Jonathan Tropper

Jonathan Tropper
Born	(1970-02-19) February 19, 1970 Riverdale, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Screenwriter, author, producer
Alma mater	Yeshiva University New York University
Period	2000–present
Subject	fiction, humor
Notable works	This Is Where I Leave You, Banshee, Warrior
Spouse	Stephanie Abram ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	4

Jonathan Tropper (born February 19, 1970) is an American screenwriter, novelist, and producer. He is the author of six novels. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the Cinemax television series Banshee (2013–2016). He is also the creator of the Cinemax television series Warrior (2019–2023) and the Apple TV+ series, Your Friends & Neighbors (2025-present).

Early life and education

Tropper was born in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York City in liberal observant Jewish home. During his childhood he attended Camp Morasha, a co-ed Modern Orthodox sleepaway camp in the Poconos. He briefly studied in Israel when he was 18. He studied English as an undergraduate at Yeshiva University and received a master's degree in creative writing at New York University,

Career

After university he spent eight years running a Manhattan-based company that manufactured displays for jewelry companies. He wrote at night and on weekends, ultimately publishing his first novel, Plan B, which attracted the attention of an agent, allowing him to leave his job and become a full-time writer. Five of Tropper's six books have been optioned at auction within a week of publication (The Book of Joe, How to Talk to a Widower, Everything Changes, One Last Thing Before I Go, and This Is Where I Leave You).

The themes of his books appear to stem from his personal experiences: they deal with topics such as being single, growing up, getting married, being married, getting divorced, and living in suburbia. Tropper's hometown of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York, is a main source of inspiration when creating the characters and settings in his books.

How to Talk to a Widower was a 2007 selection for The Richard and Judy Show in the United Kingdom. Everything Changes was a Booksense selection. Three of Tropper's books are currently being adapted into movies. Tropper co-wrote the film adaptation of The Book of Joe with Ed Burns, who will direct. This Is Where I Leave You was published in August 2009 and was made into the 2014 film of the same name. Tropper's most recent novel, One Last Thing Before I Go, was published in August 2012. The novel was optioned by Paramount Pictures for J. J. Abrams.

Tropper co-created the television series Banshee with David Schickler. The show aired on Cinemax; Tropper served as an executive producer on the show.

In October 2017, it was announced that his series Warrior, based on Bruce Lee's original idea and set against the Tong Wars of 19th century San Francisco, received a straight-to-series order at Cinemax. The series debuted on Cinemax in April 2019 to critical acclaim. Tropper served as showrunner and executive producer. Justin Lin, director of multiple Fast and Furious films and Bruce Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, served as executive producers.

In 2020, Tropper took over as showrunner and executive producer of the Apple TV+ science fiction series See (2019–2022), starring Jason Momoa, Alfre Woodard, and Dave Bautista.

Personal life

Tropper was previously married to Elizabeth Parker, with whom he has three children. In 2016, he remarried to Stephanie Abram, with whom he has one child.

Films

Tropper wrote the screenplay for the 2014 film adaptation of his novel This is Where I Leave You. Shawn Levy directed, and the film co-starred Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver and Jane Fonda. Tropper later produced and wrote the screenplay for Kodachrome (2017), starring Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews, and was acquired by Netflix.

Tropper wrote the screenplay for The Adam Project, a science-fiction thriller starring Ryan Reynolds and directed by Shawn Levy.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Writer	Producer
2014	This Is Where I Leave You	Yes	Executive
2017	Kodachrome	Yes	Yes
2018	Irreplaceable You	No	Yes
2022	The Adam Project	Yes	No
2027	Star Wars: Starfighter	Yes	No
TBA	The Wrecking Crew	Yes	No
TBA	Matchbox	Yes	No

Television

Year	Title	Creator	Showrunner	Director	Writer	Executive Producer	Notes
2013–2014	Banshee Origins	No	No	No	No	Yes
2013–2016	Banshee	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Directed episode "Only One Way a Dogfight Ends"; Wrote 17 episodes
2017	Vinyl	No	No	No	Yes	No	Episode: "Whispered Secrets"
2019–2022	See	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Wrote 7 episodes
2019–2023	Warrior	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Directed episode "Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard"; Wrote 8 episodes
2025–present	Your Friends and Neighbors	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Series creator, wrote four episodes

Bibliography

• 2000 – Plan B (ISBN 978-0312272760)
• 2004 – The Book of Joe (ISBN 978-0385338103)
• 2005 – Everything Changes (ISBN 978-0385337427)
• 2007 – How to Talk to a Widower (ISBN 978-0385338912)
• 2009 – This Is Where I Leave You (ISBN 978-0525951278)
• 2012 – One Last Thing Before I Go (ISBN 978-0525952367)

External links

• Jonathan Tropper at IMDb
• New York Times book review, This Is Where I Leave You
• New York Times, excerpt from This Is Where I Leave You