Born in Fresno, CA. Graduated from San Francicso State University in 1975 with a degree in Cinema. A bankable "script doctor," a re-write man, he has worked on the screenplays to CRIMSON TIDE, PRIMAL FEAR, and AMISTAD without credit. Also did uncredited rewrites on PATRIOT GAMES (1992) and TWISTER (1996). Other notable screenwriting credits include THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN (1985), JACK THE BEAR and SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER (also director) (both 1993), CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (1994), MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996, story), A CIVIL ACTION (1998, also exec. producer & director), HANNIBAL (2001), GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002), THE INTERPRETER (2005) and AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007, also exec. producer). Zaillian wrote, produced and directed 2006's ALL THE KING'S MEN.  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium 1990: AWAKENINGS  Best Achievement in Writing - Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 1993: SCHINDLER'S LIST  Nominated for Achievement in Writing (Original Screenplay) 2002: GANGS OF NEW YORK (Screenplay w. Kenneth Lonergan and Jay Cocks) 3 nominations, 1 Award