Trivia

Was 22 when he sold the Lethal Weapon (1987) screenplay.

The $1.75 million he received for his screenplay for The Last Boy Scout (1991) was the highest to date in 1990. He then topped it when he sold the script to The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) for $4 million a few years later. Both were box-office disappointments that later found cult audiences on home video.

After being the highest paid screenwriter in Hollywood, he disappeared as a writer in the late '90s. He recently admitted he withdrew due to pressure and a growing contempt for his own commercial, action-packed material.

Shared a house with future successful screenwriters like Fred Dekker (The Monster Squad (1987), Night of the Creeps (1986), RoboCop 3 (1993)) and Ed Solomon (Men in Black (1997), Charlie's Angels (2000), Levity (2003)). They called their place the "Pad O' Guys" and considered themselves a fraternity for the ultimate movie buffs by staging and dissecting John Woo fight scenes in the front yard at three in the morning.

Walked off Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), because he wanted the film to end with Martin Riggs dying from his wounds. Warner Bros. wanted to continue the series and had him survive. As a result, his script was re-written.

Best known as Hawkins who was the first victim killed by the Predator in Predator (1987).

After a young Joe Carnahan sent him some writing samples, Black wrote a very inspiring letter back, complimenting his writing and encouraging him to move forward with it. Carnahan later went on to write and direct Narc (2002).

Is a self-admitted sufferer of Tourette syndrome.

Black's two favorite screenwriters are Walter Hill and William Goldman. The sparse side of Black's writing style is inspired by Hill, the commentary bits on the world he's created inspired by Goldman, and his mysterious tone is borrowed from Raymond Chandler.

Adopted an american staffordshire terrier mix, named Adonis, in January 2013 from a rescue, The Little Red Dog, Inc, after a photo of Adonis holding a food bowl in his mouth in the city kill shelter went viral online.

Lists The Exorcist (1973), Jaws (1975), Three Days of the Condor (1975), and All That Jazz (1978) as his all-time favorite films.

At UCLA, classmates were Tim Robbins, Paul Townsend, Delia Frankel.

Let his father read the first draft of Lethal Weapon (1987) before turning it in to Warner Bros.

Was an avid reader of Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain)'s "87th Precinct", "The Hardy Boys" and "Doc Savage" novels as a child.

Brother of Terry Black

One of his favorite films is Ju-on: The Grudge (2002).