Dan Erickson

Dan Erickson is an American television screenwriter, producer, and showrunner known for creating the psychological thriller series "Severance" on Apple TV Plus. Erickson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from Western Washington University, where he began writing plays, before attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts for a master's in dramatic writing. After moving to Los Angeles, he worked in various office jobs while developing the original pilot for "Severance." These experiences inspired the concept for the series, which explores the separation of work and personal lives within a corporate setting.

The script for "Severance" became the first television pilot selected for the annual Bloodlist, leading to a partnership with Red Hour Productions, Endeavor Content, and Apple TV Plus. Ben Stiller served as executive producer and director, with Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Yul Vazquez, and Patricia Arquette starring. The series, set at Lumon Industries, follows Mark and his team as they navigate the consequences of surgically dividing their work and personal memories. "Severance" received a straight-to-series order and premiered to critical acclaim.

Erickson's work on "Severance" has earned recognition including Best Writing in a Streaming Series at the Astra Awards, a Peabody Award, and two Writers Guild of America Awards, along with Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series and Writing. He was also recognized by Time Magazine for emerging leaders shaping the industry. The show's second season received 27 Emmy nominations, the highest for any single show that season, and won eight Emmy Awards. Erickson received a nomination for writing the season finale, "Cold Harbor."

Erickson has discussed the creative process behind "Severance," noting that the team maintains a flexible approach to storytelling while having a clear vision for the series' conclusion. His career trajectory, from working in office environments to becoming a prominent television showrunner, reflects the central themes explored in "Severance" regarding work-life balance and personal fulfillment.