David E. Kelley

David E. Kelley Headshot

Producer • Writer

Birth Date: April 4, 1956

Age: 67 years old

Birth Place: Waterville, Maine

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 "Doogie Howser, M.D." (Fox, 1989-1993) with Bochco before branching out on his own to create the wildly quirky, but ratings-challenged "Picket Fences" (CBS, 1992-96), which, despite critical adulation and two Emmy Awards, struggled to find an audience. Kelley ventured out into medical drama territory with the equally lauded "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000), while continuing his duties on "Picket Fences." But since he wrote all the scripts for both shows Kelley soon found himself burned out and forced to relieve himself of his responsibilities. After struggling to find his footing in the feature world with "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" (1996) and "Lake Placid" (1999), Kelley reached the height of his creative and commercial powers with two divergent legal shows - "The Practice" (ABC, 1997-2004), a gritty, realistic look inside a Boston law firm, and "Ally McBeal" (Fox, 1997-2002), a wildly fanciful show that featured character fantasies, song numbers and a unisex bathroom. By the time he spun-off "The Practice" into the even more successful "Boston Legal" (ABC, 2004-08), there was no doubt that Kelley was a powerful creative force in television the likes of which had not been seen since Garry Marshall dominated the small screen in the 1970s.

Credits

Love & DeathStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2023
63%

The CallingStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2022
25%

Avalon

Executive Producer
TV Show
2022

The Lincoln LawyerStream

Creator
TV Show
2022
79%

The Lincoln LawyerStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2022
79%

Anatomy of a ScandalStream

Creator
TV Show
2022
58%

Anatomy of a ScandalStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2022
58%

Nine Perfect StrangersStream

Creator
TV Show
2021
60%

Nine Perfect StrangersStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2021
60%

Big Shot

Executive Producer
TV Show
2021
78%

Big SkyStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2020

Big SkyStream

Writer
TV Show
2020

The UndoingStream

Creator
TV Show
2020
79%

The UndoingStream

Writer
TV Show
2020
79%

Mr. Mercedes

Creator
TV Show
2018

Mr. Mercedes

Executive Producer
TV Show
2018

Mr. Mercedes

Writer
TV Show
2018

Mr. MercedesStream

Creator
TV Show
2017
91%

Big Little LiesStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2017
89%

Big Little LiesStream

Writer
TV Show
2017
89%

GoliathStream

Creator
TV Show
2016
86%

GoliathStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2016
86%

Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter

Guest
TV Show
2015

The Crazy OnesStream

Creator
TV Show
2013

The Crazy OnesStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2013

The Crazy OnesStream

Writer
TV Show
2013

Monday Mornings

Executive Producer
TV Show
2013

Harry's LawStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2011
43%

TV's Greatest Surprises: A Paley Center for Media Special

Guest
TV Show
2010

The Wedding Bells

Executive Producer
TV Show
2007

The Law Firm

Executive Producer
TV Show
2005

Justicia CiegaStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
2004
86%

Justicia CiegaStream

Writer
TV Show
2004
86%

Tavis Smiley

Guest
TV Show
2004

The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire

Executive Producer
TV Show
2003

The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire

Writer
TV Show
2003

girls club

Executive Producer
TV Show
2002

Boston Public

Executive Producer
TV Show
2000

Snoops

Executive Producer
TV Show
1999

Snoops

Writer
TV Show
1999

Lake Placid

Producer
Movie
1999

Lake Placid

Writer
Movie
1999

Mystery, Alaska

Producer
Movie
1999

Mystery, Alaska

Writer
Movie
1999

Ally McBealStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
1997
61%

Ally McBealStream

Writer
TV Show
1997
61%

The PracticeStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
1997

The PracticeStream

Writer
TV Show
1997

To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday

Writer
Movie
1996

Chicago Hope

Executive Producer
TV Show
1994

Chicago Hope

Writer
TV Show
1994

Picket FencesStream

Executive Producer
TV Show
1992
82%

Picket FencesStream

Writer
TV Show
1992
82%

From the Hip

Writer (Screenplay)
Movie
1987

From the Hip

Writer (Story)
Movie
1987

News about
David E. Kelley

Jake Gyllenhaal attends the 'Strange World' multimedia event

Jake Gyllenhaal to Star in ‘Presumed Innocent’ TV Series Based on Harrison Ford Movie

