Todd A. Kessler
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Todd A. Kessler (born 1972) is an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer and director.
Career[edit]
Kessler wrote and produced the second and third seasons of HBO's The Sopranos, Michael Mann's Robbery Homicide Division and the first season of NBC's Providence. Kessler began his career as a playwright working with David Rabe, moving into film and television when Spike Lee hired him as a screenwriter. Kessler is credited with co-writing (with David Chase) the Sopranos season 2 finale Funhouse -- widely lauded as one of the best episodes of the series.[1]
Despite his success on The Sopranos, HBO did not retain Kessler beyond season 3, an experience Kessler described as "painful and formative."[1] Kessler and Sopranos actor James Gandolfini became close friends during Kessler's time writing for the show.
He is the co-creator and head writer of the Golden Globe award-winning FX drama series Damages along with his older brother, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman.[2] He also has a small role in Damages as Perry the Doorman.
In 2015, his Kyle Chandler-led Netflix series Bloodline premiered. In 2016 it was cancelled, and ended its run after its third season in 2017.[3]
Education[edit]
After graduating from Cranbrook Kingswood School, Kessler graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in dramatic literature and playwriting, and has twice been a visiting artist at Harvard, teaching screenwriting seminars.
Awards and nominations[edit]
Kessler has been nominated for several Primetime Emmy Awards. Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman were nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for their work on the Damages pilot episode "Get Me A Lawyer".
Kessler has been nominated for five Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | Director | Creator | |||
| 1997 | The Visitor | Yes | No | No | No | Co-wrote "Going Home" |
| 1999 | Providence | Yes | No | No | No | 3 episodes, also executive story editor |
| 2000–01 | The Sopranos | Yes | Yes | No | No | Wrote 5 episodes, also co-producer |
| 2002–03 | Robbery Homicide Division | Yes | Yes | No | No | Supervising producer, wrote 5 episodes |
| 2007–12 | Damages | Yes | Executive | Yes | Co-creator | Wrote 25 episodes and directed 7 episodes |
| 2015–17 | Bloodline | Yes | Executive | Yes | Co-creator | Wrote 8 episodes and directed 4 episodes |
| 2024–present | The New Look | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | Wrote 8 episodes and directed 2 episodes |
References[edit]
- ^ a b Lima, Leo Noboru (2021-11-22). "Fired Sopranos Writer Confirms What We Suspected All Along About James Gandolfini's Demeanor - Looper". Looper.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ Jewish Weekly: "Celebrity Jews" by Nate Bloom. August 7, 2007
- ^ Prudom, Laura (14 September 2016). "'Bloodline' Ending After Season 3 on Netflix". Retrieved 14 September 2016.
External links[edit]
- Todd A. Kessler at IMDb
- Damages official website containing Todd A. Kessler biography
- Interview with Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman at TV Guide
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