Gus Schiff has moved well beyond being recognised as the son of actor Richard Schiff. Working professionally as Augustus Schiff, he has written for Netflix’s animated comedy Big Mouth, developed original screenplays and directed a short film that won a festival prize in October 2026. He also encouraged his father to play Odin in God of War Ragnarök.
His recent directing recognition came from Ext. Cabin – Day, a self-aware horror comedy screened at American film festivals. Meanwhile, plans to adapt one of his television pilots for British audiences suggest ambitions extending beyond Hollywood.
His combination of established television credits, original screenplays and independent filmmaking reveals a developing professional identity.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Augustus Schiff |
| Known As | Gus Schiff |
| Nationality | American |
| Birthplace | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Screenwriter, Director and Producer |
| Father | Richard Schiff |
| Mother | Sheila Kelley |
| Sibling | Ruby Kelley |
| Education | University of Chicago; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
| Qualifications | BA in History; MFA in Screenwriting |
| Known For | Big Mouth, The Hornbys, Ext. Cabin – Day |
| Notable Achievement | Best Horror Award at the 2026 New York Shorts International Film Festival |
| Industry | Film, Television and Entertainment |
| Current Professional Focus | Screenwriting, Filmmaking and Creative Development |
| Marital Status | Not publicly verified |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
A 2026 Festival Win Brings His Directing Into Focus
The clearest recent development is Ext. Cabin – Day, a 15-minute film that turns the frustrations of a low-budget horror production into its own horror-comedy premise. Gus wrote and directed the project, with production credits shared by his parents, Richard Schiff and Sheila Kelley.
The film appeared at the LA Shorts International Film Festival on 6 August 2026. It subsequently screened at the New York Shorts International Film Festival, where it won Best Horror in October 2026, according to the festival’s published winners list.
That recognition matters for a writer previously associated mainly with television comedy: it demonstrates his ability to direct finished work for festival audiences.
The premise also reflects his interest in satire about the entertainment business, making a film crew’s creative disagreements part of the horror itself.
Inside the Writers’ Room of Big Mouth
One of Gus Schiff’s most substantial professional credits is Netflix’s Big Mouth, the adult animated series created around the awkwardness and emotional upheaval of adolescence. His professional portfolio identifies him as a writer and consulting producer on its seventh and eighth seasons, with work spanning 2022 to early 2025.
He shares a credited writing role with Joe Wengert on “Panic! at the Mall”, an episode from season seven released in October 2023. The episode establishes a specific contribution to a widely distributed series.
Unlike writing an original screenplay, work on an established animated programme means finding fresh stories within familiar characters and conventions.
Big Mouth ended with its eighth season in 2025. Gus’s involvement therefore belongs to a completed series, not an ongoing production. Nevertheless, the credit remains an important part of his professional record, bringing him experience on a prominent streaming comedy.
The Screenplay That Attracted Industry Attention
Before his Netflix credit, Gus had already gained notice as a screenwriter through weird, a coming-of-age dramedy about an autistic student navigating college, friendship, attraction and grief. The screenplay appeared on the 2021 Black List, the annual industry survey of well-regarded unproduced feature scripts.
Its inclusion was not a film release or a guaranteed production deal. Its significance was professional recognition.
The same script won the feature comedy category at UCLA’s 2021 Screenwriters Showcase. UCLA’s published results independently confirm the award, making it a meaningful early career milestone.
His résumé also records development work involving Range Media Partners and Get Lifted Productions. The development and shopping period ended in 2024. There is no reliable public confirmation that a feature adaptation has entered production or reached cinemas.
Even without a released film, weird helped establish a creative calling card: character-led comedy capable of handling more serious subjects.
From History Graduate to Professional Screenwriter
Gus grew up in Los Angeles in a household familiar with the realities of acting and production. Rather than immediately pursuing screenwriting, he studied history at the University of Chicago, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2017.
He subsequently completed an MFA in screenwriting at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television, attending from 2019 to 2021. These dates appear on his professional résumé.
In a 2021 screenwriter profile, he described spending time at a talent agency before deciding that creative work suited him better. He also identified comedy programmes such as 30 Rock, Community, The Office and Parks and Recreation among his favourites.
Those influences help explain a portfolio spanning workplace comedy, absurdism and genre satire.
