Todd A. Kessler (born 1972) is an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer and director.

Career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Jewish Weekly: "Celebrity Jews" by Nate Bloom. August 7, 2007
  3. ^ Prudom, Laura (14 September 2016). "'Bloodline' Ending After Season 3 on Netflix". Retrieved 14 September 2016.
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