2015
TV Series
Himself - Creator, Show Me a Hero
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Charlie Rose
2015
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
The Big Interview with Dan Rather
2014
TV Series
Himself
How to Make Money Selling Drugs
2012
Documentary
Himself
Real Time with Bill Maher
2009-2012
TV Series
Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2012
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Shadows of Liberty
2012
Documentary
Himself
The House I Live In
2012
Documentary
Himself, journalist
America in Primetime
2011
TV Series documentary
Himself - Creator, The Wire
On Story
2011
TV Series
Himself
The Colbert Report
2008-2010
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself
Tavis Smiley
2010
TV Series
Himself
Life in the Game
2009
Video documentary
Himself
Bill Moyers' Journal
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself
Making 'Generation Kill'
2008
TV Short documentary
Himself
The Wire: The Last Word
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Wire Odyssey
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Tapping the Wire
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Wire: It's All Connected
2006
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
2000
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie
Anatomy of a 'Homicide: Life on the Street'
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Moyers & Company
2013
TV Series
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
USC Scripter Award
USC Scripter Award
Television
Show Me a Hero (2015)
2008
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Dramatic Series
The Wire (2002)
2007
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Television Feature/Mini-Series Teleplay
The Wire (2002)
2001
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Network/Cable - Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original
The Corner (2000)
2000
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Miniseries
The Corner (2000)
2000
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie
The Corner (2000)
1999
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
60 Minute Category
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
1995
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2016
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Outstanding Original or Adapted Screenplay, TV Movie or Limited Series
Show Me a Hero (2015)
2016
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Long Form - Adapted
Show Me a Hero (2015)
2014
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Treme (2010)
2014
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Miniseries
Treme (2010)
2011
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
New Series
Treme (2010)
2010
Le Reflet d'Or
Geneva International Film Festival - Tous Écrans
Best International Television Series
Treme (2010)
2009
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Miniseries
Generation Kill (2008)
2009
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
Generation Kill (2008)
2009
BAFTA TV Award
BAFTA Awards
Best International
The Wire (2002)
2009
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
Generation Kill (2008)
2009
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Dramatic Series
The Wire (2002)
2009
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Long Form - Adaptation
Generation Kill (2008)
2008
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Wire (2002)
2008
Gold Derby TV Award
Gold Derby Awards
Drama Episode of the Year
The Wire (2002)
2008
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
60 Minute Category
The Wire (2002)
2008
TCA Award
Television Critics Association Awards
Individual Achievement in Drama
The Wire (2002)
2008
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
The Wire (2002)
2007
Banff Rockie Award
Banff Television Festival
Best Continuing Series
The Wire (2002)
2005
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
The Wire (2002)
2003
Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Best Television Episode
The Wire (2002)
2000
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
The Corner (2000)
1999
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
Known for movies
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999) as Writer