History of Neil Gaiman in Timeline
Neil Gaiman is a prolific English author known for his diverse body of work spanning short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. He gained prominence with the comic series *The Sandman* and authored acclaimed novels such as *Good Omens* (co-written), *Stardust*, *American Gods*, *Coraline*, *Anansi Boys*, *The Graveyard Book*, and *The Ocean at the End of the Lane*. Gaiman has also been involved in the television adaptations of *Good Omens* and *The Sandman*, further solidifying his impact on popular culture.
1914: Gaiman's great-grandfather emigrated to England
Before 1914, Neil Gaiman's great-grandfather emigrated to England from Antwerp, marking a significant point in the family's history.
1956: Narnia concluding volume wins Carnegie Medal
In 1956, the concluding volume of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia won the Carnegie Medal. This introduced Gaiman to literary awards.
November 1960: Neil Gaiman Born
In November 1960, Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman was born. He is an English author known for short fiction, novels, comic books, and screenplays.
1965: Gaiman moved to East Grinstead
In 1965, Neil Gaiman moved to East Grinstead and lived there until 1980.
1970: Gaiman attended Ardingly College
From 1970 to 1974, Neil Gaiman was educated at Ardingly College.
1974: Gaiman attended Whitgift School
From 1974 to 1977, Neil Gaiman attended Whitgift School in Croydon.
1977: Gaiman left Whitgift School
In 1977, Neil Gaiman's education at Whitgift School in Croydon came to an end.
1980: Gaiman left East Grinstead
In 1980, Neil Gaiman moved out of East Grinstead, where he had lived since 1965.
May 1984: First short story publication
In May 1984, Neil Gaiman's first professional short story, "Featherquest", was published in Imagine magazine.
1984: Gaiman returned to East Grinstead
In 1984, Neil Gaiman returned to East Grinstead.
1984: Gaiman wrote his first book, a biography of Duran Duran
In 1984, Neil Gaiman wrote his first book, a biography of the band Duran Duran, and co-edited Ghastly Beyond Belief with Kim Newman.
1984: Gaiman discovered Swamp Thing
In 1984, while at London's Victoria Station, Neil Gaiman read a copy of Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, which inspired him to buy comics regularly.
1985: Gaiman married Mary McGrath
In 1985, Neil Gaiman married Mary McGrath after they had their first child.
1986: Accusation by Julia Hobsbawm
In 1986, Julia Hobsbawm accused Neil Gaiman of "an aggressive, unwanted pass" and described how Gaiman pushed her onto a sofa and French kissed her.
1986: First published comic strips for 2000 AD
In 1986-87 Neil Gaiman created some of his first published comic strips called Future Shocks, for 2000 AD.
February 1987: DC Comics hired Gaiman
In February 1987, DC Comics hired Neil Gaiman after being impressed with his work, and he wrote the limited series Black Orchid.
1987: Gaiman ended his journalism career
In 1987, Neil Gaiman ended his journalism career because British newspapers regularly publish untruths as fact.
1987: Gaiman left East Grinstead again
In 1987, Neil Gaiman left East Grinstead again, after returning in 1984.
January 1989: The Sandman series began
In January 1989, The Sandman series began. It tells the tale of Dream, also known as Morpheus.
1989: Stories for DC's Secret Origins series produced
In 1989, Neil Gaiman produced two stories for DC's Secret Origins series: a Poison Ivy tale and a Riddler story.
1989: The Sandman comic series begins
In 1989, Neil Gaiman's comic series, The Sandman, began its run. The series tells the tale of Dream, an anthropomorphic personification.
1990: Good Omens Published
In 1990, Good Omens, Neil Gaiman's first novel in collaboration with Terry Pratchett, was published. It marked Gaiman's entry into novel writing.
1990: The Books of Magic written
In 1990, Neil Gaiman wrote The Books of Magic, a four-part mini-series providing a tour of the mythological and magical parts of the DC Universe.
