David Friedman (/ˈfriːdmən/; born September 25, 1970), known professionally as David Benioff (/ˈbɛniɒf/), is an American writer, director and producer. Along with his collaborator D. B. Weiss, he is best known as co-creator, showrunner, and writer of Game of Thrones (2011–2019), the HBO adaptation of George R. R. Martin's series of books A Song of Ice and Fire. He is also known for writing 25th Hour (2002), Troy (2004), City of Thieves (2008) and co-writing X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).