Gary Scott Thompson

Born and raised in American Samoa, Gary Scott Thompson began his career in show biz studying acting with noted actor, Powers Booth, but eventually decided to pursue writing. He enrolled in New York University, after which he wrote a number of plays, including "Cowboys Don't Cry" and "Private Hells." Among his first features to be produced in the late 1980s are the kooky comedy "The Underachievers" and the cult science fiction hit "Split Second." He crafted the story of the 2000 Kevin Bacon thriller "Hollow Man," but his biggest success in film came in 2001 when his script for "The Fast and the Furious" launched the blockbuster car racing franchise. After this he created the popular casino-set series "Las Vegas," which he also produced and wrote; Thompson even directed a few episodes throughout its five-year run. After the show wrapped in 2008, he became the show runner for the re-launch of "Knight Rider," which proved to be short-lived.