Joseph Weisberg Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for New Series for "The Americans" in 2014
• Graduated from Yale University in 1987, where he studied Russian history
• Before becoming a writer, he worked as a high school teacher
• Joined the CIA three years after college graduation and would eventually relocate to Washington
• Quote: "(On his work in the CIA): "I wanted a job where I could be a cold warrior․ Where you can be a brainy, dark weirdo and do all kinds of fascinating crazy stuff․""
• Quote: "(Regarding his job as a case officer with the CIA): "Fundamentally, lies were at the core of the relationships․ I lied to all my friends and most of the people in my family․ I lied every day․ It was painful․""
• Quote: "(On "The Americans"): "Finding yourself rooting for the enemy is a fundamental part of the experience․ What is the enemy? What does it even mean to be the enemy? Maybe, the enemy is as human as you are․""
• An officer with the CIA, he would use his personal experiences for the basis of the FX original drama series "The Americans․"
• Because of the sensative nature of the material, every script he writes for "The Americans" must be reviewed by the C․I․A․'s Publication Review Board