View source for John Ridley

{{short description|American writer and director}}
{{other people}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = John Ridley
| image              = John Ridley in Nov 2013.jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Ridley in 2013.
| birth_name         = John Ridley IV
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1964|10|1}}
| birth_place        = [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], U.S.
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = [[New York University]]
| occupation         = [[Screenwriter]] <br /> [[Novelist]] <br /> [[Television writer]] <br /> [[Television director]]
| years_active       = 1988–present
| known_for          = 
| notable_works      = ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'' <br /> ''[[American Crime (TV series)|American Crime]]''
| spouse             = Gayle Ridley
| children           = 2
| website            = 
}}

'''John Ridley IV'''<ref name=reardon>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/09/24/john-ridleys-childhood-was-sunny-but-his-novels-explore-a-dark-world/ |title=John Ridley's Childhood Was Sunny, But His Novels Explore A Dark World |date=September 24, 1998 |first=Patrick T. |last=Reardon |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |access-date=March 25, 2015 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113004132/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-09-24/features/9809240308_1_fingers-novels-sound |url-status=live }}</ref> (born October 1, 1964)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/person/314580401-John-Ridley#tab=summary|title=John Ridley - Box Office|access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref> is an American screenwriter, television director, novelist, and showrunner, known for ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'', for which he won an [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]. He is also the creator and showrunner of the [[anthology series]] ''[[American Crime (TV series)|American Crime]]''. In 2017 he directed the [[documentary film]] ''[[Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992]]''.

==Early life==
Ridley was born in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]],<ref name="Susan Kim Gray">{{cite book|title=Writers on Directors|editor-first=Susan Kim|editor-last=Gray|publisher=[[Watson-Guptill Publications]]|year=1999|page=66|quote=JOHN RIDLEY Born 1965 Milwaukee, Wisconsin}}</ref> and was raised from the age of seven in [[Mequon, Wisconsin]],<ref name=MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008 /><ref name=MKEJournalSent-12YAS-2014>{{cite news|last1=Dudek|first1=Duane|title=Mequon native Ridley talks Oscar nominations for '12 Years A Slave'|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/240477341.html|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|date=January 16, 2014 | archive-date= January 18, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150118114229/http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/240477341.html | url-status=live}}</ref> with an [[ophthalmologist]] father, John Ridley, III, and a mother, Terry Ridley, who was a special education teacher<ref name=reardon /> for [[Milwaukee Public Schools]].<ref name=MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008>{{cite news|last1=Chandler|first1=Kurt|title=How to be a Famous Hollywood Writer|url=http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-HowtobeaFamousHollywoodWriter|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Milwaukee Magazine]]|date=January 31, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131126161650/http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/242011-HowtobeaFamousHollywoodWriter | archive-date= November 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name=WUUM-Father-2014>{{cite news|last1=Bence|first1=Susan|title=Oscar Winner John Ridley's Father Talks About Life Before Desegregation|url=http://wuwm.com/post/oscar-winner-john-ridleys-father-talks-about-life-desegregation|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=[[WUWM]] Milwaukee|date=4 March 2014|format=Audio| archive-date= January 28, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150128112108/http://wuwm.com/post/oscar-winner-john-ridleys-father-talks-about-life-desegregation | url-status =live}} Audio [https://web.archive.org/web/20150128142240/http://cpa.ds.npr.org/wuwm/audio/2014/03/JOHN_RIDLEY_piece.mp3 archived] on January 28, 2015.</ref> He has two sisters and is the middle sibling.<ref name=MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008 />

Ridley graduated from [[Homestead High School (Mequon, Wisconsin)|Homestead High School]] in [[Mequon, Wisconsin]] in 1982.<ref name=MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008 /> He enrolled in [[Indiana University]] but transferred to [[New York University]].<ref name=MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008 /> There, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in East Asian languages. The subject wasn't applicable to his career, but it sparked his intellectual interests.<ref name="encyclopedia.com">{{Cite web|title=Ridley, John {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ridley-john|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref> Ridley is [[Christians|Christian]].<ref>Zeitchik, Steven, [http://www.pressherald.com/2016/08/21/a-ben-hur-for-our-time/ "A 'Ben-Hur' for our time"], ''Portland Press Herald'', August 21, 2016: "Downey and Burnett are staunch Catholics; Ridley is also a devout Christian, Huston and Bekmambetov, who was raised in a communist country, are more secular; Daniel and MGM principal Gary Barber are Jewish."</ref>

