King attended Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he began engaging in creative pursuits. However, at the age of 20, he left school and moved to New York City in 1975 to pursue a career in the arts. There, he wrote jokes, plays, and comedic material, and he performed as part of the comedy group "The Broadway Local" at Manhattan Punch Line Theatre.

Beginnings in Television Writing

King's professional writing career took off in Los Angeles, where he began contributing scripts to the acclaimed television series "Murphy Brown." The show received numerous Emmy nominations, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, helping to establish King as a versatile writer in the industry.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he wrote for multiple television projects, including "My Talk Show" (1990), "The Sweet Life" (1989), "Murphy Brown" (1991–1993), "Good Advice" (1994), "The 5 Mrs. Buchanans" (1994), "Cybill" (1996), "Temporarily Yours" (1997), "Will & Grace" (1999), and "55 Mercer Street" (2001).

Breakthrough with Sex and the City

Michael Patrick King is best known for his work as executive producer, director, and lead writer of the critically acclaimed HBO series "Sex and the City." The show followed the lives and friendships of four women navigating relationships and careers in New York City. It became a cultural phenomenon for its candid exploration of romance, sexuality, and modern womanhood.

Following the success of the series, King directed, wrote, and produced the feature film adaptation, "Sex and the City," which premiered in London and was released in 2008. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $415 million worldwide.

In 2010, he directed and wrote the sequel, "Sex and the City 2." Both films collectively received around 18 award nominations across various categories. Between 2001 and 2010, the franchise secured six major awards.