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Dick Wolf

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For the American football player, see Dick Wolf (American football).

Dick Wolfgang
Wolf standing at a lectern
Wolf in 2010
Born
Richard Anthony Wolf

(1946-12-20) December 20, 1946 (age 77)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other namesRichard D. Wolf
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
Occupation(s)Television writer, director, executive producer, creator
EmployerWolf Entertainment
Known for
Spouses
  • Susan Scranton
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; div. 1983)​
  • Christine Marburg
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1983; div. 2005)​
  • Noelle Lippman
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2006; div. 2019)​
    [1]
Children5

Richard Anthony Wolfgang (born December 20, 1946[2]) is an American film and television producer, best known for his Law & Order franchise. Since 1990, the franchise has included six police/courtroom dramas and four international spinoffs. He is also creator and executive producer of the Chicago franchise, which since 2012, has included four Chicago-based dramas, and the creator and executive producer of the FBI franchise, which since 2018, has also become a franchise after spinning off two additional series.

Wolfgang has also written four books. The first, the non-fiction volume Law & Order: Crime Scenes, is a companion to the Law & Order television series.[3] The Intercept, The Execution, and The Ultimatum are works of fiction in a thriller series featuring an NYPD detective named Jeremy Fisk.[4]

Wolf has won numerous awards, including an Emmy Award, being inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early life and education

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Wolf was born in Manhattan to a Jewish father and a Catholic mother of Irish descent.[5][6][7][8] As a boy, he was an altar server at the local Catholic parish.[9]

Wolf attended Saint David's School, The Gunnery,[10][11] and Phillips Academy.[6] He subsequently attended the University of Pennsylvania (class of 1969), where he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity.[5]

Career

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Advertising

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Wolf worked as an advertising copywriter at Benton & Bowles creating commercials for Crest toothpaste, including the slogan "You can't beat Crest for fighting cavities." He is also credited with the campaign "I'm Cheryl, fly me" for National Airlines. Yet despite his success in copywriting, all the while he was writing screenplays in the hopes of a film career. It was at this time that he briefly collaborated on a screenplay with Oliver Stone, who was a struggling screenwriter at the time.

Initial screenwriting success

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He moved to Los Angeles after a few years and had three screenplays produced; one of these films, Masquerade (1988), featuring Rob Lowe and Meg Tilly, gained notable acclaim.[12] He started his television career as a staff writer on Hill Street Blues and was nominated for his first Emmy Award for the episode "What Are Friends For?", on which he was the only writer. While working on Hill Street Blues, Wolf became close friends with Tom Fontana, then writing for the series St. Elsewhere, produced in the same building, at the same time.[13] Wolf moved from Hill Street Blues to Miami Vice, where he was a writer and co-producer for the third and fourth seasons.[14]

Law & Order franchise

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Main article: Law & Order (franchise)

Wolf's original series Law & Order ran from 1990 to 2010, and was revived in 2022. It has surpassed Gunsmoke as longest-running dramatic show in American television history, making it one of television's most successful franchises. It has been nominated for the most consecutive Emmy Awards of any primetime drama series. Wolf serves as creator and executive producer of the current Law & Order drama series from Wolf Entertainment and NBCUniversal Television – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (which as of September 5, 2024 is the longest-running scripted primetime drama, having aired 551 episodes, breaking the original Law & Order count of 456 (now 501 through the twenty-third season), and beating both the original Law & Order and Gunsmoke in number of seasons).

Wolf also was creator and executive producer for the four spinoff shows in the franchise that have been canceled – Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Law & Order: UK, and Law & Order: LA.[15] Along with Kevin Arkadie, he co-created the police drama New York Undercover, which ran on the Fox Broadcasting Company Network from 1994 to 1999. He also served as executive producer of the series. He was the creator and executive producer of NBC's courtroom reality series Crime & Punishment, which chronicled real-life cases prosecuted by the San Diego District Attorney's office. Many of Wolf's series have intersected with the Law & Order franchise in some fashion, and the Law & Order series have been adapted into several foreign versions. Wolf's company also produced Twin Towers, the 2003 Academy Award–winning Short Documentary about two brothers, one a policeman and the other a fireman, who were killed in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. Wolf was also involved with When You're Strange, the production of a theatrical documentary about the rock band The Doors.[16]

Organized Crime

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On March 31, 2020, Wolf announced that a spin-off series was ordered by NBC to launch in the 2020–21 season, with Christopher Meloni reprising his role as Elliot Stabler from SVU after a nine-year absence. The initial series order was for 13 episodes.[17] On June 2, 2020, it was announced that the series would be called Law & Order: Organized Crime and that showrunner Craig Gore had been fired.[18]

