Jeffrey Paul King '05.5 was a member of the Middlebury men's track & field team and majored in geography. He is a screenwriter in California and has worked on multiple hit television shows, including Brothers & Sisters, Elementary, Grey's Anatomy, and The Republic of Sarah.

You moved to California after graduation to become a screenwriter and landed internships in the writer's room for Grey's Anatomy and Brothers & Sisters. How surreal was it to be in meetings learning and helping what would turn into a star-studded and award-winning series in Grey's Anatomy?

The first week of my internship at Grey's Anatomy was crazy. I attended a table read, got a tour of the hospital set, watched Shonda Rhimes give notes on a script, delivered breakfast to Ellen Pompeo, and spent a day with the writing staff as they built a new episode from scratch. The showrunner even let me name it. I came up with Adrift and at Peace, which is episode ten of season seven. 

It was all mind-bogglingly and allowed me to learn the business of TV from people at the absolute peak of the craft. I built a handful of mentor relationships with working writers, which are crucial for anyone trying to break into the industry. Case in point: when I was up for the job at "Elementary," the showrunner at Grey's Anatomy emailed my would-be boss at CBS and told him he'd be foolish not to hire me. I have no doubt that recommendation helped me secure the gig.

Writing and producing the CBS hit Elementary ended up becoming your next stop. What was that experience like for you? Do you have a favorite episode or two that you were heavily involved in creating?

Elementary was my "big break". The show was perfect for my nerdy, anglophile sensibilities. Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu brought our stories to life with unbelievable skill and the other writers were talented and supportive, and helped me continue to grow. Beyond all that, the show was the rarest of things in Hollywood: stable. It was on the air for seven years, and I was there for every one of them. That's seven years where I didn't have to constantly worry about whether or not I'd have a job next month. I could just focus on writing, producing, and learning from those around me.

I have two favorite episodes that I wrote during my time on Elementary. The first is Episode 314, "The Female of the Species." In it, Sherlock tracks a killer who stole a pair of zebras from the zoo. The story is super fun and unique, and we had a blast during production because we got to film on location at The Bronx Zoo. My other favorite is Episode 603, "Pushing Buttons." It begins when a man is murdered in broad daylight during a Revolutionary War reenactment. Needless to say, filming a giant colonial battle sequence that included antique cannons and a bunch of actors in tricorn hats was a thrill.

How have you been able to run three Boston Marathons and compete in 61 obstacle races?

Careers in Hollywood are very volatile. One day, you've got two shows on the air and people are throwing opportunities at you and the next, you haven't worked in five months and cannot get a meeting. Distance running helps me stay emotionally balanced through those big swings, which is why it continues to be such a big part of my life. Whatever I am dealing with on a given day, I can put my headphones in, turn my brain off, and leave it all behind for an hour on a long sunset run. As for the races, they give me a reason to stay motivated during long months of training and provide a mechanism through which I can indulge my competitive spirit and challenge myself. 

To be clear, I am not now, nor have I ever been, what I would call "super-fast." Yes, I ran track at Middlebury and scored points for the team a few times, but I have zero natural running talent. What I do have, however, is a strong work ethic. How did I manage to qualify for the Boston Marathon three times? I trained every day for four months straight before the qualifier race. I put in the time, which enabled me to get the time.

What is currently on your radar now in terms of writing and producing? 

At the moment, I'm working with a major studio to develop a scripted show about professional esports. It's a real passion project for me; I've been obsessed with competitive gaming for a decade as both a fan and a player. (I still compete in Smash Bros Ultimate. All shall tremble before my mighty Bowser.) 

What is one piece of advice that you would give to current Middlebury student-athletes?

Make time for sports after college. Going to the gym doesn't count;  I'm talking about heart-pounding, blood-pumping, competitive sports. They will help you stay grounded and give you a consistent, reliable opportunity to put your phone down for a few hours and forget the stresses of modern life. You'll meet new people. You'll see new parts of the city. You'll sleep better at night and feel better in the morning. It might seem like a hassle to have to rush off to an 11 p.m. league soccer game after working a fifteen-hour day, but trust me: it's worth it.

What was your Midd Moment?

The first time I did a run with Mchaka Mchaka. I'm proud to say I was one of the earliest members of the group, which quickly became a core element of my Midd experience. It combined all of my favorite things into one activity: running, singing, meeting new people, and learning new things. I was never happier on the Middlebury campus – and I never felt more part of a community – than when I was out for a run with the group.

If you are interested in being a part of our Alumni Spotlight Series, please email sid@middlebury.edu for consideration.