15 Lesser Known Writers Behind Your Favorite Comedies
![15 Lesser Known Writers Behind Your Favorite Comedies](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/1/885141_320x180.jpg)
While we’re all preoccupied with the faces on the big screen, the names in the credits come and go. Well, some of those names are the reason all of those other names were out there making that movie in the first place. Out of thin air, they conjured up a story about, oh we don’t know, a wacky pet detective named Ace, and boom… A Canadian comedian is world-renowned. Well that writer (who you’ll read about soon) can stroll to the grocery store for grapes without being mauled by fans, and we’re sure Jim Carrey is just a tad jealous of that.
These unsung heroes toil away in some office, spinning comedy gold, and what credit do they get?! Okay, yes, they get money and actual credit, but socially they’d have to subtly bring up the fact that they wrote Meet The Parents at a party, and just hope people think it’s cool. Well, we think it’s cool. Cool enough to round up these 15 lesser known writers behind some of the biggest, best comedies of all time.
The funny Canadian behind the funny Canadian.
![Ace Ventura Pet Detective JACK BERNSTEIN CRACKED COM The concept originated with Vancouver born Jack Bernstein, who is credited with the story itself. Не then wrote the screenplay alongside the film's director Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/6/885156.jpg)
The husband & wife dynamic duo.
![Wayne's World BONNIE & TERRY TURNER NATURE PORTE beauty CRACKED.COM Brought to SNL as a married couple, the Wayne's World screenplay was Bonnie & Terry Turner's big break. They went on to create shows like 3rd Rock From The Sun and That '70s Show.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/5/885155.jpg)
Meet The Parents is a remake.
![Meet The Parents GREG GLIENNA & MARY RUTH CLARKE CRACKED.COM The 2000 hit movie was a remake of Greg Glienna's independent film from 1992. Written with Mary Ruth Clarke, Greg originally played Greg (but the last name Focker was added for Ben Stiller). They get story credit for it and all sequels.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/4/885154.jpg)
Mrs. Doubtfire was based on a novel!
![Mrs. Doubtfire LESLIE DIXON & RANDI MAYEM SINGER GRAGKED COM English author Anne Fine wrote the 1987 novel Alias Madame Doubtfire, which screenwriters Leslie Dixon & Randi Mayem Singer adapted into the screenplay. The film is Mayem Singer's first writing credit.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/3/885153.jpg)
He’s “happy” behind the scenes.
![Billy Madison TIM HERLIHY CRACKED COM Like Evan Goldberg is to Seth Rogen, Tim Herlihy is the man behind Adam Sandler. They were college roommates, and Herlihy co-wrote Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and almost every Sandler movie since.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/5/885145.jpg)
The party was short-lived.
![Animal House DOUGLAS KENNY & CHRIS MILLER LAMPOON COLLEGE CRACKED.COM Alongside Harold Ramis, 1978's Animal House was written by Chris Miller, and National Lampoon magazine co-founder Douglas Kenney. Kenney wrote Caddy Shack two years later but sadly passed away a month after its release.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/4/885144.jpg)
There’s something about these writers.
![There's Something About Mary ED DECTOR AND JOHN J. STRAUSS CRACKED.COM Number 18 on The Writer's Guild's Funniest Screenplays list, Ed Dector and John J. Strauss had the original idea for There's Something About Mary, and wrote the screenplay with Peter Farrelly.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/7/885147.jpg)
Tommy Boy writers were uncredited.
![Tommy Boy FRED WOLF & JIM DOWNEY CRACKED.COM Although the film credits Bonnie & Terry Turner, they wrote a very skeletal initial draft that was barely used. SNL writers Fred Wolf & Jim Downey worked tirelessly with director Peter Segal, but still go uncredited.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/0/885150.jpg)
Groundhog Day - Danny Rubin
![Groundhog Day DANNY RUBIN CRACKED.COM Writer Danny Rubin had the original concept for Groundhog Day, which he and Harold Ramis molded into the BAFTA award winning screenplay.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/6/885146.jpg)
They go together like Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.
![Trading Places TIMOTHY HARRIS & HERSCHEL WEINGROD CRACKED COM Screenwriting partners Timothy Harris & Herschel Weingrod found success with 1983's Trading Places, then went on to write Twins, Kindergarten Cop, and Space Jam.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/3/885143.jpg)
Smokin’ hot writing.
![The Mask MICHAEL FALLON & MARK VERHEIDEN CRACKED COM Unknowns Michael Fallon & Mark Verheiden had the original concept for 1994's The Mask. Fallon didn't write much after this, but Verheiden went on to write for Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, and Heroes.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/2/885142.jpg)
Todd Phillips was sold!
![Old School COURT CRANDALL & SCOT ARMSTRONG CRACKED.COM Old School writer/director Todd Phillips got the idea from his advertiser friend Court Crandall. Crandall loved Phillips' film Frat House and told him, You know what would be funny is a movie about older guys who start a fraternity of their own.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/8/885148.jpg)
The tragic reason Zoolander 2 was delayed.
![Zoolander DRAKE SATHER CRACKED.COM Comedian Drake Sather created (and named) Derek Zoolander, and wrote sketches that he and Ben Stiller molded into the screenplay. Не sadly killed himself in 2004, and Stiller dedicated the 2016 sequel to him.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/1/885151.jpg)
Legally Blonde is based on a novel.
![Legally Blonde KRISTIN SMITH & KAREN MCCULLAH - Grego Bille WOTHER vehicle U GRACKED COM D. and Amanda Brown's 2001 novel is based on her experiences at Stanford and screenwriters Kristin Smith & Karen McCullah adapted the screenplay. McCullah had previously written 10 Things I Hate About You, and the two went on to write House Bunny.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/9/885149.jpg)
Not the only Spielberg in the game.
![Big ANNE SPIELBERG & GARY ROSS GRACKED.COM Steven Spielberg's sister Anne Spielberg and her then neighbor Gary Ross wrote the 1988 Tom Hanks classic Big. The screenplay was nominated for an Oscar, and Ross went on to write Pleasantville, Seabiscuit and The Hunger Games.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/2/885152.jpg)