Paul Haggis is the award-winning filmmaker who, in 2006, became the first screenwriter to write two Best Film Oscar winners back-to-back - _Million Dollar Baby which the New York Times cited as one of the most influential shows of all time, noting, that without it "there would be no Sopranos." Haggis is equally committed to his private and social concerns. He is the founder of Artists for Peace and Justice. Under this umbrella, many of his friends in the film business have come forward to build schools and medical clinics serving the children of the slums of Haiti. He divides his time between residences in Los Angeles and New York.
He is the son of Edward (Ted) H. Haggis and Mary Yvonne Metcalfe. His mother was a catholic. He has two younger sisters: Kathy and Jo. Children with Diane Gettas (married 1977-1997): Alissa Sullivan (born 1978), Lauren Kilvington and Katy Elizabeth. Son with Deborah Rennard (married 1997-): James.
In March 2003, Razor Magazine made a list of "nonconformists that defy dictates, the iconoclasts that cling to independent thought, the radicals that refuse adherence, that give us pause. They are what legends are made of." Along with Sam Shepard , Julian Schnabel , Baz Luhrmann , Lance Armstrong , Richard Branson , Robert Shapiro , John Irving and Bill Clinton , Razor Magazine named Haggis one of its "25 Mavericks of our time.".
The April 7, 2005, issue of Rolling Stone chose him as their breakthrough filmmaker of the year, saying " Crash , Haggis directorial film debut is already being touted for this years awards race.".
He was originally going to direct Million Dollar Baby . He was in the middle of directing Crash when Clint Eastwood asked to direct the film after being offered the lead. Haggis agreed.
Had a heart attack during the filming of Crash , yet refused to let anyone else finish directing it. He returned to directing 2 weeks after the event.
Moved to Los Angeles at age 22.
Studied cinematography at Londons Fanshawe College.
Produced two Best Picture winners in a row: Million Dollar Baby and Crash .
On March 5, 2006 became the first person in Oscar history to have written back-to-back best picture winners.
He was born exactly 13 years later than Chuck Norris , the star of his hit TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger" .
Was nominated for an Oscar for writing three years in a row: 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Has directed 2 actors in Oscar nominated performances: Matt Dillon (Best Supporting Actor for Crash and Tommy Lee Jones (Best Lead Actor for In the Valley of Elah ).
Quit the Church of Scientology in 2009--after 34 years--because he disagreed with the organization about its support of Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriage in California. His public break with the church was profiled in a long piece by Lawrence Wright in the February 14, 2011, issue of "The New Yorker"; the article was unusual in that it shed light on some of the inner workings and controversies of the normally secretive Church of Scientology. In the profile Haggis estimated that he spent more than $100,000 on courses and auditing, and $300,000 on various Scientology initiatives.
Father of actor James Haggis from his marriage to Deborah Rennard.
Father of Alissa Haggis (Sullivan), Lauren Haggis (Kilvington) and Katy Haggis from his marriage to Diane Christine Gettas.
That little bit of detachment has been great for me being down here. I,look like everyone else; I almost sound like everyone else, except for,the odd time I say chesterfield or serviette. But I am different. And I,am proud to be a Canadian.
Talking about Scientology (in the New Yorker): Demands for donations,never seemed to stop. They used friends and any kind of pressure they,could apply. I gave them money just to keep them from calling and,hounding me.
[Talking about "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993) ] It was the most,successful thing I ever did. Two weeks of work. They never even used my,script!,What I love about writing is the contradictions we all embody as human,beings.
