Justin Halpern

Justin Halpern – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life and career of Justin Halpern (born September 3, 1980): the American author behind the #1 bestseller Sht My Dad Says*, co-creator of TV comedies including $#! My Dad Says*, Surviving Jack, and a writer–EP on Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary. Read his story, achievements, philosophy, and a curated list of memorable quotes.

Introduction

Justin Samuel Halpern is an American author and screenwriter whose accidental viral hit— a 2009 Twitter feed capturing his father’s blunt, hilarious wisdom—ignited a whirlwind career in books and television. His debut, Sht My Dad Says*, became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and spawned a CBS sitcom starring William Shatner; his follow-up memoir, I Suck at Girls, led to the FOX series Surviving Jack. More recently, Halpern has been a writer and executive producer on the acclaimed animated series Harley Quinn and an executive producer on ABC’s Emmy- and Peabody-winning Abbott Elementary.

Early Life and Family

Halpern grew up in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, California. His father, Samuel Halpern, a retired UCSD doctor of nuclear medicine, and his Italian American mother shaped the multicultural home—and the sharp, unfiltered voice—that would later define his writing. A standout pitcher at Point Loma High School, he briefly played baseball at San Diego State University, graduating in 2003.

Youth and Education

Before publishing success, Halpern tried screenwriting in Los Angeles while waiting tables. By 2009, he was writing full-time for Maxim’s website. After a breakup, he moved home; living again with his parents, he began documenting his father’s daily remarks—first as notes, then as a Twitter feed, @shitmydadsays, on August 3, 2009. A link from a friend and a mention by Rob Corddry turbo-charged the account’s virality, quickly attracting hundreds of thousands of followers.

Career and Achievements

From Tweets to a #1 Bestseller and a Network Sitcom

The runaway popularity of the feed led to a HarperCollins book deal in October 2009 and, soon after, a TV deal at Warner Bros. Sht My Dad Says* was published May 4, 2010; within weeks it topped the New York Times hardcover nonfiction list and remained there for weeks. CBS ordered the sitcom $#! My Dad Says*, with William Shatner playing the father figure; it premiered September 23, 2010.

Halpern captured the moment succinctly in a TIME Q&A: “This has all happened so fast… to go from putting up things online just to show my friends to finding out that our show is being picked up by CBS.”

Second Book → Second Series

Halpern’s second book, I Suck at Girls (2012), a collection of autobiographical essays about romance and growing up, became the basis for the FOX series Surviving Jack (2014), co-written with partner Patrick Schumacker and starring Christopher Meloni.

Showrunning and the “Second Act”

Halpern and Schumacker co-developed the adult-animation hit Harley Quinn, where Halpern serves as writer and executive producer. The series (Max) has received critical awards and sustained, growing fandom across multiple seasons.

In live-action, Halpern is an executive producer on ABC’s Abbott Elementary, part of the creative leadership team recognized by a Peabody Award for the show’s humane, funny storytelling.

Historical Milestones & Context

Halpern’s breakout coincided with the rise of Twitter-to-book-to-TV pipelines—early proof that a distinctive digital voice could leap into mainstream publishing and network television. News outlets chronicled the feed’s explosive growth in 2009–2010 and the unusually fast transition from social posts to a CBS sitcom.

A decade later, Halpern helped redefine adult superhero animation with Harley Quinn, leaning into character-driven comedy and relationships (notably Harley and Ivy) and even flipping genre expectations—e.g., the Season 3 arc reframing Batman as the antagonist from Harley’s point of view.

Legacy and Influence

As one of the earliest and most visible social-media-to-mainstream success stories, Halpern helped legitimize digital short-form humor as IP. His work illustrates how authentic voice travels: from a kitchen table in San Diego to bestseller lists, then to studio lots. In television, his leadership on Harley Quinn and Abbott Elementary underscores range—from raunchy animated satire to heartfelt, workplace comedy.

Personality and Talents

Halpern’s authorial persona blends vulnerability with punch-line precision: he mines awkward truth, affection, and discomfort for comedy. Interviews from his breakout period show a grounded, self-effacing voice—aware that timing, luck, and relentless writing all played roles in his ascent. As a producer, he’s collaborative (frequently teamed with Patrick Schumacker) and comfortable toggling between memoir-style humor and genre deconstruction.

Famous Quotes of Justin Halpern

A selection of brief, sourced remarks by Halpern:

• “This has all happened so fast… to go from putting up things online just to show my friends to finding out that our show is being picked up by CBS.” (TIME interview, 2010).

• On defining the CBS series: “[It’s] the dichotomy of this older guy who says whatever he wants and this younger guy who is tiptoeing through life.” (Series explanation during $#! My Dad Says* rollout).

• On Harley Quinn’s evolving lens: Season 3 framed Gotham through Harley’s perspective, even turning Batman into the “villain” of that arc. (Creators’ discussion).

Note: The phenomenon also popularized the voice of Sam Halpern (Justin’s father), whose salty aphorisms powered the book and show; those are dad’s quotes, not Justin’s.

Lessons from Justin Halpern

1. Authenticity scales. A voice that’s specific and true to life can travel from tweets to bestsellers to television if it resonates.

2. Make the work portable. Halpern adapted a premise across media—micro-posts → essays → pilots—showing how to reshape the same core into forms audiences love.

3. Collaborate for longevity. His partnership with Patrick Schumacker spans multiple series and formats—proof that creative chemistry compounds over time.

4. Let genre be elastic. Harley Quinn succeeds by mixing action, romance, and sharp comedy, prioritizing character over canon.

5. Stay grounded. From early interviews onward, Halpern has credited luck and timing—tempered by steady writing and revision—keeping the focus on craft.

Conclusion

From San Diego kid with a notebook to bestselling author and multifaceted TV producer, Justin Halpern built a career on the power of voice, timing, and adaptation. His path—Sht My Dad Says*, I Suck at Girls, $#! My Dad Says*, Surviving Jack, Harley Quinn, and Abbott Elementary—traces how humor rooted in lived experience can find new shapes and bigger stages without losing its heart.

Explore more timeless quotes and creative journeys on our site—starting with Halpern’s interviews and the essays that launched a phenomenon.

Primary sources and references consulted: biographical overview and credits (Wikipedia); publisher pages for bibliographic details (HarperCollins); contemporary coverage of the Twitter-to-TV leap (Wired, TIME, The New Yorker); series pages and trade interviews for Surviving Jack, Harley Quinn, and Abbott Elementary (FOX/Wiki/Metacritic/EW/Deadline/Peabody Awards).