ABOUT ME
"I am me. But I aspire to be more like Bugs Bunny"
This is jD. My publicist wrote & created most of this website. You will be able to tell the difference of who wrote what by spelling/grammar mistakes. None (or hardly any)- not me. Many- me. I'm Dyslexic. I became a writer because I love a challenge on top of a challenge. Spellcheck nor editors could ever catch every mistake I make. Tank yu fur yur undrastandring.
I'm a storyteller/philosopher. Not by choice. My choice was to be a linebacker for The NY Giants. This is a calling. One I begrudgingly answered and still do... kicking, screaming and being dragged through ash pits of blistering barbed-wire when I do. I have been given gift and a curse. Mostly a gift. I think. But please understand this: Michael Jordan didn't become Michael Jordan because he was given a gift. He became Michael Jordan because that is what his parents named him. Okay, ok. He became "Michael Jordon"/brilliant at what he did because he worked very, very hard to make his gift come to life and create an art that gave those who have seen his work thrills beyond. Same goes for anyone who has had/has great success. And even those who's name you don't, and will never know, yet they continue to toil on due to a passion they cannot control.
I'm not saying I am the Michael Jordan of writers- yet.
I am saying I'm grateful when my hard work pays off. Not that you will see that payoff. More often than not my writing won't be seen. And more often than not my writing won't be brilliant, great or even good. They payoff is when I hit a zone that I am no longer the one writing. When ten hours feels like fifteen seconds. When I stop overthinking and know in all my Being how brilliant the writing is despite those, including me, who say it's "shit." When this happens I feel flooded with lights not yet seen from Universes not known to exist. It tis pure magic without any tricks. It is as if i can swim in the deep depths of an ocean knowing I don't ever need to come up for air or fly to the outer limits of the galaxies using nothing but me. It is as if I have not only touched Nirvana... I have been engulfed by her.
The icing on the cake is when things pay off, literally, and I'm able to help others. Especially what we call "animals"; loving, living, caring Beings more human(e) than most humans. I am no angel nor hero. Not even close. I dont help because I am not altruistic. I help because it makes me feel good.
🖖🏼❤️✨
Okay, take it away!
A Quirky Visionary in Film and Comedy
Jake David M. Shapiro, known as jD, grew up poor, chased a dream and continues to have some success while still chasing. Movies jD has written, rewritten, polished, been a creative consultant on have, thus far, made over three billion dollars worldwide.
jD is a writer and stand-up comedian whose eclectic career blends sharp wit, playful creativity, and a self-described "goofy, geeky charm." From crafting iconic comedies to commanding stages with offbeat humor, Shapiro’s journey is a testament to resilience and imagination. His projects have collectively grossed over three billion dollars worldwide, leaving an indelible mark on entertainment.
Early Life: Sparks of Imagination
Raised between a rundown home in NJ with his mom and three sisters and a dim one-bedroom apartment in Hell’s Kitchen, NYC with his dad, Shapiro grew up steeped in poor. Yet, hardship fueled his imagination and curiosity. As a child he gathered objects to build wild inventions and art from scavenged scraps. He wrote without knowing this would be his path and, ironically, he dissected pens to understand their mechanics. These early experiments with storytelling and invention shaped the playful, inventive spirit that defines his work.
Film Career: Triumphs and Trials
Shapiro’s breakthrough came with Robin Hood: Men in Tights, a script he wrote on spec and sold to 20th Century Fox and Brooksfilms. Shapiro was instrumental in its production. He wrote all the lyrics to Hummie Manns's music and contributed to set design, wardrobe and just about all aspects that go into making a film. He also convinced Mel Brooks to cast Cary Elwes as Robin Hood, and a then-unknown Dave Chappelle as Achoo. Mel Brooks praised jD saying,
“jD Shapiro is one of the most amazing comedy minds I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” - Mel Brooks.
