Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto Bio
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto (born October 18, 1975) is an American author, screenwriter, director, and producer. He is best known for creating the HBO crime drama series True Detective, which premiered in 2014. His career has spanned writing novels, screenplays, and producing acclaimed television, which has garnered him significant accolades in the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 18, 1975. He grew up in a Catholic family of Italian-Americans. His father, Nic Pizzolatto Jr., was an attorney. At the age of five, he moved with his family to a rural area of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School in 1993 and left home when he was 17. Pizzolatto attended Louisiana State University on a visual arts scholarship, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and philosophy. Following the death of a writing mentor, he took a break from writing and worked as a bartender and technical writer in Austin, Texas, for four years. He later enrolled in an MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas, where he received the Lily Peter Fellowship for poetry and the Walton Fellowship in 2003, graduating in 2005.
Path to Hollywood
During his time at the University of Arkansas, Pizzolatto wrote two short stories, which were sold to The Atlantic Monthly. In 2004, his work was among the finalists for the National Magazine Award in Fiction. His collection of short fiction, Between Here and the Yellow Sea, was long-listed for the 2006 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and was named one of the top five fiction debuts of the year by Poets & Writers Magazine. Pizzolatto’s first novel, Galveston, was published in 2010 and earned him several accolades, including the Spur Award for Best First Novel from the Western Writers of America in 2011.
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto Career
Early Career (2004–2010)
Pizzolatto’s career began in earnest with his writing contributions to various literary magazines and the publication of his novel. His work garnered critical attention, leading to nominations for prestigious awards. In 2011, he wrote two episodes for the first season of the crime drama series The Killing but left the show after a brief period due to creative differences.
Breakthrough (2014–present)
In 2012, Pizzolatto created the original television series True Detective, which was sold to HBO. The series premiered in January 2014 and became the most-watched freshman show in the network’s history. It received critical acclaim and significant viewership, with the finale crashing HBO’s streaming service. Pizzolatto served as the executive producer, sole writer, and showrunner for the series. The first season’s philosophical themes and complex characters drew inspiration from various literary sources, including works by Thomas Ligotti and Eugene Thacker. A new season of True Detective premiered in June 2015, with Pizzolatto again writing all the episodes.
Notable Works and Milestones
Pizzolatto’s signature work, True Detective, has won numerous awards and nominations, solidifying his reputation in the television industry. He was nominated for the Producers Guild of America Award for Best Long-Form Television for the series in 2015. Pizzolatto has also co-written the screenplay for the 2016 film The Magnificent Seven and adapted his novel Galveston for a film released in 2018.
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto has received several nominations for his work, particularly for his contributions to True Detective and his literary achievements.
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto Awards Won
Pizzolatto has won notable awards, including the Spur Award for Best First Novel for Galveston in 2011, highlighting his impact as a writer in both literature and television.
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto Family
Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto lives in Austin, Texas, with his two daughters. He married musician Suzanne Santo in June 2022.
Personal Life
Pizzolatto maintains a relatively private personal life. He has expressed a deep connection to his family and continues to reside in Austin, where he balances his writing career with family responsibilities.
