Before becoming a playwright, Jean-Claude Grumberg held several jobs, including working as a tailor.

His career as a writer began in 1968 with Demain, une fenêtre sur rue, and short theatrical pieces such Rixe, which was staged at the Comédie-Française.

In 1998, L'Atelier returned to Théâtre Hébertot in Paris, achieved great success, and won the 1999 Molière for best play direction.

His screenplay credits include, Les Années Sandwiches, coauthor with François Truffaut of The Last Metro, La Petite Apocalypse of Costa-Gavras, Le Plus Beau Pays du monde by Marcel Bluwal (1999), Fait d'hiver Robert Enrico (1999).

He is one of the few living contemporary French playwrights whose work is studied in schools (including L'Atelier).