Director J.J. Abrams to Receive Producers Guild’s Norman Lear Award

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that award-winning television and film producer and director J.J. Abrams will be honored with the 2013 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television. The award will be presented to Abrams at the 24th Annual Producers Guild Awards ceremony on Saturday, January 26 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

“J.J. Abrams has produced some of the most iconic and highest-rated television shows of the past decade and longer, series that have changed the landscape of television,” said Producers Guild Awards Chair Michael DeLuca. “His talent is astonishing, and through his commitment to ingenious storytelling, compelling characters and television programming of the highest quality, he truly lives up to this award’s namesake. We are so pleased to honor J.J. this year with the Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television.”

“It is an incredible honor to be asked to accept the Producers Guild Norman Lear Award, especially since Mr. Lear is one of my true heroes,” said Abrams. “I feel privileged to be included among the prestigious list of past recipients, and look forward to celebrating the work of my fellow producers in January.”

J.J. Abrams is the founder and President of Bad Robot Productions, which he runs with his producing partner Bryan Burk. Formed in 2001, Bad Robot is partnered with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios and has produced films and television series such as CLOVERFIELD, STAR TREK, MORNING GLORY, SUPER 8, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL, ABC’s “Alias” and “Lost,” Fox’s “Fringe” and CBS’s “Person of Interest.”

Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Abrams attended Sarah Lawrence College where he co-wrote a treatment that became the basis for Disney’s TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS. In years following, he wrote or co-wrote such films as REGARDING HENRY, FOREVER YOUNG, ARMAGEDDON and JOY RIDE.

In 1998, Abrams co-created his first television series “Felicity” with collaborator and long-time friend Matt Reeves. Abrams served as Executive Producer for the series’ four-season run on The WB. Additionally, Abrams created and executive produced “Alias” for ABC and executive produced ABC’s “Lost” which he co-created with Damon Lindelof.

In 2006, Abrams directed his first feature film, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: 3 His second feature directorial effort STAR TREK was released in May 2009. SUPER 8 written and directed by Abrams and produced by Abrams, Burk and Steven Spielberg, was released in June 2011. His most recent feature, the upcoming STAR TREK sequel, will be released in 2013.

In 2005, Abrams received Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series for the “Lost” pilot as well as Outstanding Drama Series for “Lost.” He also received Emmy nominations for his “Alias” and “Lost” pilot scripts. In addition, Abrams composed the theme music for “Alias,” “Fringe,” “Lost,” “Person of Interest” and “Revolution,” and he co-wrote the theme song for “Felicity.”

Abrams presently serves as Executive Producer of CBS’s “Person of Interest,” Fox’s “Fringe” and NBC’s “Revolution.”

The 2012 recipient of the Norman Lear Award was Don Mischer. Previous recipients include Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Dick Wolf, Jerry Bruckheimer, John Wells, Lorne Michaels, Bud Yorkin, Carsey-Werner-Mandabach, David L. Wolper, Don Hewitt, Garry K. Marshall, Aaron Spelling, Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley, Mark Burnett and, of course, Norman Lear.