David E. Kelley

Biography: While other artists earn law degrees in case they need a stable career to fall back on, this Boston-based attorney traded the bar for showbiz after penning his first screenplay---the courtroom comedy From the Hip, which was made into a movie in 1987. A year earlier, the then-unsold script inspired TV producer Steven Bochco to hire Kelley as a scribe on his new show, L.A. Law. After quickly being promoted to head writer, then executive producer, Kelley began creating his own hit series, including teen-doctor dramedy Doogie Howser, M.D.; eccentric small-town crime series Picket Fences; medical saga Chicago Hope; quirky legal comedy Ally McBeal; gritty legal drama The Practice; and its spin-off, Boston Legal. A workhorse able to craft unforgettable characters and infuse serious stories with offbeat humor, Kelley oversaw several shows simultaneously in the '90s. Kelley received a slew of honors for his small-screen projects, including a number of Emmys and TV GUIDE's BrandonWhile other artists earn law degrees in case they need a stable career to fall back on, this Boston-based attorney traded the bar for showbiz after penning his first screenplay---the courtroom comedy From the Hip, which was made into a movie in 1987. A year earlier, the then-unsold script inspired TV producer Steven Bochco to hire Kelley as a scribe on his new show, L.A. Law. After quickly being promoted to head writer, then executive producer, Kelley began creating his own hit series, including teen-doctor dramedy Doogie Howser, M.D.; eccentric small-town crime series Picket Fences; medical saga Chicago Hope; quirky legal comedy Ally McBeal; gritty legal drama The Practice; and its spin-off, Boston Legal. A workhorse able to craft unforgettable characters and infuse serious stories with offbeat humor, Kelley oversaw several shows simultaneously in the '90s. Kelley received a slew of honors for his small-screen projects, including a number of Emmys and TV GUIDE's Brandon Tartikoff Award in 2001.… Expand