English Alumnus Wins Second Emmy Award

Javier Grillo-Marxuach to speak with creative writing students this semester

Late last week, Javier Grillo-Marxuach (DC 1991) won a 2020 Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Programming for “The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.”

The alumnus of the Department of English’s Creative Writing Program serves as co-executive producer of the Netflix series, a prequel to Jim Henson’s iconic 1982 film. He was one of four Carnegie Mellon alumni who earned Emmy Awards this year.

“Jim Henson said that ‘The Dark Crystal’ was the proudest, and most difficult, accomplishment of his creative life. To be part of a band of artists tasked with bringing his legacy back to life is honor enough — to share an Emmy for it is the stuff dreams are made of,” Grillo-Marxuach said. “‘The Dark Crystal’ was more than a movie to me. It was beacon signaling to us misfit artists that — if we were able to hang on through the awkward years — our tribe was out there waiting to embrace us in the act of creation. I'm humbled to have helped further the scope and reach of that beacon.”

Grillo-Marxuach’s team tied for the 2020 Emmy win with "We Are The Dream: The Kids Of The Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest."

He also won an Emmy in the Outstanding Drama Series category in 2005 as supervising producer of the TV series “Lost.”

“Javier is one of those rare writers and producers who keeps taking on new projects, who never stops creating and tackling new stories, new ideas. He is always imagining new shows, new stories,” said Sharon Dilworth, associate professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program. “I'm so glad to see him honored for the work he's doing. I also look forward to having him come to class via Zoom this semester. The students will be electrified by his energy and creative spirit.”