History of David Simon in Timeline

David Simon is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and producer. He is most recognized for creating and producing the critically acclaimed television series *The Wire* (2002–2008), which offered a complex and realistic portrayal of urban life, crime, and the failures of institutions. His work often explores themes of social inequality, systemic corruption, and the human cost of political and economic forces. He is also known for other television projects such as *Generation Kill*, *Treme*, *Show Me a Hero*, *The Deuce*, and *We Own This City*.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

February 9, 1960: David Simon's Birth

On February 9, 1960, David Judah Simon was born. He is an American author, journalist, screenwriter, and producer.

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March 1977: Father Held Hostage in Hanafi Siege

In March 1977, David Simon's father was among a group held hostage in Washington, D.C. during the Hanafi Siege. This occurred when Simon was in high school.

1982: Starts at The Baltimore Sun

In 1982, David Simon began working as a police reporter at The Baltimore Sun, prior to this he was hired for a piece he wrote about Lefty Driesell.

1983: Graduates from University of Maryland

In 1983, David Simon graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he wrote for and edited "The Diamondback" and befriended David Mills.

1985: Conversation Inspires Book Idea

On Christmas Eve in 1985, David Simon was told by Det. Bill Lansey a goddamn book could be written about the unit, which inspired him to write a book about the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit.

1987: Writing Staff Strike

In 1987, David Simon was a union captain when the writing staff at The Baltimore Sun went on strike over benefit cuts, leaving him feeling disillusioned.

1988: Shadows Homicide Unit

In 1988, David Simon shadowed the Baltimore Police Department homicide unit for a year, an experience that served as the basis for his book.

1988: Takes Leave to Write Book

In 1988, David Simon, feeling disillusioned, took a year's leave from The Baltimore Sun to write a book about the Baltimore Police Department Homicide Unit.

1990: Sister's Death

In 1990, David Simon's sister, Linda Evans, passed away.

1991: Marriage to Kayle Tucker

In 1991, David Simon married graphic artist Kayle Tucker. They had a son together, but the marriage later ended in divorce.

1991: Publishes Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets

In 1991, David Simon published "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets", based on his experiences shadowing the Baltimore Police Department homicide unit.

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets

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1992: Wins Edgar Award

In 1992, David Simon's book, "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets", won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book.

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets

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1993: Leaves Baltimore Sun to Research The Corner

In 1993, David Simon took a second leave of absence from the Baltimore Sun to research "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood".

1993: Homicide: Life on the Street TV Series

In 1993, Homicide: Life on the Street, the award-winning TV series based on Simon's book, began airing. Simon worked as a writer and producer on the show, which ran until 1999.

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1995: Leaves Baltimore Sun

David Simon worked as a police reporter at The Baltimore Sun from 1982 to 1995.

1995: Leaves Baltimore Sun for Homicide

In 1995, David Simon left his job with the Baltimore Sun to work full-time on Homicide: Life on the Street during the show's fourth season.

1997: Co-Authors The Corner

In 1997, David Simon co-authored "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood" with Ed Burns, documenting a West Baltimore community.

1999: Homicide: Life on the Street Series Ends

In 1999, Homicide: Life on the Street, the award-winning TV series based on Simon's book, ended. Simon worked as a writer and producer on the show.

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2000: The Corner Mini-Series Airs

In 2000, David Simon adapted "The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood" into the HBO mini-series, The Corner.

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November 2001: The Wire Pilot Given to HBO

In November 2001, the completed pilot episode of "The Wire" was given to HBO.

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2002: Premiere of The Wire

In 2002, David Simon's television show, The Wire, premiered. He served as the creator, executive producer, head writer, and showrunner of the HBO television series, The Wire.

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2003: Simon Discusses Homicide's Journalistic Approach

In 2003, David Simon told Baltimore's City Paper that "Homicide the book and The Corner were not traditional journalism in the sense of coming from some artificially omniscient, objective point of view."

2003: Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, the First 40 days of the Invasion of Iraq inspired David Simon, along with Ed Burns and Evan Wright, to produce and write Generation Kill for HBO

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2004: Simon's Cynicism About Journalism

In 2004, David Simon expressed in an interview with Reason his increasing cynicism about the power of journalism since leaving the newspaper business.

2005: Carroll Resignation

In 2005, John Carroll resigned from his position as editor at the Los Angeles Times after budget cuts were announced. Previously, Carroll left The Baltimore Sun to become the editor at the Los Angeles Times.

2006: Marimow Diagnosis

In 2006, Bill Marimow was diagnosed with prostate cancer, an event that David Simon said "took the edge off" his grudge against him.

