James Wong

The prolific and productive writing-producing team of Glen Morgan and James Wong played a major part in helping Fox-TV's "The X-Files" attain first cult status and eventual mass acceptance and acclaim. As staff writers and co-executive producers, they were responsible for crafting some of the series' most memorable stories and characters. Dour FBI man Assistant Director Skinner, creepy-crawly mutant Eugene Tooms and a delightfully paranoid trio of conspiracy theorists called The Lone Gunmen all sprung from their keyboard. Furthermore Morgan and Wong scripted a number of key episodes that provided crucial background and motivation for the show's two protagonists.

Friends since high school, the pair studied film together at Loyola Marymount University before landing jobs as production assistants for producer Sandy Howard. They began writing screenplays together and had one produced--"The Boys Next Door" (1985), a chilling account of suburban anomie turned deadly, starring Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield directed by Penelope Spheeris--before hitting a prolonged dry spell.

Morgan and Wong segued to TV and landed jobs as writers and story editors for "Knightwatch" (ABC, 1988), a short-lived crime drama. They honed their skills under the auspices of Stephen J. Cannell Productions working variously as writers, story editors and producers on "21 Jump Street", "Booker" (both Fox, 1989-90), "Wiseguy" (CBS, 1990-91) and "The Commish" (ABC, 1991-93). Morgan and Wong truly blossomed on "The X-Files" (Fox, 1993-95) where they enhanced their reputation for emphasizing character as their primary story-engine. In addition, they demonstrated their skill at delicately balance emotion and humor within their scenes.

Morgan and Wong followed up by venturing out on their own as the creators and executive producers of "Space: Above and Beyond" (Fox, 1995-96), a military sci-fi adventure series inspired by the sensibility of WWII movies. Of course, they also took on a considerable chunk of the writing chores.

• Born:
  April 20, 1959 in Hong Kong
• Job Titles:
  Producer, Writer, TV story editor, Production assistant

Significant Others

• Wife: Tina Wong.

Education

• El Cajon Valley High School, El Cajon, CA

Milestones

• 1985 First produced screenplay, The Boys Next Door ; co-wrote with Morgan
• 1988 Served as story editors (with Morgan) for the short-lived ABC drama, Knightwatch
• 1989 Served as story editors (with Morgan) on the Cannell produced show s 21 Jump Street and Booker
• 1989 With Morgan worked for Stephen J. Cannell Productions
• 1990 Was a supervising producer for the fourth season of Wiseguy (CBS)
• 1991 Was the supervising producer on the first two seasons of The Commish (ABC)
• 1991 Created and executive produced (with Morgan) the short-lived fantasy adventure series, Disney Presents the 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
• 1993 Co-executive produced and served as staff writers (with Morgan) for The X-Files (FOX)
• 1994 Co-wrote (with producer Chris Carter) the second season opener of The X-Flies (FOX), titled Little Green Men
• 1995 Created and executive produced (with Morgan) the FOX sci-fi series, Space: Above and Beyond ; also co-wrote the pilot and several episodes
• 1995 Co-wrote (with Morgan) a farewell to The X-Files (FOX), titled Die Hand Die Verletzt
• 1996 Signed four year, $8 million deal with 20th Century Fox Television (in partnership with Morgan)
• 1996 With Morgan, returned to The X-Files as screenwriters and producers
• 1997 With Morgan, assumed producing duties on Millennium (FOX)
• 2000 Feature film directorial debut, Final Destination ; also scripted with Morgan
• 2000 Produced (with Morgan) the short-lived NBC paranormal series, The Others
• 2001 Co-scripted (with Morgan) and directed the Jet Li film, The One
• 2003 Produced and co-wrote (with Morgan) the horror film, Willard ; directed by Morgan
• 2006 Directed and co-wrote (with Morgan) the thriller, Final Destination 3
• 2009 Helmed the live-action adaptation of the popular media franchise, Dragonball Evolution ; also wrote and produced
• Began writing screenplays with Morgan
• Raised in San Diego, California; met future partner Glen Morgan in high school
• With Morgan, went to work as production assistants for producer Sandy Howard after graduating from college