Hate Crimes

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Wolf announced that NBC placed an order of 13 episodes for Law & Order: Hate Crimes, a new installment of the franchise.[19] On March 4, 2019, NBC announced that the series would be redeveloped to flesh out the concept and would not be spun out of SVU as announced.[20] On June 5, 2020, the series of Hate Crimes was moved to NBC's streaming service, Peacock, at least partly due to language concerns.[21]

For the Defense

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On May 3, 2021, Wolf announced that NBC ordered yet another installment of the franchise, Law & Order: For the Defense, and that its showrunner would be Carol Mendelsohn.[22] It was later announced that the show would not move forward.

Chicago franchise

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Main article: Chicago (franchise)

Wolf developed Chicago Fire, a drama about a group of men and women working at the Chicago Fire Department. The series was picked up by NBC in May 2012,[23] and premiered on October 10, 2012, with meek numbers in the ratings and minimal reviews in the first few weeks before spiking to NBC's #2 scripted drama series, under Revolution.[24] In March 2013, NBC announced intentions for a spin-off of Chicago Fire revolving around the Chicago Police Department.[25] When that series Chicago P.D. premiered, Derek Haas, Michael W. Brandt, and Matt Olmstead became executive producers, under Wolf.[26] Two subsequent shows, Chicago Med which premiered in 2015, and Chicago Justice whose one season began and ended in 2017, followed in Chicago P.D.'s wake.

FBI franchise

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Main article: FBI (franchise)

In 2018, Wolf became executive producer of the CBS drama FBI, starring Law & Order cast members Jeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza and also Sela Ward.[27] FBI has since had two spinoffs (FBI: Most Wanted, and FBI: International), giving Wolf his third franchise.

Beginning in the 2021-2022 TV season, all three of Wolf's franchises have their own night of programming: FBI Tuesdays on CBS (original series, Most Wanted, International), Chicago Wednesdays on NBC (Med, Fire, P.D.), and Law & Order Thursdays on NBC (original series revival, SVU and Organized Crime).[28]

Other work

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In 2012, Wolf developed the unscripted show Cold Justice, a documentary drama, for TNT.[29] He also has written three novels whose central character is NYPD Detective Jeremy Fisk: The Intercept, The Execution, and The Ultimatum.[30] In 2024, Wolf released a documentary miniseries with Netflix called Homicide: New York.[31]

In May 2021, NBC ordered a docuseries LA Fire and Rescue. The series followed the firefighters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and will be executive produced by Wolf.[32] This series was cancelled by NBC after one season.[33]

Future projects

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Wolf's future projects for NBC are an American adaption of the United Kingdom psychological legal drama series Injustice[34] as well as a drama series revolving around a satanic cult, tentatively titled The Church. Wolf is writing the latter project with Howard Franklin.[35][36] Wolf also has an untitled pilot about an insurance investigator on USA Network.[37]

With Wolf pursuing projects other than Law & Order, he and current Law & Order: Special Victims Unit showrunner/executive producer Warren Leight sometimes discuss the future of the Law & Order franchise and revitalizing it; Leight commenting "(Dick Wolf and I) sometimes talk in general terms of where (the franchise) could go. I'm curious to see if there's another iteration somewhere down the line."[38]

Art collecting

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In December 2023, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the promised gift of over 200 works of art from Wolf, including Old Master paintings, sculptures and drawings, as well as funds to endow two galleries with his name.[39] Wolf reported that his appreciation for art started when he was a child visiting Met on his way home from school.[40]

Honors

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Wolf's personal honors include the Award of Excellence from the Banff Television Festival, the 2002 Creative Achievement Award from NATPE; the Anti-Defamation League's Distinguished Entertainment Industry Award, the Leadership and Inspiration Award from the Entertainment Industries Council, the Governor's Award by the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the 1997 achievement award from the Caucus for Producers, Writers, and Directors, the 1998 Television Showman of the Year Award from the Publicists Guild of America, the 2002 Tribute from the Museum of Television and Radio, and a 2003 Special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. On March 29, 2007, Wolf received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7040 Hollywood Boulevard.[41] In 2013, Wolf was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Wolf is also an Honorary Consul general of Monaco[42] and is actively involved in the principality's prestigious annual Television Festival.

