Dan Harmon
A master of meta-comedy who turned his own neuroses into groundbreaking, deeply human television shows and podcasts.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American screenwriter·Birthday: January 3·Generation X
Biography
Dan Harmon’s career is a testament to the creative power of self-examination, however messy. Cutting his teeth in the DIY digital scene of early-2000s Los Angeles, he co-founded Channel 101, a festival where anyone could submit a five-minute pilot. This incubator honed his voice: brutally honest, structurally ingenious, and obsessed with story circles. His breakthrough, 'Community,' was a love letter to sitcom tropes and pop culture that constantly deconstructed itself, building a fiercely devoted fanbase. Personal turmoil led to his firing and rehiring from his own show, an experience he processed publicly on his podcast 'Harmontown,' which pioneered the model of unfiltered creator-audience intimacy. With Justin Roiland, he co-created 'Rick and Morty,' injecting existential philosophy and shocking darkness into a cartoon sci-fi format, creating a global phenomenon. Harmon’s work argues that connection and meaning can be found, and hilarious art can be made, from the depths of insecurity and cynicism.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dan was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Dan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-created the massively influential animated series 'Rick and Morty,' serving as its showrunner and head writer.
- Created and served as showrunner for the critically adored cult sitcom 'Community.'
- Pioneered a direct-to-fan creative model with the long-running live podcast and documentary 'Harmontown.'
- Co-founded the influential short-film festival and incubator Channel 101 with Rob Schrab.
Did You Know?
He wrote and performed a rap for the DVD commentary of the film 'Monster House,' which he also wrote.
The 'Story Circle,' a narrative structure he developed and uses, is heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's hero's journey.
He briefly hosted a talk show on the now-defunct cable network Seeso called 'Harmonquest,' which combined storytelling with role-playing game sessions.
His first major TV writing job was on the sketch comedy series 'The Sarah Silverman Program.'
““The secret to writing is to write a lot. And then throw almost all of it away.””
