J. Michael Straczynski

Biography:

Joseph Michael Straczynski was born in Paterson, New Jersey, to Charles, a laborer, and Evelyn (née Pate). Raised in several U.S. cities—Newark, Kankakee, Dallas, Chula Vista (where he finished high school), and San Diego—he grew up in a Catholic family but later identified as an atheist. Of Polish heritage, his grandparents fled the Russian Revolution, settling in the U.S., while his father lived in Poland, Germany, and Russia before returning to America.

He studied at Southwestern College, earning an Associate of Arts degree and later an honorary one, before transferring to San Diego State University. At SDSU, he completed a double major in psychology and sociology with minors in philosophy and literature, writing for The Daily Aztec. There, he met Kathryn M. Drennan, whom he married in 1983; they separated in 1999 and divorced in 2001. He later had a relationship with Patricia Tallman, star of Babylon 5, and partner at Studio JMS, though both ended in 2013. Straczynski has Asperger syndrome, underwent a voluntary vasectomy at 21, and wrote openly about the experience in 1983.

He began his career writing plays at Southwestern and SDSU, later publishing his version of Snow White. By the late 1970s, he was reviewing entertainment for KSDO-FM, writing radio plays, and contributing scripts to the radio drama Alien Worlds. His early television work included Marty Sprinkle for KPBS and Disasterpiece Theatre for XETV. He also worked as a journalist for outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, San Diego Magazine, The San Diego Reader, People, and the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner. His book The Complete Book of Scriptwriting (1982) became a standard screenwriting text.

From 1987 to 1992, he co-hosted the radio talk show Hour 25 with Larry DiTillio, interviewing figures like John Carpenter, Neil Gaiman, and Ray Bradbury. He later returned to radio with The City of Dreams for scifi.com. In animation, Straczynski gained early recognition writing for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and co-editing She-Ra: Princess of Power with DiTillio. He also worked on The Real Ghostbusters, handling story editing and writing for 78 episodes, though he left after creative disagreements.

Transitioning to live-action, he wrote for The Twilight Zone revival and Nightmare Classics, earning a Writers Guild nomination for his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adaptation. He served as story editor for Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future but left after conflicts with toy-company input. He later became executive story editor for The Twilight Zone and worked on Jake and the Fatman, Murder, She Wrote (where he co-produced two seasons), and an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Straczynski’s most celebrated creation is Babylon 5, co-produced with Doug Netter. Running five seasons, it earned Emmys, Hugo Awards, and praise for pioneering CGI effects. He wrote the majority of its episodes, TV movies, and spin-off novels.

In comics, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel in 2001, writing The Amazing Spider-Man through 2007 and creating acclaimed arcs such as “Spider-Man: The Other” and “Back in Black.” He also wrote Fantastic Four, Thor, Supreme Power, and others. He later returned to Marvel in 2021–23, contributing short stories, writing a mystery mini-series, and helming Captain America. In 2025, he announced a five-issue Spider-Man mini-series titled Torn.

His film work includes the screenplay for World War Z (2007), a rapid draft of Ninja Assassin (2008), story credit on Marvel’s Thor (2011), and uncredited contributions to Godzilla vs. Kong. He has also worked on adaptations such as Silver Surfer, Forbidden Planet, and Shattered Union. Recognized by Daily Variety in 2008 as one of the top ten screenwriters to watch, he was attached to projects with Ron Howard, Tom Cruise, and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Through his Studio JMS banner, Straczynski has developed projects such as The Flickering Light and optioned works like Harlan Ellison’s Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman. He was also briefly involved in Spike TV’s Red Mars before creative differences halted the show.

Though once approached to produce Star Trek: Enterprise, he declined, later co-writing a treatment for a new Star Trek series. In 2021, he expressed interest in showrunning Doctor Who but praised the BBC’s decision to bring back Russell T Davies.