1990: Good Omens published with Terry Pratchett
In 1990, Neil Gaiman's first novel, Good Omens, was published in collaboration with Terry Pratchett.
1992: Gaiman moved near Menomonie, Wisconsin
In 1992, Neil Gaiman relocated near Menomonie, Wisconsin, to be closer to the family of his then-wife, Mary McGrath.
1993: Contract to write Spawn issue
In 1993, Neil Gaiman was contracted by Todd McFarlane to write a single issue of *Spawn* for Image Comics, marking his involvement in the new title.
1993: Death: The High Cost of Living launched
In 1993, the limited series Death: The High Cost of Living launched DC's Vertigo line. Death, the older sister of Dream, was introduced in The Sandman and became a popular character.
March 1996: The Sandman series concluded
In March 1996, The Sandman series concluded after 75 issues. The series became one of DC's top selling titles.
1996: The Sandman: Book of Dreams co-edited
In 1996, Neil Gaiman and Ed Kramer co-edited The Sandman: Book of Dreams, a fiction anthology featuring stories and contributions by several authors and artists.
1996: Gaiman wrote Neverwhere
In 1996, Neil Gaiman wrote the BBC dark fantasy television series *Neverwhere*, showcasing his talent in television writing.
1996: Neverwhere novelisation published
In 1996, Neil Gaiman's novelisation of his teleplay for the BBC mini-series Neverwhere was published as his first solo novel.
1996: The Sandman comic series concludes
In March 1996, Neil Gaiman's comic series, The Sandman, concluded its run. The series, which began in 1989, became one of DC's top-selling titles.
1998: Publication of Smoke and Mirrors
In 1998, Seeing Ear Theatre performed two of Gaiman's audio theatre plays which were published in the collection *Smoke and Mirrors*. The plays were "Snow, Glass, Apples", Gaiman's retelling of Snow White, and "Murder Mysteries", a story of heaven before the Fall.
1999: Stardust released
In 1999, Neil Gaiman's fantasy novel Stardust was first printed. The novel was influenced by Victorian fairytales and culture.
2000: First published comic strips for 2000 AD
In 1986-87 Neil Gaiman created some of his first published comic strips called Future Shocks, and in 2000 these strips were published for 2000 AD.
2000: Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame published
In 2000, a story originally written by Neil Gaiman for Action Comics Weekly in 1989 was published as Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame.
February 2001: Gaiman's publishers set up a promotional website featuring a weblog
In February 2001, after Neil Gaiman finished writing American Gods, his publishers launched a promotional website featuring a weblog where he described the process of revising, publishing, and promoting the novel. This later evolved into the Official Neil Gaiman Website.
2001: American Gods released
In 2001, Neil Gaiman's American Gods was released and became a best-selling, award-winning novel.
2002: Coraline Published
In 2002, Neil Gaiman published "Coraline", adding another significant work to his bibliography.
2002: Publication of Coraline
In 2002, Neil Gaiman published *Coraline*, a dark fairy tale and his first venture into children's books. This marked a career milestone for Gaiman.
2002: Gaiman claims joint ownership of Spawn characters
In early 2002, Neil Gaiman filed papers claiming joint ownership of the Spawn characters he created with Todd McFarlane, sparking a legal dispute over copyright infringement.
November 2003: Marvel 1602 published
From November 2003 to June 2004, Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602, an eight-issue limited series with art by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove, was published.
![MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MkSczwnKL._SL500_.jpg "MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]")
2003: Gaiman wrote Marvel 1602
In 2003, Neil Gaiman wrote *Marvel 1602* to help fund Marvels and Miracles, LLC, which was created to sort out the legal rights surrounding Marvelman. All of Gaiman's profits for the original issues of the series were donated to Marvels and Miracles.
February 2004: Ruling on Spawn character ownership
In February 2004, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court ruling, granting joint ownership of the *Spawn* characters Cogliostro, Angela, and Medieval Spawn to Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane, affirming Gaiman's rights to the characters.
