Began career writing documentaries

Won the Samuel Goldwyn Screenwriting Award at UCLA

TV-movie debut, "The Strangers in 7A" (CBS)

Original screenplay debut, "The Nickel Ride"

TV series debut, the short-lived drama, "Hearts Are Wild" (CBS)

Created the short-lived FOX series "The Heights"

Adapted the screenplay for the Robert Zemeckis directed "Forrest Gump" from the novel by Winston Groome

Wrote the screenplay adaptation for "The Postman," which starred and was directed by Kevin Costner

Adapted the Nicholas Evans' novel "The Horse Whisperer" for director-star Robert Redford

Co-scripted (with director Michael Mann), "The Insider," the story of tobacco industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand; earned an Oscar nomination for Adapted Screenplay

Re-teamed with Michael Mann on the script for the biopic "Ali," starring Will Smith in the title role and directed by Mann

Teamed with Tony Kushner to write the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's "Munich," which centers on the aftermath of the tragic massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic games; earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Screenplay

Scripted the original film "The Good Shepherd," about the birth of the CIA; directed by Robert De Niro and starring Matt Damon

Penned the screenplay for "Lucky You" starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore

Adapted the screenplay for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," from F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story; earned Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Screenplay