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 | |
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Born | Jonathan Benjamin Hurwitz (1977-11-15) November 15, 1977 (age 44) |
Occupation | Screenwriter, director, producer |
Known for | Cobra Kai Harold & Kumar |
Spouse | Randy Hurwitz (m. 2007) |
Children | 2 |
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. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2000.[4]
Hurwitz was studying finance at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, 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] More recently, he and his friend Hayden Schlossberg, along with Josh Heald via Counterbalance Entertainment has signed a deal with Sony Pictures Television.[10]
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
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2004 | Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle | No | Yes | No | |
2008 | Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay | Yes | Yes | co-producer | |
Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam | Yes | Yes | No | short film | |
2011 | A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas | No | Yes | co-producer | |
2012 | American Reunion | Yes | Yes | No | |
2018 | Blockers | No | No | Yes | |
2018−present | Cobra Kai | Yes | Yes | Executive | Also co-creator |
2021 | Plan B | No | No | Yes |
Works by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg | |
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Films written and directed |
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Films written |
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Films produced | |
TV series created |
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General | |
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National libraries |