Cast & creator
Sheila Nevins
Best known for The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts, America Undercover
Nevins previously ran MTV Documentary Films from 2019 to 2024, and was the President of HBO's Documentary and Family Programming from 2005 - 2018. She earned a bachelor of the arts degree from Barnard Collegeand a master of fine arts degree from Yale University. Nevins produced documentaries before joining HBO in 1979. Nevins has overseen production of nearly 500 documentaries, earning eleven Oscars, 31 Primetime Emmys, 19 Academy Awards, 22 News and Documentary Emmys and 18 George Foster Peabody awards for HBO and one personal George Foster Peabody award. She also received a 2005 News and Documentary Emmy for Lifetime Achievement. She received the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Documentary Association. Nevins was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2000. She began her career with the United States Information Service in Washington, DC, which produced and distributed documentary programs around the world. Nevins was a producer for National Education Television's Great Dream Machine, a field producer for an ABC television documentary unit, a writer for Time-Life Films, a producer-writer for the Children's Television Workshop, a producer for CBS-TV's Who's Who program, and president of Spinning Reels, a production company. She joined HBO in 1979 as director of documentary programming. Nevins was named executive vice president, original programming, for HBO and Cinemax in 1999 and President of Documentary and Family in 2005.
Also known as: Sheila J. Nevins
184
film credits
12
television credits
2
1987–2026 · acting roles
6.6
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
★ 7.2The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Executive Producer · 2018
★ 7.5When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
Executive Producer · 2006
★ 5.3America Undercover
Producer · 2003
★ 7.6Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Executive Producer · 2015
★ 7.6Cobain: Montage of Heck
Executive Producer · 2015
Across film & television
Filmography (196)
Showing 196 of 196 credits
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Executive Producer
2018When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts
Executive Producer
2006America Undercover
Producer
2003Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
Executive Producer
2015Cobain: Montage of Heck
Executive Producer
2015
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
Executive Producer
2018
For Neda
Executive Producer
2010
Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking
Executive Producer
2010
Real Sex
Creator
1990
Citizenfour
Executive Producer
2014
Don't Divorce Me! Kids' Rules for Parents on Divorce
Executive Producer
2012
Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present
Executive Producer
2012
Indian Point: Imagining the Unimaginable
Executive Producer
2004
I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter
Executive Producer
2019
The Alzheimer's Project
Executive Producer
2009
Tribeca 25
Self
2026
15: A Quinceañera Story
Executive Producer
2017
I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale
Executive Producer
2009
Rolling Stone: Stories from the Edge
Executive Producer
2017
The Words That Built America
Executive Producer
2017
Six by Sondheim
Executive Producer
2013
The Eternal Memory
Executive Producer
2023
Portraits of a Lady
Executive Producer
2008
Manhood
Executive Producer
2026
Southern Comfort
Executive Producer
2001
The Latin Explosion: A New America
Executive Producer
2015
'Twas the Night - A Holiday Celebration
Executive Producer
2004
Mommy Dead and Dearest
Executive Producer
2017
Meth Storm
Executive Producer
2017
If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
Executive Producer
2010
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
Executive Producer
2016
4 Little Girls
Executive Producer
1997
Traffic Stop
Executive Producer
2017
Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales
Executive Producer
1999
Taxicab Confessions
Executive Producer
1995
Pay or Die
Executive Producer
2023
The Weight of the Nation
Executive Producer
2012
The ABCs of Book Banning
Producer
2024The ABCs of Book Banning
Director
2024
Gloria: In Her Own Words
Executive Producer
2011
Kids Are Punny
Executive Producer
1998
American Hollow
Executive Producer
1999
Katie Morgan's Porn 101
Executive Producer
2007
Everything Is Copy
Executive Producer
2015
The Celluloid Closet
Executive Producer
1996
Cutting Through Rocks
Executive Producer
2025
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters
Executive Producer
2006
My Depression (The Up and Down and Up of It)
Executive Producer
2014
Children No More: Were and Are Gone
Producer
2025
Reagan
Executive Producer
2011
The Fire That Took Her
Executive Producer
2022
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Executive Producer
2012
Beah: A Black Woman Speaks
Executive Producer
2004
Jim: The James Foley Story
Executive Producer
2016
Thoth
Executive Producer
2002
The Emperor's Newest Clothes
Screenplay
2018
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Executive Producer
2014
Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?