Neve Campbell

ABC Scraps Neve Campbell Crime Drama ‘Avalon’

Jeff Wilbusch in 'The Calling'

David E. Kelley’s ‘The Calling’ Trailer Shows Jeff Wilbusch as Spiritual NYPD Cop

Neve Campbell at Toronto Film Festival

Neve Campbell to Lead David E. Kelley’s New ABC Drama ‘Avalon’

Jeff Daniels attends Montclair Film Festival

Jeff Daniels to Star in Netflix’s Drama Adaptation ‘A Man in Full’

Anatomy of a Scandal - Rupert Friend and Sienna Miller
Review

Roush Review: A Slick But Shallowly Scandalous ‘Anatomy’ Lesson

Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Sets Premiere Date, Plus Check Out a First Look (PHOTOS)

David E. Kelley Michael Connelly

David E. Kelley, Michael Connelly Mystery ‘Avalon’ Gets Straight-to-Series Order From ABC

Presumed Innocent David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams

‘Presumed Innocent’ Series From David E. Kelley & J.J. Abrams Ordered at Apple TV+

Juliana Canfield attends the HBO's Succession Season 3 Premiere

‘Succession’ Star Juliana Canfield to Play NYPD Detective in Peacock Series ‘The Missing’

Jeff Wilbusch

‘The Missing’: Peacock Casts Jeff Wilbusch in Lead Role for Crime Drama

John Stamos in Big Shot on Disney+

John Stamos’ Disney+ Series ‘Big Shot’ to Return for Season 2

big sky abc cast

‘Big Sky’ Lands Season 2 Renewal at ABC

Elizabeth Olsen David E. Kelley

HBO Max Gives Series Order to ‘Love and Death’ Starring Elizabeth Olsen

Disney+ Big Shot John Stamos

‘Big Shot’: John Stamos Is a Coach With a Learning Curve in Series’ First Trailer (VIDEO)

Manuel Garcia Rulfo Matthew McConaughey Lincoln Lawyer

‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Series Starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo Ordered at Netflix

Big Sky Jenny Cody Cassie Photo Gallery

ABC Orders 6 More Episodes of David E. Kelley’s ‘Big Sky’

The Undoing Season 1 HBO Nicole Kidman Hugh Grant
Review

Roush Review: HBO’s Glossy ‘Undoing’ Is a TV Page-Turner

Boston Public Chi McBride Jeri Ryan Rashida Jones

Where Are the Stars of ‘Boston Public,’ 20 Years Later?

Big Sky Key Art ABC

‘Big Sky’ Trailer: The Search for 2 Sisters Kicks Off David E. Kelley’s Thriller (VIDEO)

disney plus john stamos series

John Stamos Joins Disney+ Series ‘Big Shot’ From David E. Kelley

Calista Flockhart as Ally McBeal

‘Ally McBeal’ Creator David E. Kelley Is All For a Reboot of the Series

nicole-kidman-david-kelley

‘Big Little Lies’ Duo Nicole Kidman & David E. Kelley Team up for Another HBO Show

tca_33-david-e-kelley_1828.tif

Producer Spotlight: ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘Goliath’ Creator David E. Kelley Says ‘It All Starts With the Characters’

Witherspoon, Woodley, Kidman
Review

Roush Review: Social Satire in ‘Big Little Lies,’ Legal Theatrics in ‘The Good Fight’

Golliath, GG2017.NOMS, season 1

‘Goliath’ Boss Jonathan Shapiro on the Legal Potboiler’s Twists and Turns

Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton

Roush Review: ‘Goliath’ Leads a Busy Weekend of ‘Peak TV’

Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton

‘Goliath’: Billy Bob Thornton and David E. Kelley Team for Legal Thriller on Amazon

TV Tattle

Billy Bob Thornton is headed to Amazon for David E. Kelley’s ‘The Trial’