Jon Hurwitz

Jonathan Benjamin Hurwitz (born November 15, 1977) is an American screenwriter, director, and producer best known for his work on Cobra Kai (with Hayden Schlossberg and Josh Heald), the Harold & Kumar films, and American Reunion (with Schlossberg).

Jon Hurwitz
Hurwitz at the American Reunion
premiere in 2012
Born
Jonathan Benjamin Hurwitz

(1977-11-15) November 15, 1977
Byram, New Jersey[1]
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, director, producer
Known forCobra Kai
Harold & Kumar
Spouse
Randy Hurwitz
​
(m. 2007)​
Children2

Early life

Hurwitz was born in Byram, New Jersey,[1] to Jewish parents.[2][3] and lived there for two years. He then moved to Roxbury for 5 years, although following that he grew up mostly in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania and Randolph, New Jersey.[1] He met Hayden Schlossberg when they both attended Randolph High School.

Hurwitz was studying finance at the University of Pennsylvania, with Josh Heald who lived in the same dorm with him during freshman year.[4] As Schlossberg (who was in college at The University of Chicago) frequently came to visit, he got to know Heald as well.[4]

Career

Hurwitz was studying finance at the University of Pennsylvania, while Schlossberg was a history major at the University of Chicago with plans of attending law school. It was during this time that they sold their first script Filthy to MGM. Upon selling Filthy, they moved to Hollywood to begin their career in the entertainment industry.[5]

The idea for the first Harold and Kumar film, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle developed while they were living in Los Angeles. Hurwitz and Schlossberg decided to write a low-budget stoner film and base the main characters on their high school friends from Randolph High School. They based the character of Harold on their real-life friend Harold Lee. Hurwitz got the idea to base the film around White Castle from his own experience craving White Castle burgers when he lived in Pennsylvania for several years. At the time, Pennsylvania did not have any White Castle locations and Hurwitz had to have family members bring him frozen White Castle burgers from New Jersey.[6] It was later followed by Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas. They also wrote and directed the fourth theatrical entry in the American Pie franchise, writing and directing American Reunion (2012).[7] In 2015, the trio signed a deal with Lionsgate.[8]

They currently work on Cobra Kai, a continuation of The Karate Kid franchise. Hurwitz & Schlossberg created the show, along with their close friend Josh Heald. The trio serve as executive producers, show runners, writers, and directors on the series.[9] As of 2021, he and his friend Hayden Schlossberg, along with Josh Heald via Counterbalance Entertainment has signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television.[10]

Filmography
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2004Harold & Kumar Go to White CastleNoYesNo
2008Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo BayYesYesco-producer
Harold & Kumar Go to AmsterdamYesYesNoshort film
2011A Very Harold & Kumar ChristmasNoYesco-producer
2012American ReunionYesYesNo
2018BlockersNoNoYes
2018−presentCobra KaiYesYesExecutiveAlso co-creator
2021Plan BNoNoYes
2023-presentObliteratedYesYesYes

See also

References
  1. Hurwitz, Jon [@jonhurwitz] (August 31, 2020). "Nice to hear from a Randolphian. I was born in Byram, NJ, but only lived there 2 years. Then lived in Roxbury for 5 years. Then a town called Upper St. Clair, outside of Pittsburgh for 7 years. Then to Randolph. Loved my high school years in Randolph" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. "Schlossberg, Hurwitz Create a Heartfelt 'Reunion' of Raunch". April 4, 2012.
  3. "The real smart kids". Los Angeles Times. July 29, 2004.
  4. "Wax On, Wax Off (Interview)". The Creative Influencer Podcast, PFIEFFER Law. April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  5. Cahillane, Kevin. "Homegrown: A Stoner Comedy Straight Out of Randolph", The New York Times, August 15, 2004. Accessed September 21, 2015. "Mr. Hurwitz and Mr. Schlossberg say their inspiration came straight out of Randolph. 'The high school we went to had a lot of Indian and Asian kids,' said Mr. Schlossberg, who graduated from Randolph High in Morris County in 1996, as did Mr. Hurwitz."
  6. Vespe, Eric (July 20, 2004). "Quint interviews HAROLD AND KUMAR writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg about Doogie and Battlesh!ts!!!". Ain't It Cool News.
  7. "'Harold & Kumar' creators to direct 'American Pie 4′ (exclusive)". Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  8. Friedlander, Whitney (November 19, 2015). "Hurwitz & Schlossberg Sign First-Look Deal With Lionsgate". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. Heald, Josh (May 1, 2018). "The Inside Story of How 'Fuller House' Inspired 'Karate Kid' Sequel 'Cobra Kai' (Guest Column)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (September 9, 2021). "'Cobra Kai' Creators Re-Up Overall Deal With Sony Pictures TV For Their Counterbalance Entertainment, Set Comedy 'The Prince' With Writer Zora Bikangaga". Deadline. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
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