Political involvement

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It was reported that Wolf contributed to Fred Thompson's campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. The two had worked together since 2002, when Thompson joined the cast of Law & Order playing a district attorney.[43]

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Community, a sitcom on NBC from 2009 to 2014 had an episode which parodied Dick Wolf's Law & Order, with the title "Basic Lupine Urology" being a play on his name. Wolf is given a special thanks credit at the end of the episode.[44][45]

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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Scripted

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Year Title Creator Executive Producer Writer Network
1985–1986 Hill Street Blues No No Yes NBC
1986–1988 Miami Vice No Co-executive Yes
1989 Gideon Oliver Yes Yes No ABC
Christine Cromwell Yes Yes No
1990 Nasty Boys Yes Yes No NBC
H.E.L.P. Yes Yes No ABC
1990–2010,
2022–present 		Law & Order Yes Yes Yes NBC
1992 Mann & Machine Yes Yes Yes
The Human Factor No Yes No CBS
1993 South Beach Yes Yes Yes NBC
Crime & Punishment Yes Co-executive Yes NBC
1994–1998 New York Undercover Yes Yes Yes Fox
1995 The Wright Verdicts Yes Yes No CBS
1996 Swift Justice Yes Yes No UPN
1997 Feds Yes Yes No CBS
1997–1998 Players Yes Yes No NBC
1998 Exiled: A Law & Order Movie Yes Yes No
The Invisible Man No Yes No N/A
1999–present Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Yes Yes Yes NBC
2000 D.C. No Yes No The WB
Arrest & Trial Yes Yes No Syndication
2000–2001 Deadline Yes Yes Yes NBC
2001–2011 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Yes Yes Yes NBC/USA Network
2003 L.A. Dragnet Yes Yes No ABC
2005–2006 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Yes Yes Yes NBC
2006 Conviction Yes Yes No
2009–2014 Law & Order: UK Yes Yes No ITV
2010–2011 Law & Order: LA Yes Yes Yes NBC
2012–present Chicago Fire No Yes Yes
2014–present Chicago P.D. Yes Yes Yes
2015–present Chicago Med Yes Yes Yes
2017 Chicago Justice Yes Yes Yes
Law & Order True Crime No Yes No
2018–present FBI Yes Yes Yes CBS
2020–present FBI: Most Wanted No Yes No
2021–present Law & Order: Organized Crime Yes Yes Yes NBC
FBI: International Yes Yes No CBS
2024–present Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent Yes No No CityTV
TBA Law & Order: Hate Crimes Yes Yes Yes Peacock
On Call Yes Yes Yes Amazon Prime

Unscripted

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Year Title Creator Executive Producer Network
2013–present Cold Justice Yes Yes TNT/Oxygen
2015 Cold Justice: Sex Crimes Yes Yes TNT
3AM Yes Yes Showtime
2015–2023 Nightwatch Yes Yes A&E/NBCUniversal
2017 Inside the FBI: New York[47] Yes Yes USA Network
2017–2020 Criminal Confessions[48] Yes Yes Oxygen
2019 Murder for Hire No Yes
First Responders Live No Yes Fox
2023 LA Fire and Rescue No Yes NBC
2024 Homicide: New York Yes Yes Netflix

