J.J. Abrams, born Jeffrey Jacob Abrams on June 27, 1966, in New York City, is an American filmmaker, writer, director, producer, and composer renowned for his work in television and blockbuster science-fiction films.[1][4][5] He began his career in the early 1990s writing screenplays for films like *Regarding Henry* (1991), *Forever Young* (1992), and *Armageddon* (1998), establishing a reputation for genre-blending thrillers.[1][2][6] Abrams transitioned to television in 1998, co-creating the drama series *Felicity* (1998–2002), followed by the spy thriller *Alias* (2001–06), and the groundbreaking sci-fi mystery *Lost* (2004–10), which he co-created and for which he earned Emmy Awards for writing and directing.[1][2][3][4] He also co-created *Fringe* (2008–13), composing its theme, and produced series like *Undercovers* (2010).[1][2][4][5] His feature directorial debut came with *Mission: Impossible III* (2006), selected by Tom Cruise, which was a box-office success and led to multiyear deals with Paramount and Warner Bros.[1][2][3][5] Abrams revitalized franchises by directing the *Star Trek* reboot (2009), praised for its energy and holding a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score, and its sequel *Star Trek Into Darkness* (2013).[2][3][4][5] He produced hits like *Cloverfield* (2008), *Super 8* (2011, co-produced by Steven Spielberg), and later *Mission: Impossible* entries including *Ghost Protocol* (2011), *Rogue Nation* (2015), and *Beyond* (2016).[2][3][5] Abrams directed and produced *Star Wars: The Force Awakens* (2015), the highest-grossing film in North America at the time, surpassing *Avatar*, and executive-produced *The Last Jedi* (2017).[1][2][5] He returned to direct, produce, and co-write *Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker* (2019) after Colin Trevorrow's departure.[2][5] His films have grossed over $4 billion worldwide, cementing his status as a top-grossing director.[5] Abrams remains a key figure in entertainment through Bad Robot Productions, blending TV, film, and high-concept storytelling across platforms.[1][4]