David E. Kelley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David E. Kelley
Kelley in 2022
Born	David Edward Kelley (1956-04-04) April 4, 1956 (age 69) Waterville, Maine, U.S.
Education	Princeton University (AB) Boston University (JD)
Occupation	Television producer, writer, attorney
Years active	1986–present
Spouse(s)	Michelle Pfeiffer ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Jack Kelley (father)

David Edward Kelley (born April 4, 1956) is an American television writer and producer. He used to be a lawyer. Kelley has created and/or produced many popular TV shows. These include Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, and The Practice. He also made Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Goliath, and Big Little Lies. Kelley is one of the few writers whose shows have been on all four major U.S. TV networks. These are ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. His shows have also aired on HBO.

Early Life and Education

David Kelley was born in Waterville, Maine. He grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts. His father, Jack Kelley, is famous in the U.S. Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. David was a "stick boy" for a hockey team his father coached.

He played hockey at Princeton University. He was even the captain of the team. In 1979, he earned a degree in political science. David showed his creative side early on. For a college paper, he wrote about John F. Kennedy's plot to kill Fidel Castro as a poem. For another project, he turned the Bill of Rights into a play. He made each amendment a character.

Kelley later earned a law degree from Boston University School of Law. He worked for a law firm in Boston. He handled cases mostly about real estate and small crimes. In 1983, he started writing a screenplay as a hobby. This legal thriller later became the movie From the Hip in 1987.

Television Career

David E. Kelley has created and produced many successful TV shows. He is known for his legal dramas and unique characters.

Working on L.A. Law (1986–1992)

In 1986, Steven Bochco was looking for writers for his new legal show, L.A. Law. Kelley's movie script impressed him. Bochco hired Kelley as a writer and story editor. Kelley's role grew quickly. By 1989, he became the executive producer.

While he was in charge, L.A. Law won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series. Kelley also won Emmys for his writing. He wrote or co-wrote many episodes in his first five seasons. When he left in 1991, the show's ratings dropped. He was later asked to return as a consultant to help improve the show.

Creating Picket Fences (1992–1996)

In 1992, Kelley started his own company. He made a deal with CBS. His first show was Picket Fences. It was about a police department in a small, unusual town in Wisconsin. Kelley wrote most of the episodes for the first three years.

The show was praised by critics. It won 14 Emmy awards. This included two Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series. Even though it was popular with critics, it didn't have a huge audience.

Starting Chicago Hope (1994–2000)

CBS wanted Kelley to create another show. In 1994, he launched the medical drama Chicago Hope. It was about high-tech medicine and expensive doctors. The show aired at the same time as NBC's ER.

Chicago Hope ran for six years. It won seven Emmys. Critics generally liked it, but its ratings were average. Kelley initially planned to write only a few episodes. However, he ended up writing a lot for both Chicago Hope and Picket Fences. In 1995, he stepped back from daily involvement. He returned in 1999 to help the show avoid cancellation.

Success with The Practice (1997–2004)

In 1995, Kelley signed a deal with 20th Century Fox Television. He would produce shows for ABC and FOX. The Practice on ABC was one of his first projects from this deal. It started in 1997.

The Practice was a courtroom drama. It showed the less glamorous side of a small law firm. This show was the first of four successful series Kelley set in Boston. Critics loved the show, and it won two Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series. It later became a very popular show. Many writers on the show had law degrees.

The Unique Ally McBeal (1997–2002)

Ally McBeal premiered in 1997 on FOX. At this time, Kelley was also working on Chicago Hope and The Practice. Unlike The Practice, the law firm in Ally McBeal was mainly focused on making money.

The show was known for its unique characters. It ran for five seasons and won seven Emmy awards. One Emmy was for Outstanding Comedy Series. The show received both praise and criticism. Many discussions focused on how it showed women. Some felt the character Ally was a step backward for women on TV.

Kelley wrote all the scripts for the first season. Later, other writers joined. He continued to write many episodes himself.