June 2004: Marvel 1602 series ended
From November 2003 to June 2004, Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602, an eight-issue limited series with art by Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove, was published, and the series ended in June 2004.
2005: Anansi Boys Published
In 2005, Neil Gaiman's novel Anansi Boys was published, debuting at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
August 2006: The Eternals published
From August 2006 to March 2007, Neil Gaiman's The Eternals, a seven-issue limited series drawn by John Romita Jr., was published.
March 2007: The Eternals series ended
From August 2006 to March 2007, Neil Gaiman's The Eternals, a seven-issue limited series drawn by John Romita Jr., was published, with the series ending in March 2007.
August 2007: Premiere of Stardust film adaptation
In August 2007, the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's *Stardust* premiered, starring Charlie Cox, Robert De Niro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes and Mark Strong, and directed by Matthew Vaughn.
2007: Announcement of Death: The High Cost of Living film adaptation
In 2007, Neil Gaiman announced that the feature film adaptation of *Death: The High Cost of Living* would finally begin production after ten years in development, with Gaiman writing and directing for Warner Independent.
October 2008: Gaiman read "Blueberry Girl" aloud at Sundance Kabuki Theater
On 5 October 2008, Neil Gaiman read his poem "Blueberry Girl", written for Tori Amos's daughter Tash, aloud to an audience at the Sundance Kabuki Theater in San Francisco during his book reading tour for The Graveyard Book.
2008: The Graveyard Book Published
In 2008, Neil Gaiman published The Graveyard Book, further solidifying his reputation as a prominent author.
2008: Release of The Graveyard Book
In 2008, Neil Gaiman released *The Graveyard Book*, a young adult novel influenced by Rudyard Kipling's *The Jungle Book* and H. P. Lovecraft’s *The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath*. The book follows the adventures of a boy named Bod raised in a graveyard after his family's murder.
January 2009: The Graveyard Book on Bestseller List
As of late January 2009, *The Graveyard Book* had been on The New York Times Bestseller children's list for fifteen weeks. This marked a significant achievement for the young adult novel.
February 2009: Release of Coraline stop-motion version
On 6 February 2009, the stop-motion version of Neil Gaiman's *Coraline* was released, directed by Henry Selick and featuring the voices of Dakota Fanning and Teri Hatcher.
March 2009: "Blueberry Girl" published as a book
In March 2009, "Blueberry Girl", a poem by Neil Gaiman, was published as a book.
2009: Marvel Comics purchases rights to Marvelman
In 2009, Marvel Comics purchased the rights to Neil Gaiman's *Marvelman* from original creator Mick Anglo, resolving the legal rights surrounding the character.
2009: Gaiman and Palmer entered a relationship
In 2009, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer began a romantic relationship.
2009: Batman story written for DC Comics
In 2009, Neil Gaiman wrote a two-part Batman story for DC Comics titled "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?"
2009: The Graveyard Book movie adaptation announced
In 2009, it was announced that Neil Gaiman's Newbery Medal-winning book, *The Graveyard Book*, would be made into a movie, with Ron Howard as the director, marking a significant milestone for the book.
August 2010: Shooting begins for Doctor Who episode
In August 2010, shooting began for the *Doctor Who* episode written by Neil Gaiman, during Matt Smith's second series as the Doctor. The original title was "The House of Nothing."
September 2010: Settlement deadline for Spawn derivative characters
In September 2010, Neil Gaiman won a court case concerning the *Spawn* characters Dark Ages Spawn, Domina, and Tiffany, and the judge gave Todd McFarlane until the beginning of September 2010 to settle the matter.
December 2010: Action Comics #894 released
In December 2010, Neil Gaiman and Paul Cornell co-wrote Action Comics #894, which featured an appearance by Death.
2010: Death: The High Cost of Living film adaptation no longer in production
By 2010, it was reported that the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's *Death: The High Cost of Living* was no longer in production, marking a setback for the project.
2010: Gaiman wins Carnegie Medal
In 2010, Neil Gaiman won the Carnegie Medal. He remarked that "it had to be the most important literary award there ever was."
