List of The Wire writers and directors

The Wire, an American drama television series created by David Simon, had numerous directors and writers during its series run.

Directing staff

Before directing The Wire many of the directors worked on other television series. Many of the directors also have background in independent films.

Regular directors

• Joe Chappelle (6 episodes, 2002–2008)
• Ernest Dickerson (6 episodes, 2003–2008)
• Dan Attias (4 episodes, 2003–2008)
• Ed Bianchi (4 episodes, 2002–2004)
• Clark Johnson (4 episodes, 2002, 2008)
• Steve Shill (4 episodes, 2002–2004)

Repeat directors

• Agnieszka Holland (3 episodes, 2004–2008)
• Tim Van Patten (3 episodes, 2002–2004)
• Brad Anderson (2 episodes, 2002, 2006)
• Rob Bailey (2 episodes, 2003–2004)
• Anthony Hemingway (2 episode, 2006–2008)
• Elodie Keene (2 episodes, 2003)
• Seith Mann (2 episode, 2006–2008)
• Christine Moore (2 episodes, 2004–2006)
• Clement Virgo (2 episodes, 2002)
• Alex Zakrzewski (2 episodes, 2004–2006)

Single-episode directors

• Robert F. Colesberry ("Port in a Storm", 2003)
• Scott Kecken and Joy Lusco ("Not for Attribution", 2008)
• Leslie Libman ("Homecoming", 2004)
• Milčo Mančevski ("Game Day", 2002)
• Jim McKay ("Refugees", 2006)
• Peter Medak ("The Buys", 2002)
• Gloria Muzio ("Lessons", 2002)
• David Platt ("Alliances", 2006)
• Dominic West ("Took", 2008)
• Thomas J. Wright ("Backwash", 2003)

Writing staff

Many of the writers and producers of The Wire have a background as journalists and/or authors. With the exception of one episode ("Sentencing") The Wire utilizes both the teleplay and story credits. Series creator David Simon was the show's most prolific writer by a large margin and receives story credit for all but ten episodes. He was also the series' showrunner, a term that has come to mean the main creative force behind a television series. As such, his involvement in the writing of the series could be considered greater than the 20 teleplay credits and one writing credit explicitly credited to him. Simon's writing partner Ed Burns was a major driving force in the writing of the series, having penned the most episodes after Simon; Burns particularly contributed to the fourth season of the series. George Pelecanos has written the penultimate episode of each season.

Head writer

• David Simon (20 teleplay credits, 1 writing credit, 50 story credits; 2002–2008)

Regular writers

• Ed Burns (10 teleplay credits, 1 writing credit, 41 story credits; 2002–2008)
• George Pelecanos (7 teleplay credits, 7 story credits; 2002–2008)

Repeat writers

• Richard Price (5 teleplay credits, 5 story credits; 2004–2008)
• Rafael Alvarez (3 teleplay credits, 2 story credits; 2002–2004)
• Dennis Lehane (3 teleplay credits, 3 story credits; 2004–2008)
• Joy Lusco (3 teleplay credits, 2 story credits; 2002–2004)
• David Mills (2 teleplay credits, 2 story credits; 2006–2008)
• Eric Overmyer (1 teleplay credit, 2 story credits; 2006)
• William F. Zorzi (2 teleplay credits, 2 story credits; 2006–2008)

Single-episode writers

• Chris Collins (1 teleplay credit, 1 story credit; 2008)
• Kia Corthron (1 teleplay credit, 1 story credit; 2006)
• David H. Melnick and Shamit Choksey (1 teleplay credit, 2002)