Discussions about Ally McBeal

When Ally McBeal first aired, many people talked about its main character. Some writers felt David Kelley understood how both men and women think. They said he showed the complex ways people hide their fears. The character was seen by some as a strong TV woman's role. Others saw themselves in Ally's self-reflection and worries.

However, the show also caused a lot of debate about women's roles. Time magazine even had a cover story about the decline of feminism. It showed Ally on the cover. Some critics felt the character made feminism seem silly. Others argued that the show was more of a male fantasy.

Despite the debates, Ally McBeal was very popular with young women (18-34 years old). Many young professional women liked seeing characters like themselves. They enjoyed shows with single, ambitious female characters.

Exploring Education with Boston Public (2000–2004)

In 2000, Kelley made a new deal with 20th Century Fox Television. This deal reportedly made him one of the highest-paid producers in TV.

His new show, Boston Public, started on FOX in 2000. It followed the lives of teachers and staff at a high school in Boston. This meant Kelley was overseeing three shows at once: Boston Public, The Practice, and Ally McBeal.

Boston Public was a moderate hit. However, it received mixed reviews. Some critics felt Kelley was losing his "Midas touch" (meaning everything he touched turned to gold). The show lasted four seasons and won one minor Emmy award.

Continuing Legal Dramas with Boston Legal (2004–2008)

Before Boston Legal, Kelley had a few shows that didn't last long. These included Girls Club and The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire. He continued to oversee Boston Public and The Practice.

Boston Legal premiered on ABC in 2004. It was a spin-off from The Practice. The show followed lawyer Alan Shore, played by James Spader. It also starred famous actors Candice Bergen and William Shatner. Critics loved Boston Legal. It won seven Emmys and was nominated over 25 times. It also won a Peabody Award for its political discussions.

In 2007, Boston Legal gained more viewers. It aired after the popular show Dancing with the Stars. The show's final season began in 2008. Kelley wrote most of the episodes. He felt ABC didn't treat the show well, moving it to different nights. This caused ratings to drop.

Recent Projects (2007–present)

After Boston Legal, Kelley continued to create new shows. The Wedding Bells (2007) was canceled after seven episodes. He also worked on an American version of the BBC show Life on Mars.

In 2011, Kelley created Harry's Law for NBC. It starred Kathy Bates. The show was canceled in 2012. This was despite being one of the network's most-watched dramas. It didn't attract enough younger viewers, which is important for TV networks.

He also wrote a pilot episode for a new Wonder Woman TV series in 2011. However, NBC did not pick it up. In 2013, he co-created the medical series Monday Mornings for TNT. It was canceled after one season. Another comedy series, The Crazy Ones, starring Robin Williams, also premiered in 2013. It was canceled after one season.

In 2015, Kelley created Goliath for Amazon Studios. In 2017, he led the new HBO series Big Little Lies. This show won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series. He also worked on Mr. Mercedes, based on a Stephen King novel.

In 2018, HBO ordered The Undoing, a miniseries written by Kelley. It starred Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant. It premiered in 2020 and was HBO's most-watched show that year. Kelley also wrote a script for The Lincoln Lawyer for CBS. It was later picked up by Netflix in 2021. He is also the writer and showrunner for the ABC crime drama Big Sky.

How He Works

David Kelley has a unique way of creating his shows.

Writing Style

Kelley writes his first drafts by hand. He uses a pen and a yellow legal pad. He can write scripts very quickly, often in two to four days. He usually starts writing alone. He finds it faster than explaining his ideas to others.

He has been known to prefer writing a lot himself. Over time, he became more comfortable working with other writers. He started bringing them in for ideas and to help with writing tasks.

Storytelling Elements

Kelley's episodes often have several storylines. An episode might have a small, complete story. It also has other stories that started earlier or will continue later. This keeps viewers guessing about what will happen next.

Kelley often includes important social issues in his stories. He uses legal cases to bring up these topics. He tries to "raise moral and ethical questions without easy answers." He wants to entertain the audience while making them think. He creates situations that challenge what people might expect. He often mixes serious moments with humor.