==Career==
Following college, Ridley spent a year living and traveling in Japan.<ref name="encyclopedia.com" /> Then, he returned to New York and began performing [[standup comedy]] in New York City, and he made appearances on ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]'' and ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]''.<ref name="MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008" /> Moving to [[Los Angeles]] in 1990, he began writing for such television [[sitcoms]] as ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'', ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', and ''[[The John Larroquette Show]]''.<ref name="MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008" />
After both writing and directing his film debut, the 1997 crime thriller ''[[Cold Around the Heart]]'', he and [[Oliver Stone]] co-adapted Ridley's first novel, ''Stray Dogs'' (still unpublished when Stone bought the rights<ref name="ew" />) into the 1997 Stone-directed film ''[[U Turn (1997 film)|U Turn]]'', which was released slightly earlier than ''Cold Around the Heart''. Ridley went on to write the novels ''Love Is a Racket'' and ''Everybody Smokes in Hell''. His novel ''Spoils of War'' was adapted into the 1999 [[David O. Russell]]-directed ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]''. Ridley's original script was rewritten by Russell and Ridley, with Ridley receiving a "story by" credit negotiated among himself, Russell, and the releasing studio, [[Warner Bros.]]<!--as opposed to Writers Guild arbitration--><ref name="ew">{{cite news|title=John Ridley, Easy Writer|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1999/10/08/john-ridley-easy-writer|access-date=January 18, 2015|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date= October 8, 1999 | archive-date=February 28, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150228182455/http://www.ew.com/article/1999/10/08/john-ridley-easy-writer| url-status=live}}</ref> Ridley then became a writer and a supervising producer on the [[NBC]] crime drama ''[[Third Watch]]''. His other novels are ''The Drift'', ''[[Those Who Walk in Darkness]]'', and ''A Conversation with the Mann''.<ref name="MilwaukeeMag-Feature-2008" /> He also wrote the [[graphic novel]] ''[[The American Way (comics)|The American Way]]''.<ref name="FreshAir-AmericanWay-2007">{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Terry|title=A Disenchanted Look at 'The American Way'|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9957776|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Fresh Air]]|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=May 2, 2007|format=Audio interview| archive-date=January 22, 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150122212502/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9957776 | url-status =live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-19 |title=John Ridley: On graphic novels and connecting art with social justice in Milwaukee |url=http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/profiles/john-ridley-graphic-novels-connecting-art-social-justice-milwaukee/ |website=The Milwaukee Independent |language=en-US}}</ref>

From 2000 to 2010, he was a commentator and blogger for [[NPR]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/people/10643901/john-ridley|title=Stories By John Ridley|date=March 26, 2019|publisher=NPR}}</ref> His blog was ''Visible Man'', a play on [[Ralph Ellison]]'s ''[[Invisible Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/visibleman/2007/07/frequently_asked_questions_abo.html|title=FAQ for John Ridley's Visible Man|publisher=NPR|date=July 18, 2007|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> In 2003, Ridley inked a one-year overall deal with [[Universal Television|Universal Network Television]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Adalian|first=Josef|date=2003-08-13|title=U TV makes home for 'Brother'|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/markets-festivals/u-tv-makes-home-for-brother-1117890798/|access-date=2021-11-02|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>

