Two Dates and a Dash

• Apr 5th 2021

Two Dates and a Dash Podcast Episode 106: Doug Ellin - Creator, Writer and Director of the hit HBO Series Entourage and co-host of Victory The Podcast

Ellin was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of June and Marvin Ellin. He grew up in Merrick, New York and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School (Bellmore, New York). Before producing and writing for Entourage, Ellin served as a staff writer for Life with Bonnie, which starred Bonnie Hunt. The series ran from 2003-2004. Ellin has also written screenplays for two films, Kissing a Fool and Phat Beach. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1990s to be a stand-up comedian and soon got a job in the mail room at New Line Cinema. It was there where he befriended film producer Mike DeLuca who funded Ellin's first short film The Pitch, starring then unknown actor David Schwimmer. That short film got Ellin accepted to the American Film Institute, where he graduated from in 1994. In 1996, he directed the independent comedy film Phat Beach. The film was made on a very low budget, and Ellin has called it "Probably the worst movie ever made". Two years later, Ellin made another independent comedy film Kissing a Fool, starring David Schwimmer, who was now known due to his role on Friends which was in its fourth season. Kissing a Fool was sold for distribution and Ellin subsequently sold a few screenplays to Miramax. One, The Pledge was never produced although Ellin was paid seven figures for the script and was set to direct. He sold another unproduced screenplay for mid-six figures. Ellin's real success came in 2004 with Entourage. The HBO show ran for eight seasons and Ellin made an eight-figure pact with HBO to continue producing television. Ellin wrote and directed the 2015 film adaptation of Entourage. Today, he and Emmy nominated star Kevin Dillon, host a weekly comedy podcast called "Victory The Podcast", where they relive the hit HBO show, one episode at a time. Each week, they will deep-dive discuss, an episode of Entourage. Featuring behind the scenes stories, as well as thoughts about their 50 plus years combined Hollywood experiences. Podcast producer, Kevin Connolly, (also an Entourage cast member) will pop in periodically, for color, as will many of your favorite guest stars and cast members. Funny and dramatic, from the guys who brought you the definitive TV show about Hollywood, this is one not to miss. Please visit www.victorythepodcast.com to subscribe to the podcast.