2006: Marriage to Laura Lippman

In 2006, David Simon married Baltimore novelist Laura Lippman in a ceremony officiated by John Waters.

April 2007: Simon's Revenge Writing

In April 2007, during a talk at the Creative Alliance's storytelling series, David Simon revealed that he began writing to get revenge against John Carroll and Bill Marimow, who were senior editors at The Baltimore Sun when Simon worked there.

2008: The Wire Concludes

In 2008, David Simon's television show, The Wire, concluded. He served as the creator, executive producer, head writer, and showrunner of the HBO television series, The Wire.

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February 2009: Writers Guild Nomination for The Wire

In February 2009, David Simon and his writing staff were nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series for their work on the fifth season of The Wire.

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May 2009: Senate Hearing Testimony

In May 2009, David Simon testified at a Senate hearing regarding the future of journalism in America, expressing his negative views on online journalism and the concept of the 'citizen journalist'.

April 11, 2010: Treme Premieres on HBO

On April 11, 2010, the HBO series Treme, created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer, premiered, focusing on musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans.

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2010: Birth of Daughter

In 2010, David Simon and Laura Lippman had a daughter.

2010: Receives Austin Film Festival Award

In 2010, David Simon received Austin Film Festival's Outstanding Television Writer Award.

2010: Selected as MacArthur Fellow

In 2010, David Simon was selected as one of the MacArthur Fellows.

2011: Named Utne Reader Visionary

In 2011, David Simon was named an Utne Reader visionary.

2012: Commencement Speaker

In 2012, David Simon was the commencement speaker for the Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences and the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School graduation.

November 2013: Speech on Inequality

In November 2013, during a speech at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, David Simon stated that America has become "a horror show" of savage inequality due to capitalism run amok and called for a reevaluation of socialism.

2013: Comparison of Surveillance Disclosures

In 2013, David Simon compared the global surveillance disclosures uncovered by Edward Snowden to a 1980s effort by the City of Baltimore to record the numbers dialed from all pay phones. He argued that the media attention was a "faux scandal."

2014: HBO Greenlights Show Me a Hero

In 2014, HBO greenlit production for David Simon's next project, "Show Me a Hero", a six-hour miniseries co-written with William F. Zorzi.

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August 16, 2015: Show Me a Hero Premieres

On August 16, 2015, the miniseries "Show Me a Hero", co-written by David Simon and William F. Zorzi, premiered, starring Oscar Isaac.

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October 2015: The Deuce Pilot Shooting

In October 2015, shooting began for the pilot of The Deuce, a television series created by David Simon and George Pelecanos.

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January 2016: The Deuce Picked Up

In January 2016, The Deuce, a television series created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, was picked up to series.

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2016: Views on Democratic Primaries

During the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, David Simon praised Bernie Sanders for "rehabilitating and normalizing the term socialist back into American public life", but opposed some attacks against Hillary Clinton.

September 10, 2017: The Deuce Premiere

On September 10, 2017, The Deuce, a television series created by David Simon along with George Pelecanos, premiered on HBO in the United States. The show is set in Times Square, New York, and focuses on the rise of the porn industry in the 1970s-80s.

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2017: The Deuce Airs

In 2017, "The Deuce", a drama about the New York porn industry in the 1970s and 1980s created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, first aired.

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2018: Lefty Driesell Inducted into ACC Hall of Fame

In 2018, Lefty Driesell, who was previously involved in a controversy that David Simon wrote about, was inducted into the ACC Hall of Fame.

2019: Firing of Agents

In 2019, David Simon joined other writers in firing their agents as part of the Writers Guild of America's stand against the Association of Talent Agents. Simon had previously criticized the practice of packaging by major talent agencies.

2019: The Deuce Concludes

In 2019, the drama series about the New York porn industry in the 1970s and 1980s called "The Deuce" created by David Simon and George Pelecanos concluded.

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March 16, 2020: The Plot Against America Premiere

On March 16, 2020, The Plot Against America, a six-part miniseries adapted from Philip Roth's novel, premiered on HBO. The show tells an alternate history through the eyes of a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey.

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2020: Separation from Laura Lippman

In 2020, David Simon and Laura Lippman separated.

2020: The Plot Against America Debuts

In 2020, David Simon's series, "The Plot Against America", debuted.

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April 2022: Support for Alexei Navalny

In April 2022, David Simon thanked Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for using a quote from The Wire in his court speech and wished him good luck.

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April 25, 2022: We Own This City Premieres on HBO

On April 25, 2022, the six-episode limited series "We Own This City", developed and written by George Pelecanos and David Simon, and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, premiered on HBO.