His work as screenwriter also includes ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'',<ref name=NYTimes-Oscars-2014 /> ''[[Red Tails]]'', and ''[[Undercover Brother]].'' His script for ''12 Years a Slave'' won the [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]],<ref name=NYTimes-12YASedit-2014>{{cite news |last1=Shattuck |first1=Kathryn |title=What the Writer Had to Edit From '12 Years a Slave' |url=http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/what-the-writer-had-to-edit-from-12-years-a-slave/ |access-date=January 18, 2015 |work=The New York Times |date=January 16, 2014 |archive-date=January 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118114302/http://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/what-the-writer-had-to-edit-from-12-years-a-slave/ |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> making Ridley the second [[African American]] to win the award, after [[Geoffrey S. Fletcher]] (for ''[[Precious (film)|Precious]]'', based on the novel ''[[Push (novel)|Push]]'' by [[Sapphire (author)|Sapphire]]).<ref name=NYTimes-Oscars-2014>{{cite news |last1=Cieply |first1=Michael |last2=Barnes |first2=Brooks |title=A Landmark Oscar Win for '12 Years a Slave' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/movies/awardsseason/oscars-2014-winners-and-losers.html |access-date=January 18, 2015 |work=The New York Times |date=March 2, 2014 |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326074545/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/movies/awardsseason/oscars-2014-winners-and-losers.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=LATimes-Oscars-2014>{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Chris|title=Oscars 2014: '12 Years a Slave' wins for adapted screenplay|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-mn-et-oscars-2014-12-years-a-slave-wins-for-best-adapted-screenplay-20140302-story.html|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 2, 2014 | archive-date= February 28, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150228064704/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-mn-et-oscars-2014-12-years-a-slave-wins-for-best-adapted-screenplay-20140302-story.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2015, Ridley was developing an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] television series involving an existing [[Marvel Comics]] character.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/17/marvel-john-ridley |title=Marvel teaming with John Ridley for mysterious superhero project — exclusive |first=James |last=Hibbard |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 17, 2015 |access-date=December 19, 2015 |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027002602/http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/17/marvel-john-ridley |url-status=live }}</ref> However, by December 2019, the project was cancelled due to [[Marvel Television]] folding into [[Marvel Studios]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/marvel-tv-division-folded-studio-unit-layoffs-expected-1261586 |title=Marvel TV Division Folded Into Studio Unit, Layoffs Expected |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=December 8, 2019 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211034642/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/marvel-tv-division-folded-studio-unit-layoffs-expected-1261586 |archive-date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref> Ridley later revealed that his cancelled project would have been a version of ''[[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]]'', which was instead developed as an unrelated movie directed by [[Chloé Zhao]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Club |first=Comic Book |date=2024-01-03 |title=John Ridley's Scrapped Marvel-ABC TV Show Was An Eternals Series |url=https://comicbookclublive.com/2024/01/03/john-ridley-eternals-tv-series-scrapped-marvel-abc-project/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Comic Book Club |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 16, 2018, it was announced that Ridley would direct and write an adaptation of his graphic novel ''The American Way'' produced by [[Blumhouse Productions]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=John Ridley To Write, Direct Blumhouse Superhero Film 'The American Way'|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/the-american-way-john-ridley-superhero-movie-blumhouse-jason-blum-12-years-a-slave-1202365314/|website=Deadline|access-date=April 17, 2018|date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>

On June 4, 2018, it was announced that Ridley would direct a feature film adaptation of the [[Robert Silverberg]] short story, ''[[Needle in a Timestack]]'' produced by [[Bron Studios]]. The film featured performances from [[Leslie Odom Jr.]], [[Freida Pinto]], [[Cynthia Erivo]], and [[Orlando Bloom]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=N'Duka |first1=Amanda |title=Leslie Odom Jr., Freida Pinto, Cynthia Erivo, Orlando Bloom & BRON Studios Join John Ridley's 'Needle In A Timestack' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/leslie-odom-jr-freida-pinto-cynthia-erivo-orlando-bloom-bron-studios-john-ridley-needle-in-a-timestack-1202403078/ |website=Deadline |access-date=June 5, 2018 |date=June 4, 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, Ridley began writing a number of series for [[DC Comics]]. The series include a new [[Batman]] series 'The Next Batman' as part of the company's line-wide event '[[Future State]]', and a 5-issue series 'The Other History of the DC Universe' a text-based story about the history of the non-white, non-American DC heroes such as [[Black Lightning]] and [[Katana (DC Comics)|Katana]].