This irreverent comedy became a cult classic. Margot Robbie named Men In Tights as her childhood favorite film, watching it “fifty times.”
Shapiro’s versatility shone in We Married Margo, a film he wrote, directed, and co-starred in. Shot for $280,000 on 35 mill film, Margo won many prestigious awards including, The Audience Award for Best Film at the HBO Comedy Festival. Newline Cinema bought and distributed it.
His work on Battlefield Earth, however, was less successful. Hired by MGM to adapt L. Ron Hubbard’s novel, Shapiro wrote a script that attracted John Travolta as the protagonist. Creative differences led to his dismissal during pre-production, and the final film, based on another writer’s script, flopped, sweeping the Golden Raspberry Awards. Shapiro’s acceptance of the Razzie for Worst Screenplay of the Decade highlighted his ability to embrace setbacks with humor.
From 2002 to 2015, Shapiro was creative partners with Stan Lee, co-creating many projects including, The NFL Defenders, a superhero team tied to NFL, and U-Man, a superhero whose public coming-out stirred debate. Lee called Shapiro his protégé and said,
“jD is the Iron Man of comedy.” - Stan Lee
To test the waters of Spain Shapiro co-directed with Alfonso Antolín and wrote Eva’s Comet . A short film starring Elisabeth Fernandez Lorena and Kimberly Tell, this story is about two contrasting women whose intertwined lives bridge political and personal divides. Both broken, they each learn that ones pain cannot be judged and that empathy for others is a path to healing yourself. Eva’s Comet won multiple awards, some very prestigious, showcasing Shapiro’s knack for witty, empathetic storytelling. Shapiro is presently in discussion about turning the short into a feature.
Stand-Up Comedy: Embracing the Chaos
“I love doing stand-up. It’s like walking a tightrope over a pool of hungry sharks while the audience hacks at the rope with machetes.” – JD Shapiro
From 2005 to 2010 Shapiro lit up stages at comedy clubs in The USA by blending NYC, NJ, LA, and Irish accents into a mumbling, mischievous delivery. In less than a year-and-a-half Shapiro was made a Paid Regular at The World Famous Comedy Store on The Sunset Strip (and San Diego) by Mitzi Shore. Shapiro's comedy, infused with Bugs Bunny’s wit and a belief that failure only counts if you quit, resonates with raw charm. A YouTube clip, from early on in his career by DCT Comedy: JD Shapiro ‘I Must Be Crazy’, captures his unique style. After a hiatus of twelve years, he returned to stand-up in 2022 by performing a one man, one hour show at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in The Gilded Balloon. He received many great reviews and word of mouth spread. He was asked to return in 2023, which he did, and again in 2024, which he did not. Although his schedule has limited his performances since, 2023 he occasionally goes to The U.K. and NYC to do stand-up. Starting 2026 Shapiro plans to perform much more often, possibly taking time off from writing screenplays to write and preform stand-up.
Shapiro has many projects in active development at several Hollywood studios, as well as a studio in Sweden and san indie in Canada. There is a project of his coming out in Spain in October 2024 that he has asked me not to talk about at this time. As he likes to say, "Let me walk not talk." As a huge fan of Bugs Bunny his mischievous side says, "Stay tuned, folks."
A Resilient, Playful Spirit
Shapiro’s persona - marked by a childlike voice, cartoon-inspired humor, and a knack for turning setbacks into lessons - sets him apart in an industry often polished to a sheen. Guided by Rudyard Kipling’s If—, he treats triumph and disaster with equal grace, holding fast to his creative will. Whether writing, directing, rewriting, consulting, or performing, Shapiro’s goal is simple yet profound: To create with heart, inspire laughter, and connect with audiences through his quirky resilience, empowering spirit, authenticity and willingness to be candid in his truth regardless of pushback.
Jake David Shapiro remains an endearing, evolving voice in entertainment, captivating fans with his playful stage presence and unwavering optimism.
