Doug Ellin

Doug Ellin was born on April 6, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Merrick, New York, and later attended Tulane University, graduating in 1990. After relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1990s with aspirations of becoming a stand-up comedian, Ellin transitioned to screenwriting. He took a job in the mailroom at New Line Cinema, where he began writing spec comedy scripts. His early writing efforts led to a collaboration with film producer Michael De Luca, who financed Ellin’s first short film, “The Pitch” (1993), starring David Schwimmer. This project earned Ellin admission to the American Film Institute.

Following his time at AFI, Ellin directed two independent comedy films: “Phat Beach” (1996) and “Kissing a Fool” (1998), the latter of which also starred David Schwimmer. While these early film projects provided foundational experience, Ellin’s significant career turning point occurred in television. He worked as a staff writer for the ABC sitcom “Life with Bonnie” from 2002 to 2004. During this period, he developed and wrote the pilot for “Entourage.” The show premiered on HBO in 2004 and became a breakout success, running for eight seasons until 2011. Ellin served as the series’ executive producer, director, and head writer, and also made supporting acting appearances.

Ellin’s involvement with the “Entourage” franchise continued with the writing and direction of the 2015 film adaptation. His work on “Entourage” led to an eight-figure pact with HBO for further television production. He has been nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and has received three wins and twelve nominations across his career. Ellin also co-hosts “Victory The Podcast” with “Entourage” cast members Kevin Dillon and Kevin Connolly, providing commentary and behind-the-scenes insights related to the show.