In May 2021, Marvel Comics announced that Ridley will write [[Black Panther (character)|Black Panther]] comics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gustines|first=George Gene|date=2021-05-18|title=Marvel Announces a New Black Panther Series|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/arts/marvel-black-panther-john-ridley.html|access-date=2021-05-18|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
In December 2007, during the [[2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike|Writers Guild of America strike]] against the major production studios, Ridley opted for WGA membership as a dues-paying non-member, or "fi-core," making him eligible to submit (scab) scripts to the studios while the strike was ongoing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Seitzman|first=Michael|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-seitzman/what-ficore-really-means_b_79819.html|title=What "Fi-Core" Really Means|website=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=January 4, 2008|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> In an op-ed published in the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Ridley expressed his frustration at the direction the strike had taken and the WGA's crushing of internal dissent: "After 15 years of being told shut up, sit down and be part of the [[groupthink]], I decided I did not belong in the guild. The guild has a way to option out. I took the option."<ref>{{cite news|last=Ridley|first=John|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oew-ridley8jan08-story.html|title=John Ridley goes fi-core|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 8, 2008|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref> Ridley's screenplay for ''12 Years a Slave'' was thus ineligible for a [[Writers Guild of America Award]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McNary|first=Dave|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/bitterness-of-wga-strike-echoed-in-exclusion-of-12-years-a-slave-1201039974/|title=Bitterness of WGA Strike Echoed in Exclusion of '12 Years a Slave'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=January 9, 2014|access-date=March 26, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ridley is married to wife Gayle, a former [[script supervisor]].<ref name=MKEJournalSent-12YAS-2014 /><ref name=ew /> They have two children.<ref>Ridley in {{cite web| title=Oscar-Winner John Ridley Talks Writing '12 Years a Slave' and Directing Hendrix Biopic 'All Is By My Side'| url = http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/john-ridley-talks-writing-12-years-a-slave-and-directing-hendrix-biopic-all-is-by-my-side?page=1 | first=Anne |last=Thompson| author-link= Anne Thompson (film critic) | publisher= [[Indiewire.com]] | date=October 16, 2013 | archive-date=October 31, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031134754/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/john-ridley-talks-writing-12-years-a-slave-and-directing-hendrix-biopic-all-is-by-my-side?page=1 | url-status=live| quote =At the end of the year, when all these things are happening and you've got two kids, a lot of what you see gets determined by what gets put in front of you.}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year 
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
!width=65| Producer
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997 
| ''[[U Turn (1997 film)|U Turn]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-written with [[Oliver Stone]]
|-
| ''[[Cold Around the Heart]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| 
|-
| 1999 
| ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes|Story}}
| {{no}}
| Story by, screenplay by [[David O. Russell]]
|-
| 2002 
| ''[[Undercover Brother]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-written by [[Michael McCullers]]
|-
| 2012 
| ''[[Red Tails]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Story by, co-written by [[Aaron McGruder]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2013 
| ''[[Jimi: All Is by My Side]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|
|-
| ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br />Nominated - [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]  <br />Nominated - [[Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay]]
|-
| 2016 
| ''[[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| Co-written by Keith Clarke
|-
| 2017 
| ''[[Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| Documentary
|-
| 2021 
| ''[[Needle in a Timestack]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
|
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Shirley (2024 film)|Shirley]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year 
! Title
!width=65| Director
!width=65| Writer
! Producer
! Creator
! Notes
|-
| 1993 
| ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
| {{no}}
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1994 
| ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}} 
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1995 
| ''[[The John Larroquette Show]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Co-producer}} 
| {{no}}
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1996 
| ''The Show'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Consulting}} 
| {{no}}
| Episode: "Tom and Them"
|-
| 1998 
| ''[[Team Knight Rider]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}} 
| Episode: "E.M.P."
|-
| 1999 
| ''[[Trinity (U.S. TV series)|Trinity]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}} 
| Episode: "Having Trouble with the Language"
|-
| 1999–2004 
| ''[[Third Watch]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Consulting}} 
| {{no}}
| 8 episodes
|-
|rowspan=2| 2003 
| ''[[Platinum (TV series)|Platinum]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}} 
| {{yes}}
| Directed episode: "Peace"
|-
| ''[[Static Shock]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
| {{no}}
| Episode: "Toys in the Hood"
|-
| 2004 
| ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}} 
| {{no}}
| Episode: "Starcrossed: Part II"
|-
| 2005 
| ''[[Barbershop: The Series]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}} 
| {{no}}
| Also developer;<br>Directed 3 episodes, wrote 7 episodes
|-
| 2009 
| ''[[The Wanda Sykes Show]]'' 
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes|Executive}} 
| {{no}}
|
|-
| 2015–2017 
| ''[[American Crime (TV series)|American Crime]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}} 
| {{yes}}
| Directed 5 episodes, wrote 8 episodes
|-
| 2017 
| ''[[Guerrilla (TV series)|Guerrilla]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
| {{yes}}
| Directed 3 episodes, wrote 5 episodes
|-
| 2019 
| ''[[Godfather of Harlem]]'' 
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| Episode: "By Whatever Means Necessary"
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Five Days at Memorial (miniseries)|Five Days at Memorial]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes|Executive}}
| {{yes}}
| Directed 3 episodes, wrote 5 episodes
|}

'''Acting credits'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year 
! Title
! Role
! Episode
|-
| 1993 
| ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' 
| Man with car (uncredited)
| "Hollywood Swinging: Part 2"
|-
|1994
|''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' 
| Himself
| "Will's Up a Dirt Road"
|-
| 2016 
| ''[[Lady Dynamite]]'' 
| Himself 
| "White Trash"
|}

