Biography

Christopher Cleveland was born in Los Angeles. He grew up in Watts where Huey Newton and Eldridge Cleaver were regular guests at the house (his mother was a political activist and supporter of the Panthers).

He studied film at Art Center College of Design before selling his first script, which would become Oliver Stone's NIXON. He has written nearly 35 scripts in film and television for all the major studios and several networks. His awards and nominations include the Humanitas Prize, the Black Reelz Award, the Movieguide Award, the NAACP Award (twice), in addition to thirteen 2015 Emmy nominations for BESSIE starring Queen Latifah. Christopher was nominated for best teleplay. BESSIE went on to win four Emmys, including Best Television Movie.

He has collaborated with such Oscar-winning artists as Michael Mann (twice), Robert De Niro, Robert Zemekis, Denzel Washington, Barbara Streisand, Norman Jewison, Taylor Hackford, Oliver Stone, Martin Cambell, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Bryan Singer, William Friedkin, Dee Rees, and Jerry Bruckheimer. He's also worked with John Malkovitch, Milo Ventimiglia, Isabelle Huppert, Diego Luna, James Gandolfini, Richard and Lilly Zanuck, and John Travolta in his newest film, JOAQUIN MURRIETA. His films include Jerry Bruckheimer's GLORY ROAD, THE HURRICANE for which Denzel Washington won the Golden Globe, and McFARLAND, USA, starring Kevin Costner (2015 release) which won major awards at the Heartland Film Awards, a Best Picture Award for the Imagen Foundation, the Ceasar Chavez Legacy Award in addition to other nominations including the NAACP Image Award.

Christopher recently completed REBUILDING ROME for producer John Lawrence and CONQUISTADOR for Christian Bale, produced by Avenue Pictures.

He recently completed the screenplay MURRIETA, about Joaquin Murrieta (the true story of the bandit Zorro is based on) for producer Todd Myers for 1919 Productions, Inc.

His television credits include BOONE, a HISTORY Channel mini-series, Joel Surnow producer, and KING OF THIEVES, Matt Baer/Christopher Cleveland/Kelly Rauch Cleveland producers, that has just been completed.
- IMDb mini biography by: Author