Jessie Nelson
Biography
Jessie Nelson is an American film producer, director, actress, and writer, known for her diverse contributions to both the big screen and the stage. Born in Los Angeles County, California, Nelson has established herself as a storyteller with a keen eye for character and emotion.
Nelson's career began in the theater, where she honed her craft as an actress at the Public Theater, collaborating with the experimental theater group Mabou Mines, and performing with the New York Shakespeare Festival. This theatrical background laid a strong foundation for her later work in filmmaking.
She transitioned into directing with the award-winning short film To the Moon, Alice (1990), which she also wrote. Her feature film directorial debut came with Corrina, Corrina (1994), a film she wrote, directed, and produced, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ray Liotta. This was followed by another notable directorial effort, I Am Sam (2001), which she also wrote and produced, earning Sean Penn an Academy Award nomination for his performance. Nelson later directed Love the Coopers (2015).
As a screenwriter, Nelson has penned films such as Stepmom (1998) and The Story of Us (1999). She also contributed to the story for Fred Claus (2007) and wrote Because I Said So (2007). Her producing credits include Danny Collins (2015), Hope Springs (2012), and Fred Claus (2007), among others.
Beyond film, Nelson has made a significant mark in musical theater. She wrote the highly successful Broadway musical adaptation of the movie Waitress, with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles. The show had a successful run on Broadway and moved to the West End in London. She also co-wrote and directed the musical Alice by Heart with Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik, which premiered Off-Broadway.
Nelson's television work includes directing episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and co-creating and executive producing Little Voice (2020) for Apple TV+, for which she also directed and wrote. She is also executive producing upcoming television projects, including Brown Baby and Untamed.
In addition to her work in film and television, Nelson has written the children's book Labracadabra. She was also the artistic director of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Married to director Bryan Gordon, they have a daughter, actress Molly Gordon.
