Dennis Paoli

Dennis Paoli is a screenwriter and playwright. He is mainly known for his collaborations with director Stuart Gordon.

Career Paoli studied and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1969. Paoli first met Stuart Gordon from high school in Chicago, with both bonding over reading and movies. The two became roommates at Wisconsin.

He has notably written or co-written works based on the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, such as the films (1985), From Beyond (1986) and Dagon (2001) and the Masters of Horror episode "H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House", all directed by Gordon, with whom Paoli also collaborated on the stage productions of Bleacher Bums, Re-Animator: The Musical, and Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe. He also wrote another Lovecraft adaptation, the film Suitable Flesh (2023) directed by Joe Lynch.

Paoli serves as the coordinator of the Hunter College writing center. He retired from his teaching job at Hunter College prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. He established the Heidi Paoli Fund in honor of his late wife ( 1987) to distribute donations to approved cancer charities from a variety of fundraising sources.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Director(s) Role Co-writer Notes 1992Mortal SinsBradford MayWriterGreg MartinelliTelevision film 2001Bleacher BumsSaul RubinekWriterMitch ParadiseTelevision film 2005; 2007Masters of HorrorStuart GordonWriterStuart GordonEpisodes: "H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House""The Black Cat" Re-Animator: The MusicalPlaywrightStuart Gordon and William J. Norris Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan PoePlaywright

An indicates a story writer.