Paul Brickman

Paul Brickman is an American screenwriter and film director best known for the iconic 1983 comedy‑drama Risky Business. Born on April 23, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, he grew up in the affluent suburb of Highland Park as the son of Shirley Kronenthal Brickman and cartoonist Morrie Brickman, whose syndicated strip The Small Society earned a modest following. Brickman attended Highland Park High School, graduating in 1967, and later earned his degree from Claremont Men’s College in California, where he cultivated a love for storytelling that would later shape his cinematic voice.

Brickman entered the Hollywood marketplace in 1977, penning the scripts for The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training and Handle with Care, both released that year and showcasing his knack for blending humor with earnest character work. His breakthrough arrived with Risky Business, a film he both wrote and directed, starring a then‑young Tom Cruise; the movie was shot largely in his hometown and surrounding areas, capturing the Mid‑western suburban ambience that informed its narrative. Although the film achieved commercial success and cult status, Brickman later expressed disappointment over studio pressures that forced alterations to the original ending, a compromise that left him feeling creatively constrained. He continued to explore complex family dynamics with the 1990 drama Men Don’t Leave, an adaptation loosely based on the French film La Vie Continue, and contributed to the 2001 NBC miniseries Uprising alongside producer Jon Avnet. After a long hiatus, Brickman returned to directing with the short film Allison in 2012, marking his final known directorial effort. Throughout his career, Brickman's work has been noted for its authentic portrayal of ordinary lives, subtle humor, and a willingness to confront emotional vulnerability, earning him a respected place among American indie filmmakers. His personal life includes marriage to Jennifer Schweitzer, and while public records do not list any children, his artistic legacy continues to influence aspiring writers and directors seeking to balance commercial appeal with personal vision.