===Awards and nominations===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Awards
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Cold Around the Heart]]'' 
| [[Stacy Spikes|Urbanworld Film Festival Jury Prize for Best Director]]
|-
| 1999 
| ''[[Three Kings (1999 film)|Three Kings]]'' 
| Nominated—[[4th Golden Satellite Awards|Golden Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay]] {{small|(shared with ''[[David O. Russell]]'')}} <br /> Nominated—[[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay]] {{small|(shared with ''[[David O. Russell]]'')}}
|-
| 2002 
| ''[[Undercover Brother]]'' 
| Nominated—[[Black Reel Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original|Black Reel Award for Best Screenplay]]
|-
| 2013
| ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'' 
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] 
[[African-American Film Critics Association|African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[Alliance of Women Film Journalists|Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[Austin Film Critics Association|Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[Austin Film Critics Association|Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]  <br /> [[Black Reel Award for Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original|Black Reel Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[Chicago Film Critics Association|Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association|Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay|Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[Houston Film Critics Society|Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> [[NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture <br /> [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[San Francisco Film Critics Circle|San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> [[St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]]  <br /> [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> Nominated—[[AACTA International Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> Nominated—[[London Film Critics' Circle|London Film Critics' Circle Award for Best Screenplay]] <br /> Nominated—[[San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> Nominated—[[Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] <br /> Nominated—[[Vancouver Film Critics Circle|Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay]]
|-
| 2015–2017 
| ''[[American Crime (TV series)|American Crime]]'' 
| [[NAACP Image Awards|NAACP Image Award]] for Outstanding Director in a Drama Series<br>Nominated—[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special]]
|-
|}

==Works and publications==
===Novels===
* Ridley, John. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/36327295 Stray Dogs.]'' New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-345-41345-1}}
* Ridley, John. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38574068 Love Is a Racket: A Novel.]'' New York: Knopf, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-375-40142-8}}
* Ridley, John. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41319941 Everybody Smokes in Hell.]'' New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. {{ISBN|978-0-375-40143-5}}
* Ridley, John. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48223462 A Conversation with the Mann: A Novel.]'' New York: Warner Books, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-446-52836-8}}
* Ridley, John. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50592041 The Drift.]'' New York: Knopf, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-375-41182-3}}
* Ridley, John. ''[[Those Who Walk in Darkness]]'' New York: Warner Books, 2003. {{ISBN|978-0-446-53093-4}}
* Ridley, John, and Patricia R. Floyd. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/744536342 What Fire Cannot Burn.]'' Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books, 2011, 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-456-10151-0}}

===Graphic novels===
* Ridley, John, and Ben Oliver. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56820881 The Authority: Human on the Inside.]'' La Jolla, CA: WildStorm Productions, 2004. 978-1-401-20070-1
* Ridley, John. ''[https://www.dccomics.com/comics?seriesid=226127#browse The Razor's Edge: Warblade #1-5.]'' [[DC Comics]]. 2005.
* Ridley, John, Georges Jeanty, and Karl C. Story. ''[http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85812306 The American Way.]'' La Jolla, Calif: WildStorm/DC Comics, 2007. {{ISBN|978-1-401-21256-8}}
* Ridley, John, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Cucchi, and José Villarrubia. ''[https://www.dccomics.com/graphic-novels/the-other-history-of-the-dc-universe-2020/the-other-history-of-the-dc-universe The Other History of the DC Universe.]'' DC Comics, 2021. ISBN 978-1-779-51197-3

===Stage plays===
* Ridley, John. ''Ten Thousand Years.'' 2005 (world premiere).

===Essays===
* {{cite magazine|last=Ridley|first=John|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/essay/ESQ1206BLACKESSAY_108|title=The Manifesto of Ascendancy for the Modern American Nigger|magazine=[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]|date=December 2006|volume=146|issue=6|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314162114/http://www.esquire.com/features/essay/ESQ1206BLACKESSAY_108|archivedate=March 14, 2014|accessdate=August 17, 2024|url-status=dead}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Gennusa, Chris R. "John Ridley: Burnt Noir." ''Creative Screenwriting.'' Winter 1997, v. 4 n.4, pp.&nbsp;33–38

==External links==
* Archived pages of defunct [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310214047/http://www.jridley.com/ official site]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070306072424/http://www.jridley.com/blog/ December 1, 2006 – March 1, 2007], [https://web.archive.org/web/20070504040115/http://www.jridley.com/blog/? January 8 – April 12, 2007], [https://web.archive.org/web/20080217022217/http://www.jridley.com/blog/? March 1 – August 28, 2007] (final archived page other than contact page).
* {{IMDb name|725983|John Ridley}}
* [https://www.dccomics.com/talent/john-ridley John Ridley] at [[DC Comics]].

{{John Ridley}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for John Ridley
|list = 
{{Academy Award Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, Adapted or Original}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie or Limited Series}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{USC Scripter Awards — Film}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ridley, John}}
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