Paul Haggis

Despite getting his start as a sitcom writer, writer-director Paul Haggis earned a hard-fought-for career in Hollywood which culminated in winning Academy Awards for his biting racial drama, "Crash" (2005). Prior to his Oscar triumph, Haggis spent years writing for popular sitcoms like "Diff'rent Strokes" (NBC/ABC, 1978-1986), "One Day at a Time" (CBS, 1975-1984) and "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988). Eventually, he transitioned from sitcoms to one-hour dramas, adding "thirtysomething" (ABC, 1987-1991) and "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994) to his growing television resume. Haggis received an Oscar nomination for his brutal, honest drama, "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), starring Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank. He continued working with director Eastwood on "Flags of Our Fathers" (2006) and its companion piece "Letters from Iwo Jima" (2006), the latter earning him another Academy Award nod.