Daniel Gideon Mazer (born 4 October 1971) is a British comedy writer, director and producer. He is the long-time writing and production partner of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, and worked with him on his characters Ali G, Borat, and Brüno. He also co-wrote and co-produced the films based on Baron Cohen's characters such as Ali G Indahouse, Borat, and Brüno.
Early life Mazer attended The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, where he met Baron Cohen. He went on to study Law at Peterhouse, Cambridge University, and graduated in 1994. He was an active member of Cambridge Footlights while at university and was vice president from 1993 to 1994.
Career His early work includes production roles on The Word, The Big Breakfast and The 11 O'Clock Show.
In 2007 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. He shared his nomination with Sacha Baron Cohen, Ant Hines, Peter Baynham, and Todd Phillips. They ended up losing to The Departed.
In 2013 he made his feature film directing debut with the British comedy I Give It a Year. He followed it with the 2016 American comedy Dirty Grandpa.
In 2020 he co-wrote the script for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, for which he was again nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and also won a Writers Guild Award.
Personal life Mazer is married to television personality Daisy Donovan, with whom he has two daughters.
Filmography Year Title Director Writer Producer 2002 Ali G Indahouse 2006 Borat 2009 Brüno 2012 The Dictator 2013 I Give It a Year 2016 Dirty Grandpa Bridget Jones's Baby Office Christmas Party 2020 Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 2021 The Exchange Home Sweet Home Alone 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 2026 The Sheep Detectives Ali G: Who Iz I? TBA Untitled Big Jim film
See also List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain
References
External links
Agency page at United Agents "Win no friends and influence nobody" (The Observer, 4 March 2007) – Mazer writes about his Academy Award nomination experience