Meet Stan Zimmerman of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stan Zimmerman.

Hi Stan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I got started by having an encouraging mother, who always made me feel special because of my creativity. She supported it in so many ways. Art classes, taking me to weird indie movies, all against my father’s objections. Then luckily, my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Golden, called my Mom and suggested I attend Cranbrook Summer Theatre School, even though I was under their age limit. I was only 7 at that time. The school accepted me and my life changed from that moment on.

I got to where I am today, by hard work, sometimes seven days a week, and never giving up. Even when getting doors slammed in my face and a lot of people telling me “no”‘s. I just figured out a way around them.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nobody has a smooth road. There were many, many struggles along the way. But I always looked at them as teachable moments. When I first arrived in Hollywood, after NYU, my writing partner and I were advised to remain in the closet if we wanted to work. Many people are shocked to learn that. Especially because we wrote on such a progressive show as “Golden Girls”.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Very early on in my writing career, we got branded. Before branding was even a thing. We were told we wrote well for women. I attribute it to the very vocal women in my family. And the strong women I gravitated towards while I was growing up. That’s why when I finally wrote my book, it’s titled — “The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore” It’s stories about all the wonderful women I’ve worked with. And Roseanne.

I’m most proud of the words that we wrote for tv shows and movies, like “Golden Girls” and the “Brady Bunch Movies” that are now on memes, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and even tattoos! Of course, we never wrote them thinking they’d last the test of time. But here we are. “Sure, Jan!”

But lately, I’ve been passionate about marrying art and advocacy. It’s helped me not hide under the covers as our world gets crazier and crazier. I’ve done over 9 iterations of my LatinX production of “The Diary of Anne Frank”. We’ll be doing one more Nov 5-6 at the beautiful Colony Theatre in Burbank. And I’m just about to make my Off-Broadway playwrighting AND acting debut this September 7-22 at The Tank theatre in RIGHT BEFORE I GO, my suicide awareness play. I first developed this piece at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival. I’ll be sharing the stage with 3 revolving casts, many I met while working in TV and film in Los Angeles.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the hills. And the history of old Hollywood. As a kid, I wished i had lived here in the 40s. I hope the movie and tv industry come back. I feel so lucky to have lived here starting in the 80’s. So much fun and creativity was around me. And discovery, of myself but also the city. Going downtown, when not many people would venture down there. Having urban life and the beach and mountains all within reach, makes this city so fantastic. Not a big fan of the traffic. And Whole Food tiny parking lots!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zimmermanstan.com
• Instagram: zimmermanstan
• Facebook: zimmermanstan

Image Credits
1st pic by Dusan Vuksanovic

2nd pic by Austin Bauman, Curtis Theatre/Brea, CA