November 2011: Gaiman appears on The Simpsons
On 20 November 2011, Neil Gaiman appeared as himself on *The Simpsons* episode "The Book Job", marking his guest appearance on the show.
2011: Gaiman and Palmer married
In 2011, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer got married.
2011: Pratchett comments on Good Omens
In 2011, Terry Pratchett commented that while Good Omens was a collaborative effort, he did a larger portion of the writing and editing.
2012: Hugo Award for The Doctor's Wife
In 2012, Neil Gaiman won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) for his *Doctor Who* episode, "The Doctor's Wife", recognizing his contribution to the series.
March 2013: Neverwhere radio play broadcast
In March 2013, a six-part radio play of Neil Gaiman's *Neverwhere* was broadcast, adapted by Dirk Maggs for BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra, featuring James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Lee, Bernard Cribbens, and Johnny Vegas.
May 2013: Broadcast of Nightmare in Silver
On 11 May 2013, Neil Gaiman's *Doctor Who* episode titled "Nightmare in Silver" was broadcast, marking his return to the Whoniverse.
October 2013: The Sandman: Overture released
In October 2013, DC Comics released The Sandman: Overture with art by J. H. Williams III.
2013: Gaiman named one of "The Best Tweeters in Comics" by IGN
In 2013, IGN named Neil Gaiman as one of "The Best Tweeters in Comics", praising his posts as "sublime".
2013: The Ocean at the End of the Lane Published
In 2013, Neil Gaiman released The Ocean at the End of the Lane, adding to his collection of novels.
2013: Gaiman named co-chair of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund advisory board
In 2013, Neil Gaiman was named co-chair of the newly formed advisory board for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, an organization he supports and has served on the board of directors for.
2013: The Ocean at the End of the Lane wins Book of the Year
In 2013, Neil Gaiman's *The Ocean at the End of the Lane* was voted Book of the Year in the British National Book Awards, marking a significant achievement for the novel.
September 2014: Good Omens dramatization on BBC Radio 4
In September 2014, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett joined forces with BBC Radio 4 to make the first-ever dramatisation of their co-penned novel *Good Omens*. The dramatization was broadcast in December in five half-hour episodes and culminated in an hour-long final apocalyptic showdown.
2015: Lecture for the Long Now Foundation
In 2015, Neil Gaiman delivered a 100-minute lecture for the Long Now Foundation entitled *How Stories Last* about the nature of storytelling and how stories persist in human culture.
2015: Starz greenlights American Gods series adaptation
In 2015, Starz greenlit a series adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel *American Gods*. Bryan Fuller and Michael Green were the writers and showrunners for the series.
2015: Death of Terry Pratchett
In 2015, Terry Pratchett, who was a close friend of Neil Gaiman, passed away.
September 2016: Announcement of Norse Mythology
In September 2016, Neil Gaiman announced that he had been working for some years on retellings of Norse mythology, signaling a new project in his career.
2016: Gaiman appeared in UNHCR video "What They Took With Them"
In 2016, Neil Gaiman appeared in the video "What They Took With Them" from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, helping to raise awareness about the issue of global refugees.
February 2017: Release of Norse Mythology
In February 2017, Neil Gaiman's *Norse Mythology* was released, marking the culmination of his work on retellings of Norse myths.
April 2018: Guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory
In April 2018, Neil Gaiman made a guest appearance on the television show *The Big Bang Theory*. His tweet about the show's fictional comic book store became the central theme of the episode "The Comet Polarization".
August 2018: The Sandman Universe launched
On 8 August 2018, The Sandman Universe, a line of comic books published by Vertigo, was launched under Neil Gaiman's oversight.
March 2020: Gaiman and Palmer moved to New Zealand; Gaiman left the country
In March 2020, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer, and their son moved to New Zealand. Weeks later, Gaiman left the country for his holiday home on the Isle of Skye, breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules, which resulted in criticism and an apology from Gaiman.
