Biography
Arguably one of the most prolific writer-producers in small screen history, former attorney David E. Kelley created some of television's quirkiest and unconventional shows, particularly in the normally staid legal world. Kelley left his self-described boring job as a litigator to join the writing staff of Steven Bochco's hit "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994), where he eventually worked his way up to executive producer. He went on to co-create …
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Career Milestones
| Created and executive produced the ABC drama series "Snoops" | ||
| Raised in the Boston, Massachusetts area | ||
1983 | Worked for three years in the litigation department of the mid-size Boston law firm Fine & Ambrogne, specializing in real estate and minor criminal cases | |
1986 | On the strength of his then unproduced "From the Hip" screenplay, recruited by executive producer Steven Bochco to work as writer and consultant on NBC's "L.A. Law"; quickly became show's head writer; assumed co-producer status as of the 1987-1988 season, supervising producer the following season, and when Bochco left in 1989 to develop ABC's "NYPD Blue", assumed role of executive producer | |
1987 | Feature screenwriting debut, "From the Hip" | |
1989 | Served as writer, co-creator (with Bochco) and executive consultant on "Doogie Howser, M.D."; wrote premiere episode but involvement lessened with each passing season | |
1992 | Formed own production company (David E Kelley Productions) and created, wrote and executive produced "Picket Fences" for CBS; relinquished executive producer reins for final season | |
1994 | Created, wrote pilot (and most of first season's episodes) and executive produced the CBS medical drama "Chicago Hope"; dropped executive producer duties after one season, retaining title of 'executive consultant'; returned in spring 1999 to pen the season finale and agreed to take more active role in show during the 1999-2000 season | |
1996 | Co-produced and scripted "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday", adapting it from a play by Michael Brady; wife Michelle Pfeiffer co-starred as Gillian | |
1997 | Wrote, created and executive produced the ABC legal drama "The Practice"; fired most of the original cast in the 2003 season to keep the cost down, but added James Spader as a lead character | |
1997 | Wrote, created and executive produced the Fox series "Ally McBeal"; in fall 1999, Fox aired "Ally", a half-hour version of the series culled from previously aired material edited with unaired segments to create stand alone episodes; that half-hour version was cancelled in December 1999 | |
1999 | Scripted the hockey-themed feature "Mystery, Alaska" | |
1999 | Wrote the black comedy-thriller "Lake Placid", starring Bridget Fonda as a paleontologist who teams with an eccentric billionaire to solve a mysterious death | |
2002 | Created and executive produced the FOX drama "Girl's Club" | |
2004 | Developed an unscripted series for NBC, a legal drama pitting contestants with law degrees against each other in a race for a partner position at a law firm | |
Awards
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1988 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1990 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1991 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in L.A. Law |
1991 | Writers Guild of America Award for Episodic Drama in L.A. Law |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Picket Fences |
1994 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Picket Fences |
1995 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Chicago Hope |
1996 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Chicago Hope |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Ally McBeal |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Practice |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in Ally McBeal |
1998 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series in The Practice |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in Ally McBeal |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Practice |
1999 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in Ally McBeal |
1999 | Producers Guild of America Award for Television Series in The Practice |
2000 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Practice |
2001 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Practice |
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Boston Legal |
2008 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Boston Legal |