The X Files

Background:

Chris Carter may be best known as the mastermind behind the international series “The X Files” (1993-2002), which also catapulted the fame of actors David Duchovny and Gillian Armstrong as the leading cast members. For the Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated series, Carter served as the executive producer, writer and director (received three Emmy nominations for his work). Carter also penned the sitcom “A Brand New Life” (1989), “The Nanny” (1993), “Millennium” (1996-1999), as well as the spin-off of “The X-Files,” “The Lone Gunmen” (2001).

In 1993, Carter set up the production company Ten Thirteen Productions, whose name referred to his birthday. The company, however, went downhill as soon as “The X Files” completed its final episode.

Carter is a godfather of Piper Maru, Gillian Anderson and Clyde Klotz’s daughter. He is married to scriptwriter Dori Pierson, who helped him build his career on TV.


Christopher

Childhood and Family:

Christopher C. Carter was born on October 13, 1956, in Bellflower, California, to construction worker William Carter (died in 1995) and Catherine Carter (deceased). His brother Craig is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT.

In 1979, Chris graduated from the California State University in Long Beach, California, with a B.A. degree in journalism. He then became a freelance journalist and editor of Surfing magazine. His attempt in screenwriting was apparently noticed by his then-future wife (they are now married), scriptwriter Dori Pierson, who delivered his draft to a Walt Disney Studios boss.


Rags to Riches

Career:

Soon after his script was read by Jeffrey Katzenberg, the then-chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, Chris Carter acquired a development contract with the major company in 1985. He made his TV writing debut with a Disney Sunday movie titled The B.R.A.T. Patrol (1986) and had a first producing attempt in the musical comedy-drama “Rags to Riches” (1987-1988, was also credited as a composer).

Carter was then the screenwriter and producer for “Cameo by Night” (1987), Meet the Munceys (1988, TV) and the sitcom “A Brand New Life” (1989). After penning an episode of the NBC crime drama “Midnight Caller” (1991), he began creating and developing TV projects for Twentieth Television. In 1993, he served as a scriptwriter and producer in the hilarious sitcom “The Nanny,” starring Fran Drescher.

“Mulder and Scully represent equal and competing parts of my nature. I guess I’m a natural skeptic, so I have much of the Scully character in me. Yet, I’m still willing to take leaps of faith, to go out on a limb. I love writing for both of those characters, both their voices are very clear in my head, and I want to show the two sides of the issue; the doubter and the believer.” Chris Carter on the X-Files’ characters in an interview with Cinescape (November 1994)

The same year, Carter created and executive produced the successful alien-themed mystery drama series “The X Files” (1993-2002), which chronicled the journey of two FBI agents investigating strange and unexplained phenomena. The show gradually won the hearts of fans and critics, earning two Golden Globe awards, a Peabody award and four Emmy nominations (also a BAFTA TV nomination). The X Files also helped elevate the career of David Duchovny and Gillian Armstrong, who played agent Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, respectively.

Besides taking home a PGA Golden Laurel’s Nova award for his producing effort in The X Files, Carter was praised for directing and writing the “Duane Barry” episode of the show. He was later handed a Universe Reader’s Choice award from the Sci-Fi Universe Magazine, as well as received an Emmy and a Writers Guild of America nomination. Carter also collected accolades for his work in the episode “The List” (earned an International Monitor award and a Directors Guild of America nomination for his directing), “The Post-Modern Prometheus” (directed and wrote, received two Emmy and a DGA nomination), “Triangle” (accepted a DGA nomination) and “The Erlenmeyer Flask” (picked up an Edgar Allan Poe nomination).

The massive success resulted in an exclusive five-year deal with Twentieth Century Fox, which was signed in 1995. Carter next executive produced the video-released The X-Files: The Unopened File (1996) and penned the self-produced movie of The X Files (1998). Apart from the international alien series, Carter also created the Fox series “Millennium” (1996-1999), the now-canceled sci-fi drama “Harsh Realm” (1999-2000) and the short-lived Fox spin-off of “The X-Files,” “The Lone Gunmen” (2001).


Awards:

- PGA Golden Laurel: Nova Award for Most Promising Producer in Television, “The X Files,” 1999
- Golden Globe: Best TV Series (Drama), “The X Files,” 1997
- Peabody: Excellence in Broadcasting, “The X Files,” 1997
- International Monitor: Film Originated Television Series – Director, “The X Files,” episode “The List,” 1996
- Golden Globe: Best TV Series (Drama), “The X Files,” 1995
- Sci-Fi Universe Magazine: Universe Reader’s Choice Award for Best Direction for a Genre TV Series, “The X Files,” episode “Duane Barry,” 1995