2020: Hugo Award for Good Omens miniseries
In 2020, Neil Gaiman received a Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form Hugo Award for the TV miniseries adaptation of *Good Omens*, for which he wrote the screenplay, recognizing his contribution to the adaptation.
2020: Gaiman returns to the Whoniverse with Rory's Story
In 2020, Neil Gaiman returned to the Whoniverse for the web series *Doctor Who: Lockdown*, writing the mini-episode "Rory's Story" which featured Arthur Darvill reprising his role of Rory Williams.
2021: Allegation by Caroline Wallner
In 2021, Caroline Wallner, a former tenant of Neil Gaiman, alleged that he demanded sexual favours in exchange for being allowed to continue living on his property. Wallner, her ex-husband, and Gaiman signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and Gaiman paid Wallner $275,000.
2021: Gaiman and Palmer reconciled
In 2021, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer briefly reconciled after having separated in 2020.
February 2022: Allegation of sexual assault by Scarlett Pavlovich
In February 2022, Scarlett Pavlovich, a former nanny for Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer's child, alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted her within hours of their first meeting.
August 2022: $60,000 payment to 'Claire'
In August 2022, Neil Gaiman made a $60,000 payment to 'Claire', one of the women who accused him of sexual assault and abuse.
November 2022: Gaiman and Palmer announced they would divorce
In November 2022, Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer released a joint statement confirming they would divorce.
2022: Gaiman supported Ukraine during Russian invasion
In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Neil Gaiman expressed his support for Ukraine by announcing on Twitter that he would not renew contracts with Russian publishers and encouraged donations to Ukrainian refugees.
2023: Gaiman voices Gef in Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose
In 2023, Neil Gaiman voiced Gef in the black comedy film *Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose*, one of the film's titular characters. This marked his voice acting role in the film.
2023: Gaiman signed open letter calling for Alexei Navalny's release
In 2023, Neil Gaiman, along with over 100 other public figures, signed an open letter addressed to Russian president Vladimir Putin, calling for the release of Russian prisoner Alexei Navalny.
July 2024: Sexual assault and abuse allegations
In July 2024, five women accused Neil Gaiman of sexual assault and abuse. All five were interviewed on the Tortoise Media podcast *Master: The Allegations Against Neil Gaiman*. One accuser, using the pseudonym 'Claire', was also interviewed by *The New York Times*.
September 2024: Production halts on The Graveyard Book film adaptation
In September 2024, Disney halted production on the film adaptation of Neil Gaiman's *The Graveyard Book* due to a variety of factors, including the sexual assault allegations against Gaiman.
2024: Sexual assault accusations surface against Neil Gaiman
In 2024, news outlets published sexual assault accusations against Neil Gaiman by numerous women. These accusations impacted or halted production on adaptations of his work. One accuser sued Gaiman and Amanda Palmer for rape and human trafficking. Gaiman has denied these allegations.
January 2025: Fallout from allegations
In January 2025, following allegations of sexual assault and abuse against Neil Gaiman, Dark Horse Comics cut ties with Gaiman, cancelling his ongoing comic adaptation of *Anansi Boys*. Gaiman was also dropped as a client by his agent Casarotto Ramsay.
January 2025: Negotiations between Palmer and Gaiman had become "ugly"
As of January 2025, during their divorce proceedings, negotiations between Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer were described as "ugly", and Palmer moved in with her parents due to financial difficulties.
February 2025: Scarlett Pavlovich files lawsuits against Gaiman and Palmer
In February 2025, Scarlett Pavlovich filed three federal lawsuits in the US alleging human trafficking and sexual assault, naming Gaiman and Palmer as co-defendants in one case and Palmer alone in two others. Gaiman responded by claiming the American court lacked jurisdiction and accusing Pavlovich of lying, presenting evidence suggesting her claims were false.
2025: Arbitration requests by Gaiman and Wallner
In early 2025, Neil Gaiman and Caroline Wallner both requested arbitration, the dispute resolution method mandated by the NDA, each accusing the other of violating the agreement.
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