When Jerry DiPego was 12, he realized he wanted to write. The self-described shy loner from Round Lake, Ill., found a whole new life in the world of books and film.

“I loved to read and watch movies, as most of them took me away,” he said. “They opened up my mind and imagination and I knew I wanted to tell stories.”

Little did Jerry know one day the words escaping Hollywood stars’ mouths on-screen would come from his pen and paper. During his more than three decades in southern California, he’s written numerous TV shows, and movies including “Phenomenon,” “Instinct,” “Message in a Bottle,” and “The Forgotten,” not to mention several novels.

Jerry graduated from NIU in 1963, then dabbled in several areas of journalism including writing for The Joliet Spectator, working in public relations for the Elgin State Hospital and teaching journalism and English in Menominee, Mich. When he took graduate courses at the University of Missouri in 1967, Jerry found what he was looking for, though almost by accident. He soon would give up on the masters program, in order to enroll in creative writing, film and television courses that had perked his interests. By 1970, he was westward bound.

“Going to California was a freeing experience and I was amazed by the sunlight and color,” Jerry said. “It was a bright and strange kind of wonderful mix of people. It opened me up more.”

Which isn’t to say he hasn’t lost that boyish sense of wonder about the work he does.

“There’s an excitement about working with stars you’ve seen on the big screen,” Jerry said. “At times, I became that 12-year-old again and I didn’t know what to say to them.”

Jerry still keeps tabs on his writing and his credits, most notably by checking his profile on the Internet Movie Database.

“Part of your brain is that 12-year-old kid from Round Lake saying, ‘Wow, I have a profile [on IMDb]?'” DiPego said. “But the other part adds up all the scars and successes and in the end, you take it all with a grain of salt.”

Through it all, Jerry has remembered his Northern Star days.

“The Star for me was really the center of my college life,” he said. “Even though it was hard work, it was rewarding.” Jerry lives in the Santa Yncz Valley with his wife, Christine. They have two sons, Justin and Zachary.

– Collin Quick ’07