A Family Collaboration With Actual Creative Credits
Richard Schiff won an Emmy for playing Toby Ziegler in The West Wing and later portrayed Dr Aaron Glassman in The Good Doctor. Sheila Kelley has worked as an actress and developed the S Factor movement and fitness business. Their daughter, Ruby Kelley, has also appeared on screen.
Gus’s connection to this acting family is not limited to red-carpet photographs. He wrote and produced The Hornbys, a comedy short featuring Richard, Sheila and Ruby, with Richard credited as director.
The later Ext. Cabin – Day again brought the family together professionally: Richard and Sheila were credited as producers, while Ruby appeared in the cast.
These projects illustrate a useful distinction. Gus benefits from a family with considerable production experience, but his own screenwriting, directing and television credits can be examined separately from his father’s reputation.
How Gus Helped Richard Schiff Become Odin
For gaming audiences, Gus may be best known for a decision he never performed on screen. In 2022, Richard voiced and performed Odin in Sony Santa Monica Studio’s God of War Ragnarök, an unexpected casting choice for an actor associated with prestige television dramas.
Game director Eric Williams explained in an interview with Game Informer that Richard was unfamiliar with the franchise when approached. Gus, already a fan, urged him to consider the role and prepared a two-page account of the previous game so he could understand its story.
That preparation helped Richard enter discussions with the developers. Williams acknowledged Gus’s part in the casting story.
It would overstate the story to call Gus the game’s casting director or suggest he worked on its development. His documented contribution was personal encouragement and research, not an official production role.
Still, the anecdote explains why his name circulates beyond film and television circles. It is also an unusually specific example of a son’s familiarity with a medium influencing his father’s career choice.
British Television Plans and Other Original Comedy Ideas
Gus’s portfolio extends beyond finished credits. His half-hour pilot How to Die, an absurdist comedy-drama about a man confronting mortality, is listed as optioned by Prodigal Entertainment for a UK adaptation.
His résumé describes development work involving producers Arvid David and Tarquin Pack and British comedian David Baddiel. An option or adaptation agreement is not equivalent to a commissioned series, however, and a broadcaster, cast or release date has not been publicly verified.
Another project, Thriving, explores a young woman’s determination to become famous before turning 30. Gus identifies himself as its writer, director and co-creator in his portfolio.
He has also developed ideas across science-fiction satire, workplace comedy and historical comedy. These are development projects, not necessarily completed productions.
Public Profile and Financial Privacy
Gus uses the professional name Augustus Schiff on his writing portfolio, while festival listings also identify him as Gus Schiff. His management is listed through Heroes & Villains Entertainment.
Despite his family’s visibility, there is little reliable public reporting about his private relationships or personal finances. No trustworthy, independently verified figure establishes his net worth, salary or investment holdings.
Conclusion
Gus Schiff’s career now has identifiable achievements independent of Richard Schiff’s fame: a Black List screenplay, writing and producing work on Big Mouth, and an award-winning 2026 short film. His role in encouraging his father to play Odin remains an appealing family story, but it is no longer the strongest evidence of his professional relevance. The developments worth watching are his directing work and whether his original television projects progress beyond development.
FAQs
Who is Gus Schiff?
Gus Schiff, professionally known as Augustus Schiff, is an American screenwriter, producer and director. He is the son of actors Richard Schiff and Sheila Kelley. His credited projects include Netflix’s Big Mouth, the short film The Hornbys and the award-winning Ext. Cabin – Day.
Did Gus Schiff work on God of War Ragnarök?
He is not publicly credited as a developer or performer on the game. According to director Eric Williams, Gus encouraged Richard Schiff to accept the role of Odin and wrote a summary of the preceding game to help his father prepare for discussions with the studio.
What did Gus Schiff write for Netflix?
Gus worked as a writer and consulting producer on the final two seasons of Big Mouth. He shares the writing credit for season seven’s “Panic! at the Mall” with Joe Wengert. His contribution is therefore documented through both his professional portfolio and an individual episode credit.
What award did Gus Schiff win in 2026?
His short film Ext. Cabin – Day received the Best Horror award at the New York Shorts International Film Festival in October 2026. Gus wrote and directed the 15-minute production, which had also screened at LA Shorts earlier that year.
Is Gus Schiff working on a British television series?
His comedy-drama pilot How to Die has been listed as optioned for a UK adaptation by Prodigal Entertainment. Development work involved British industry collaborators, but there is no verified announcement establishing that a full series has been commissioned or released.
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