Early Life
Gregory Martin Daniels was born on June 13, 1963, in New York City. His father, Aaron Daniels, worked as president of ABC Radio Network, while his mother, Judy, was employed at the New York Public Library. Daniels attended Phillips Exeter Academy and later enrolled at Harvard University, where he became president of the Harvard Lampoon. It was at Harvard that he first began collaborating with fellow writer Conan O’Brien, laying the foundation for his career in comedy writing.
Career Beginnings
Daniels’s television career started with “Not Necessarily the News,” a satirical HBO series. His big break came when he joined the writing staff of “Saturday Night Live,” earning his first Emmy Award. He later moved to “The Simpsons,” where he wrote some of the show’s most memorable episodes, including “Lisa’s Wedding” and “Bart Sells His Soul.” His ability to mix sharp humor with emotional depth quickly set him apart from other comedy writers.
King of the Hill and The Office
In 1997, Daniels partnered with Mike Judge to co-create “King of the Hill,” a series that ran for more than a decade and became one of Fox’s longest-running animated shows. In 2005, Daniels took on his most ambitious project yet: adapting Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s British mockumentary “The Office” for American audiences. Initially met with skepticism, the series evolved under Daniels’s leadership into one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. His adaptation struck a perfect balance of satire and warmth, introducing characters that remain cultural icons. The show won several Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series.
Parks and Recreation and Later Projects
After the success of “The Office,” Daniels co-created “Parks and Recreation” with Michael Schur. Although the show began modestly, it grew into a critically acclaimed comedy that produced enduring characters like Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson.
Personal Life
While working at “Saturday Night Live,” Greg began dating Susanne Dari Lieberstein, who was working as one of Lorne Michaels’ assistants at the time. They married in 1991. Susanne’s brother, Paul Lieberstein, played Toby Flenderson on “The Office.” Susanne and Paul’s brother, Warren, was a staff writer on The Office and was married to The Office actress Angela Kinsey from 2000 to 2010. Susanne has had an impressive career on her own. She was previously the President of MTV, Lifetime and The WB, and the Vice President of Comedy at Fox. Most recently, she has served as the Global Head of Original Content for YouTube.
