Jack Epps Jr.

Biography

Jack Epps Jr.(born November 3, 1949) is an American screenwriter, author, and educator, known chiefly for such popular 1980s films as Top Gun, Legal Eagles, and The Secret of My Success, which he wrote with longtime partner Jim Cash. Epps Jr. graduated from the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University, and he has since gone on to teach at the University of Southern California. Jack Epps, Jr. began his career in the film industry after studying at Michigan State University, where he made his first student film. Upon arriving in California, he collaborated with Anderson House to write episodes for Hawaii Five-O ("The Capsule Kidnapping," 1976) and Kojak ("A Hair-Trigger Away," 1976). In 1975, Epps worked as an Assistant Cameraman with cinematographer Gary Graver on Orson Welles' film The Other Side of the Wind. After House left to pursue producing, Epps partnered with Jim Cash. Together, they wrote Izzy and Moe, which was optioned by Bud Yorkin. Their screenplay Whereabouts gained the attention of director John Landis, although after Landis left the project, they reworked Dick Tracy for several directors, including Warren Beatty.