Michael Schur

Michael Herbert Schur was born on October 29, 1975, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in English from Harvard University in 1997, where he served as president of the Harvard Lampoon. Schur began his professional career in television as a writer for NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1998, where he remained until 2004. During his tenure at ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he also produced ‘Weekend Update’ starting in 2001, a role that led to his first Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 as part of the show’s writing team.

Following his work on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Schur transitioned to ‘The Office,’ joining as a writer and producer in 2005. He contributed to ten episodes of the series and earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006. He also had a recurring acting role on ‘The Office’ as Dwight Schrute’s cousin, Mose, appearing in 13 episodes. In 2008, he co-created ‘Parks and Recreation’ with Greg Daniels, a series that, after initial mixed reviews in its first season, garnered critical acclaim. Throughout his career, Schur has been known for creating optimistic characters and narratives that emphasize friendship and humanistic warmth. His shows often feature diverse casts from which breakout stars have emerged.

Schur’s creative output continued with the co-creation of the cop comedy ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ in 2013 and the philosophical comedy ‘The Good Place’ in 2016, both of which received critical and commercial success. ‘The Good Place’ explored ethical philosophy, a subject Schur later addressed in his 2022 book, ‘How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question.’ He has also served as an executive producer for other notable series like ‘Master of None’ and ‘Hacks,’ earning additional Emmy nominations and wins. In May 2025, Schur is scheduled to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his sustained contributions to the television industry.