Executive Producer
2016
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Producer
2000
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
Executive Producer
1996
Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper
Executive Producer
2016
There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane
Executive Producer
2011
Becoming Warren Buffett
Executive Producer
2017
I Am an Animal: The Story of Ingrid Newkirk and PETA
Executive Producer
2007
Chasing Roo
Executive Producer
2024
The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story
Executive Producer
2000
Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater
Executive Producer
2007
Afghan Dreamers
Executive Producer
2022
War Dog: A Soldier's Best Friend
Executive Producer
2017
A Family Is a Family Is a Family: A Rosie O'Donnell Celebration
Executive Producer
2010
Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy
Executive Producer
2017Outposts: Nothing Here is Yours
Producer
2026
Liberty: Mother of Exiles
Executive Producer
2019
The Hidden Führer: Debating the Enigma of Hitler's Sexuality
Executive Producer
2004
Rosie's Theater Kids
Producer
2023
An Apology to Elephants
Executive Producer
2013
Love Crimes Of Kabul
Executive Producer
2011
Banksy Does New York
Executive Producer
2014
The Case Against 8
Executive Producer
2014
Gay Chorus Deep South
Executive Producer
2019
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
Executive Producer
2015
Arthur Miller: Writer
Executive Producer
2017
Finding the Way Home
Executive Producer
2019
Elaine Stritch at Liberty
Executive Producer
2004
Looking for Fidel
Executive Producer
2004
About Face: Supermodels Then and Now
Executive Producer
2012
Outside the Bubble: On the Road with Alexandra Pelosi
Executive Producer
2018
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant
Executive Producer
2009
Project Nim
Executive Producer
2011
Anastasia
Executive Producer
2022
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
Executive Producer
1998
Death Without Mercy
Executive Producer
2024
Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing
Executive Producer
2016
I Am Ready, Warden
Executive Producer
2024
Life of Crime 2
Executive Producer
1998
Kevorkian
Executive Producer
2010
Terror at the Mall
Executive Producer
2014
101 Rent Boys
Executive Producer
2000
The Loving Story
Executive Producer
2011
Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
Executive Producer
2000
Ask E. Jean
Executive Producer
2026
Last Letters Home
Executive Producer
2004
Vito
Executive Producer
2011
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day
Executive Producer
2021
Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery
Executive Producer
2008
Studs Terkel: Listening to America
Executive Producer
2009How to Raise a Streetsmart Child
Executive Producer
1987Cancer: Evolution to Revolution
Executive Producer
2000
Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq
Executive Producer
2007
The Education of Dee Dee Ricks
Executive Producer
2011
Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi
Executive Producer
2007
Going to Pot: The High and Low of It
Executive Producer
2021
Secrets of the Tribe
Executive Producer
2010
Life According to Sam
Executive Producer
2013
Last Flight Home
Executive Producer
2022
Classical Baby: The Lullaby Show
Executive Producer
2017
Comandante
Executive Producer
2003
Cries from Syria
Executive Producer
2017
I Have Tourette's But Tourette's Doesn't Have Me
Executive Producer
2005
Family Video Diaries: Daughter of the Bride
Producer
1997
One Thousand Pictures: RFK's Last Journey
Executive Producer
2010
The End
Executive Producer
2004
I Am Evidence
Executive Producer
2017
Katie Morgan's Sex Tips 2: Any More Questions?
Executive Producer
2009
Dirty Driving: Thundercars Of Indiana
Executive Producer
2008
The Final Inch
Executive Producer
2009
Through a Child's Eyes: September 11, 2001
Executive Producer
2002
The Trials of Ted Haggard
Executive Producer
2009
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney
Executive Producer
2023
RX: Early Detection - A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee
Executive Producer
2018
Mondays at Racine
Executive Producer
2012
Baghdad ER
Executive Producer
2006
A Life Too Short
Executive Producer
2021
The Number on Great-Grandpa's Arm
Executive Producer
2018
The Nine Lives of Marion Barry
Executive Producer
2009Memphis PD: War on the Streets
Executive Producer
1996
Thought Crimes
Executive Producer
2015
Persona Non Grata
Executive Producer
2003
Last Song from Kabul
Executive Producer
2023
A Dangerous Son
Executive Producer
2018
Twins: The Divided Self
Executive Producer
1997
The Boys from Baghdad High
Executive Producer
2008The Execution Machine: Texas Death Row
Executive Producer
1997
I Can't Do This But I CAN Do That: A Film for Families about Learning Differences
Executive Producer
2010
Living With Lincoln
Executive Producer
2015
Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1
Executive Producer
2013
St. Louis Superman
Executive Producer
2019
Broken Child
Producer
2000
First Cousin Once Removed
Executive Producer
2012
Make Me Young: Youth Knows No Pain
Executive Producer
2009
My Father the Mover
Executive Producer
2020
Without Pity: A Film About Abilities
Executive Producer
1996
Suited
Executive Producer
2016
Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later
Executive Producer
2023
Mourning in Lod
Executive Producer
2023Braingames
Creator
Hot Coffee
Executive Producer
2011
Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life & Times of Katrina Gilbert
Executive Producer
2014
Koran by Heart
Executive Producer
2011
Abortion: Stories Women Tell
Executive Producer
2016
After the Rain: Putin's Stolen Children Come Home
Executive Producer
2024
Prisoners of the War on Drugs
Executive Producer
1996
Warning: This Drug May Kill You
Executive Producer
2017
5 American Handguns - 5 American Kids
Executive Producer
1995
Mumia Abu-Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt?
Executive Producer
1998
Alternate Endings: Six New Ways to Die in America
Executive Producer
2019
Clínica de Migrantes: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Executive Producer
2016
Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County
Executive Producer
2010
Class Divide
Producer
2016
Bleed Out
Executive Producer
2018
No Contract, No Cookies: The Stella D'Oro Strike
Executive Producer
2010
Alive in Bronze
Executive Producer
2022
Private Violence
Executive Producer
2014
A Rape in a Small Town: The Florence Holway Story
Executive Producer
2005Andrew Jenks, Room 335
Executive Producer
2008
American Selfie: One Nation Shoots Itself
Executive Producer
2020
Sergio
Executive Producer
2009
The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the Golden Years
Executive Producer
1999
Xiara's Song
Executive Producer
2005
Journeys with George
Executive Producer
2002Vanishing: A Love Story
Executive Producer
2025The Virtual Corpse
Executive Producer
2003
17 Blocks
Executive Producer
2019
Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags
Executive Producer
2009
Omoiyari
Executive Producer
2022
The Path Forward
Executive Producer
2024
Lock-Up: The Prisoners of Rikers Island
Executive Producer
1994
Mann v. Ford
Executive Producer
2011
No One Dies in Lily Dale
2011
Abortion: Desperate Choices
Executive Producer
1992
Risky Drinking
Executive Producer
2016
Mob Stories
Executive Producer
1993
Journey Into Dyslexia
Executive Producer
2011
And Along Came a Spider
Executive Producer
2002
Educating Peter
Producer
1992
Wide Awake
Executive Producer
2006