History of Neil Gaiman in Timeline

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Neil Gaiman

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.

Others born on this day/year

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.

The Saga of the Swamp Thing
The Saga of the Swamp Thing

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.

Black Orchid Deluxe Edition
Black Orchid Deluxe Edition

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.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

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.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

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.

Death: The Deluxe Edition (2022 edition) (Sandman)
Death: The Deluxe Edition (2022 edition) (Sandman)

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.

The Sandman: Book of Dreams
The Sandman: Book of Dreams

1996: Gaiman wrote Neverwhere

In 1996, Neil Gaiman wrote the BBC dark fantasy television series *Neverwhere*, showcasing his talent in television writing.

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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.

Neverwhere: A Novel
Neverwhere: A 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.

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions

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.

Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame
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.

American Gods: A Novel
American Gods: A Novel

2001: American Gods released

In 2001, Neil Gaiman's American Gods was released and became a best-selling, award-winning novel.

American Gods: A Novel
American Gods: A 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]
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.

MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]
MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]

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.

MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]
MARVEL 1602 [NEW PRINTING]

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.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book

2008: Gaiman joined Twitter

In 2008, Neil Gaiman joined Twitter.

2008: Gaiman met Amanda Palmer

In 2008, Neil Gaiman met Amanda Palmer.

2008: The Graveyard Book Published

In 2008, Neil Gaiman published The Graveyard Book, further solidifying his reputation as a prominent author.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book

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.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book

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.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book

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.

Blueberry Girl
Blueberry Girl

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.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard 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."

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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.

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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.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

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.

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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.

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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.

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October 2013: The Sandman: Overture released

In October 2013, DC Comics released The Sandman: Overture with art by J. H. Williams III.

Sandman: Overture 30th Anniversary Edition
Sandman: Overture 30th Anniversary Edition

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.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel
The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel

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.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel
The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A 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.

Norse Mythology
Norse Mythology

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".

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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.

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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.

2021: Gaiman cast in Lud-in-the-Mist adaptation

In 2021, Neil Gaiman was cast as Duke Aubrey in an adaptation of Hope Mirrlees' *Lud-in-the-Mist*, a novel Gaiman had previously proclaimed one of his favourites, for BBC Radio 4. This marked his acting role in the adaptation.

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.

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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.

The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book

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.