In Ally McBeal, Kelley used two special techniques. The main character had a voiceover that shared her inner thoughts. There were also funny fantasy scenes. These showed her secret thoughts and feelings.

Crossover Episodes

Kelley often had characters from one of his shows appear on another. For example, characters from Ally McBeal (on Fox) appeared on The Practice (on ABC). And characters from The Practice appeared on Ally McBeal. This was unusual because the shows had different tones. This helped boost ratings for The Practice.

He did this again with Boston Public, Ally McBeal, and Boston Legal. Many other shows later copied this idea. Kelley even tried to cross over Picket Fences with The X-Files. This was difficult because they were on different networks.

Casting Choices

Kelley often uses the same actors in his different shows. For example, Anthony Heald and René Auberjonois played judges on The Practice. They later became regular cast members in Boston Public and Boston Legal. Many actors from his older shows also made guest appearances in Boston Legal.

After Big Little Lies, Kelley started working closely with actress Nicole Kidman. They have worked together on several shows. These include Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and Nine Perfect Strangers.

How His Shows Show Real Life

Kelley's shows often explore real-world topics.

The Legal World

The Practice was seen as more realistic about the law than L.A. Law or Ally McBeal. It showed how legal strategies are important, sometimes more than the truth. One lawyer said it was about "the tactics and the mistakes that opposing counsel makes." Judges were shown as complex people with their own problems. The shows also explored how a defendant's personality could affect a case.

However, some parts of his legal shows have been criticized as unrealistic. Lawyers have said that certain meetings don't happen in real life. They also said judges wouldn't let lawyers attack witnesses. Some felt the shows exaggerated police misconduct.

Public Education

Samuel G. Freedman, a journalism professor, praised Kelley's series Boston Public. He felt it tried to show and change opinions about public education. Especially about crowded city schools. He liked the realistic setting and the diverse staff and students. But he criticized Kelley for using stereotypes and not showing successful teaching methods.

Medicine

Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics, felt medical dramas like Kelley's Chicago Hope were good at discussing ethical issues. For example, who should get an organ transplant. However, he noted they often didn't talk about how people pay for medical care. The show was also criticized for showing a one-sided view of HMOs. It often made them seem evil without showing the full picture.

Movies He Made

Besides From the Hip, David Kelley wrote and produced three other movies. In 1996, he made To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday. This romance movie starred his wife, Michelle Pfeiffer. It didn't get great reviews or make much money. In 1999, he released two more films. Lake Placid was a mix of suspense, horror, and comedy. Mystery, Alaska was about a small-town ice hockey team that plays against the New York Rangers.

Personal Life

Kelley with wife Michelle Pfeiffer at the 46th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1994

David Kelley was raised Protestant. Some people think he is Catholic because his shows often talk about Catholic issues.

In January 1993, Kelley went on a blind date with actress Michelle Pfeiffer. They started dating seriously. Pfeiffer had already begun the process to adopt a daughter. In March 1993, she adopted a newborn, Claudia Rose. David and Michelle married on November 13, 1993. They also had Claudia christened that same day. In August 1994, Pfeiffer gave birth to their son, John Henry.

David's brother, Mark Kelley, used to be a director for the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. David himself was drafted by a hockey team in 1977.

Filmography

Film

Television

Miniseries

Timeline of TV Shows

Note: This timeline does not include a few episodes that aired only in non-U.S. markets.

Awards and Recognition

David E. Kelley has won many awards for his work in television.

Emmy Awards and Nominations

He has won several Emmy Awards. These are very important awards in television.

Emmy Winning Actors in Kelley's Shows

Many actors have won Emmys for their roles in David Kelley's series. Some of these include Peter MacNicol, Tracey Ullman, Sharon Stone, William Shatner, James Spader, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Dern.

Peabody Awards

The Peabody Award is another important award for excellence in media.

Television Hall of Fame

In 2014, David E. Kelley was added to the Television Hall of Fame. This honors people who have made big contributions to television.

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See also

In Spanish: David E. Kelley para niños