Paul Haggis, Oscar-Winning Filmmaker, Arrested in Italy on Sexual Assault Charges Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a Canadian film and television screenwriter, producer, and director. He is most recognized for his work on consecutive Best Picture Oscar wins Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Crash (2005), which he also directed. He is the co-creator of Walker, Texas Ranger and the creator of the television series Due South. Also he has been nominated for two Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and seven Gemini Awards.
Quick Facts of Paul Haggis
| Age: | 69 years 3 months |
|---|---|
| Birth Date: | March 10, 1953 |
| Horoscope (Sunshine): | Pisces |
| Full Name: | Paul Haggis |
| Birth Place: | Ontario, Canada |
| Net Worth: | $60 million |
| Salary: | N/A |
| Height / How tall : | 6 feet 0 inches (1.83m) |
| Ethnicity: | Scottish, English |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Profession: | Director, Screenwriter, Producer |
| Father’s Name: | Ted Haggis |
| Mother’s Name: | Mary Yvonne Metcalf |
| Education: | Fanshawe College |
| Hair Color: | Blond |
| Eye Color: | Blue |
| Lucky Number: | 4 |
| Lucky Stone: | Aquamarine |
| Lucky Color: | Sea Green |
| Best Match for Marriage: | Cancer, Scorpio |
| Last Update: | June, 2022 |
Social Media |
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| Facebook Profile/Page: |  |
| Twitter Profile: |  |
| Instagram Profile: |  |
| Tiktok Profile: |  |
| Youtube Profile: |  |
| Wikipedia Profile: |  |
| IMDB Profile: |  |
| Official Website: |  |
Paul Haggis was accused of assaulting a woman in Ostuni
According to local authorities, Oscar-winning filmmaker and writer Paul Haggis was arrested on Sunday in the southern Italian city of Ostuni on allegations of aggravated sexual violence and aggravated bodily injuries.
The accuser was not Italian, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office in nearby Brindisi, which ordered the arrest. The man who was arrested is identified as P.H., a Canadian, according to the statement; Vincenzo Leo, the duty officer of the local Italian police, verified it was Mr. Haggis.
According to the statement, he brought the woman to the Papola Casale airport in Brindisi on Friday after two days of “nonconsensual intercourse” and left her there “at the first lights of dawn, despite the victim’s critical bodily and psychological states.”
The airport employees and border police observed her in a “confused state” at the airport, assisted her, and transported her to the local police station, according to the statement. She was then taken to a hospital and treated according to an Italian protocol for victims of domestic violence; she later reported the incident to the police.
Mr. Haggis, 69, “would have compelled the young woman, whom he had met some time before, to endure sexual intercourse,” according to the allegations.
In an email, Mr. Haggis’ lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, said, “I am certain that all claims against Mr. Haggis will be dismissed.” “He is completely innocent and eager to fully cooperate with authorities so that the truth can be revealed as soon as possible.”
Early life Background of Paul Haggis
Paul Edward Haggis was the son of Mary Yvonne (née Metcalf) and Ted Haggis, and was born in London, Ontario. He was reared as a Catholic, but as an adult, he regarded himself an atheist. His parents operated the Gallery Theatre in London, and Haggis obtained expertise in the field by working there.
Haggis went to St. Thomas More Elementary School and then to H. B. Beal Secondary School to study art after being influenced by Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard. He moved to England with the intention of becoming a fashion photographer after seeing Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Blowup in 1966. After that, Haggis went to Canada to study cinematography at Fanshawe College. Haggis relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1975 to pursue a career as a writer in the entertainment industry.
Career of Paul Haggis
Haggis began his career as a television writer, writing for shows such as The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff’rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life. He also got his first producer credit with The Facts of Life. Haggis wrote for television shows such as The Tracey Ullman Show, FM, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a part of the development of the television shows Walker, Texas Ranger, Family Law, and Due South. Michael Hayes and Family Law featured Haggis as an executive producer.
His work on the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, which Allmovie described as a “major milestone” for the writer/producer and “his first high-profile foray into feature film,” earned him prominence in the business. Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the pen name F.X. Toole, had published two stories that Haggis had read.
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However the stories were later purchased by Haggis, who turned them into the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. The film’s main character was played by Clint Eastwood. Eastwood also directed the picture, which was based on a script by Haggis. Million Dollar Baby was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Following Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on Crash in 2004. Haggis came up with the story for the movie on his own, then wrote and directed it, giving him more control over his work. Crash marked his first time directing a large feature film. Crash received great reviews from critics, with Roger Ebert hailing it as the best picture of 2005.
In addition to four other Academy Award nominations, Crash received Best Picture and Best Director honors. For the film, Haggis won two Academy Awards: Best Picture (as producer) and Best Writing (for his work on the screenplay). With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis made history as the first person to write two Best Picture Oscar winners in a row.
Haggis claimed that he wrote Crash to “blow liberals,” stating that his liberal peers were not being honest with themselves about the nature of race and racism, believing that the majority of racial issues in our society had already been overcome.
Personal Life of Paul Haggis
Haggis is a Santa Monica, California resident. From his first marriage to Diana Gettas, he has three children, and from his second marriage to Deborah Rennard, he has one son.
To help disadvantaged Haitian youth, Haggis formed the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice. Haggis admits to being an atheist in an interview with Dan Rather.
Separation from the Church of Scientology in the public eye
In October 2009, after 35 years of active membership in the Church of Scientology, Haggis departed the organization. In response to statements made by the Church of Scientology’s San Diego chapter in support of Proposition 8, the ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage in California, he decided to leave Scientology.
Haggis wrote to the Church’s spokesman, Thomas Davis, requesting that he reject these sentiments; when Davis refused, Haggis retorted that “Tommy, silence is agreement. I’m not going to agree.” Haggis went on to highlight a number of other issues against Scientology, including the organization’s policy of disconnection and the defamation of ex-members through releasing personal information.
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“The decision of Beghe and Haggis to quit Scientology appears to have caused the movement its greatest recent PR difficulties, not least because of its dependence on Hollywood figures as both a source of revenue for its most expensive courses and an advertisement for the religion,” the Observer said of Haggis’ and actor Jason Beghe’s defections from Scientology.
“I think one’s life always mirrors art, and art parallels life,” Haggis said in an interview with Movieline regarding the connections between his film The Next Three Days and his exit from the Scientology group. The New Yorker published Lawrence Wright’s 25,000-word essay “The Apostate” in February 2011, revealing Haggis’ charges against the Church of Scientology. The piece concluded with a quote from Haggis: “For 34 years, I was a member of a cult. It was visible to everyone else. I’m not sure why I couldn’t accomplish it.” For the 2015 film Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, Haggis was interviewed with a group of ex-Scientologists.
