David E. Kelley

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David E. Kelley

David E. Kelley

Photo credit: 
AP

Multi award-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley is the mind behind some of America's most distinctive television series. As creator of the Emmy, Peabody and Golden Globe Award-winning shows Boston Legal, The Practice and Ally McBeal, the critically acclaimed dramatic series Harry's Law, Boston Public and Chicago Hope, and the multiple award-winning drama series Picket Fences, Kelley's writing and executive-producing style continues to intrigue television viewing audiences. His most recent series is The Crazy Ones.

Multi award-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley is the mind behind some of America's most distinctive television series. As creator of the Emmy, Peabody and Golden Globe Award-winning shows Boston Legal, The Practice and Ally McBeal, the critically acclaimed dramatic series Harry's Law, Boston Public and Chicago Hope, and the multiple award-winning drama series Picket Fences, Kelley's writing and executive-producing style continues to intrigue television viewing audiences. His most recent series is The Crazy Ones.

After receiving his law degree from the Boston University School of Law, Kelley was an attorney practicing law in Boston before venturing into the world of entertainment. Honored with four George Foster Peabody Awards, a Television Showmanship Award from the Publicists Guild of America, the David Susskind Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild and the TV Guide Awards' inaugural Brandon Tartikoff Award, Kelley was also the subject of a tribute by the Museum of Television and Radio and was named a Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame Honoree.

He is the recipient of the Monte Carlo Television Festival's first Showman of the Year Award, the Casting Society of America's Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been honored by the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. In addition, he has received the prestigious Humanitas Prize for two consecutive years for The Practice, and was presented with both The Paddy Chayefsky Lifetime Achievement Award and The Paul Selvin Award from the Writers Guild of America.

To date, Kelley is the only Producer to ever win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Drama, Ally McBeal and The Practice respectively, in the same year (1999). Kelley also is a two-time Television Academy Honors recipient for Boston Legal and Harry's Law.

David E. Kelley was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014.

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Awards & Nominations

30 Nominations | 11 Emmys | 1 Honor
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special - 2017
  • Nominee
  • David E. Kelley, Written for Television by
  • Big Little Lies
  • HBO
  • HBO Entertainment in association with David E. Kelley Productions, Pacific Standard and Blossom Films
Outstanding Limited Series - 2017
  • Winner
  • David E. Kelley, Executive Producer
  • Big Little Lies
  • HBO
  • HBO Entertainment in association with David E. Kelley Productions, Pacific Standard and Blossom Films
Hall of Fame - 2014
  • Winner
  • David E. Kelley, as Honoree
Outstanding Drama Series - 2008
  • Nominee
  • David E. Kelley
  • Boston Legal
  • ABC
  • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Outstanding Drama Series - 2007
  • Nominee
  • David E. Kelley, Executive Producer
  • Boston Legal
  • ABC
  • David E. Kelley Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
Outstanding Drama Series - 2001
  • Nominee
  • David E. Kelley, Executive Producer
  • The Practice
  • ABC
Outstanding Drama Series - 2000
Outstanding Drama Series - 1999
Outstanding Comedy Series - 1999
Outstanding Comedy Series - 1998
Outstanding Drama Series - 1998
Outstanding Drama Series - 1996
Outstanding Drama Series - 1995
Outstanding Drama Series - 1991
Outstanding Drama Series - 1990
  • Winner
  • David E. Kelley, Executive Producer
  • L.A. LAW
  • NBC
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1990
  • Winner
  • David E. Kelley, Writer
  • L.A. LAW
  • NBC
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES - 1990
  • Nominee
  • David E. Kelley, Writer
  • L.A. LAW
  • NBC
Outstanding Drama Series - 1989
Outstanding Drama Series - 1988

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

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