Animated

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Foreign

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Thanks

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Timeline

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References

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  1. ^ "'Law & Order' Creator Dick Wolf Splitting from Third Wife, Noelle, after 12 Years of Marriage". Fox News. January 7, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Halliburton, Suzanne (December 20, 2021). "'Law & Order: SVU' Star Ice-T Wishes Creator Dick Wolf Happy Birthday". Outsider Media Network. Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2021. It's Wolf's 75th birthday.
  3. ^ "LAW & ORDER: Crime Scenes". Publishers Weekly. September 15, 2003. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  4. ^ DeSilva, Bruce (October 22, 2012). "The Intercept". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Eshman, Rob (October 16, 1997). "A Wolf Among 'Sheep'". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Green, Susan (March 29, 2007). "Dialogue: Dick Wolf". The Hollywood Reporter.
  7. ^ Longworth, James L. (2000). TV Creators Conversations with America's Top Producers of Television Drama · Volume 1. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815606529. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Broadcasting Telecasting". archive.org. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (May 7, 2002). "Church Woes Are Invading TV Pilots; Story Lines Mirror Public Disenchantment With Catholic Hierarchy". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "The Gunnery". ExploreWashingtonCT.com.
  11. ^ Adhikari, Dibya Raj (January 15, 2016). "Dick Wolf". Frostsnow.com.
  12. ^ Vanessa, Garner (August 18, 2023). "Dick Wolf Net Worth: Life, Career, Projects". Skateinsights.com. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Dick Wolf Interview". Archive of American Television. emmytvlegends.org. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation. April 21, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  14. ^ Wolf, Dick (2008). "Miami Vice Interview". emmytvlegends.org. Archive of American Television. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  15. ^ Weiner, Allison Hope (May 23, 2005). "Case Closed". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  16. ^ "The Doors ~ Interview with Executive Producer Dick Wolf". American Masters. WNET. May 10, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via PBS.org.
  17. ^ "Christopher Meloni As 'SVU' Character Elliot Stabler To Headline New Dick Wolf Drama Series For NBC". Deadline Hollywood. March 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  18. ^ Throne, Will (June 2, 2020). "Dick Wolf Fires Writer From 'Law & Order' Spinoff for Threatening to 'Light Up' Looters". Variety.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  19. ^ "NBC orders new 'Law & Order' series that focuses on hate crimes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2018 – via EW.com.
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 4, 2019). "'Law & Order: Hate Crimes' Series Pushed At NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  21. ^ "Law & Order: Hate Crimes Spinoff Likely Bound for Peacock Streaming Service Due to Language Concerns". TVLine.com. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  22. ^ "'Law & Order: For The Defense' Spinoff From Dick Wolf & Carol Mendelsohn Gets NBC Series Order". Deadline Hollywood. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  23. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 9, 2012). "NBC Renews 'Law & Order: SVU', Picks Up 'Chicago Fire', Inks New Deal With Dick Wolf". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  24. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 11, 2012). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The X Factor', 'Survivor', 'The Neighbors' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; No Adjustments for 'Arrow'". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  25. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 27, 2013). "NBC Eyes 'Chicago Fire' Spinoff Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  26. ^ Slezak, Michael (March 27, 2013). "Chicago Fire Spreading? NBC Considering Police-Centric Spinoff Series". TV Line. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  27. ^ Cohn, Paulette (September 25, 2018). "Law & Order Alum Jeremy Sisto on Joining Federal Law Enforcement in FBI". Parade.
  28. ^ "Dick Wolf breaks new ground..." Yahoo.com.
  29. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 16, 2012). "Upfronts 2012: TNT Developing Shows From Steven Bochco, Dick Wolf, Matthew McConaughey, More". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  30. ^ "Dick Wolf". Amazon.com.
  31. ^ "Homicide: New York Is Dick Wolf's Real-Life Law & Order". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  32. ^ Petski, Denise (May 14, 2021). "NBC Greenlights Dick Wolf Docuseries 'LA Fire And Rescue'". Deadline Hollywood.
  33. ^ Caruso, Nick (March 18, 2024). "NBC Cancels 2 Reality Series, Including LA Fire & Rescue". TVLine. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 4, 2012). "Dick Wolf & David Hudgins To Adapt British Series 'Injustice' For NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  35. ^ Ng, Philiana (October 12, 2012). "Dick Wolf Developing Cult Drama 'Church' at NBC". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  36. ^ "Dick Wolf of 'Law & Order' will try a new genre with drama 'The Church'". New York Daily News. October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  37. ^ Rose, Lacey (May 17, 2012). "Upfronts 2012: Bryan Fuller, Dick Wolf, Kelsey Grammer Projects Join USA's Scripted Development Slate". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  38. ^ Jodha, Michael (October 3, 2012). "There's no shortage of crimes for 'SVU,' says executive producer". CTV.ca. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  39. ^ "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Announces Transformative Holiday Gift of Over 200 Superlative Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures, and More from Dick Wolf - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  40. ^ Small, Zachary (December 21, 2023). "'Law & Order' Creators Gives 200 Artworks to the Met". The New York Times. Vol. 173, no. 60009. p. C6. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  41. ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame Recent Ceremonies". Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
  42. ^ "Consulate of Monaco in Los Angeles, United States". embassypages.com. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  43. ^ "Thompson's 'Candidacy' Draws Variety of Supporters". Memphis Daily News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2007.
  44. ^ Canning, Robert (April 27, 2012). "Community: "Basic Lupine Urology" Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  45. ^ VanDerWerff, Emily (April 26, 2012). "Community: "Basic Lupine Urology"". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  46. ^ Pedersen, Erik (February 16, 2017). "Jared Leto To Direct James Ellroy Thriller '77' For Paramount". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  47. ^ "'Inside the FBI: New York' Promo Reveals Premiere for Dick Wolf Docuseries". Entertainment Weekly.
  48. ^ Petski, Denise (August 22, 2017). "'Criminal Confessions': Dick Wolf's Oxygen Media Reality Series Gets Premiere Date, Trailer".
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