Favorite Writers/Directors: Television
by gothceltgirl | created - 24 Jan 2014 | updated - 28 Dec 2022 | PublicThe best writers/directors/producers working in television. Not in any order, just as my crazy ADD brain thinks of them... Also if I've made any errors, please feel free to (politely) let me know in the comment section.
1. Joss Whedon
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon is the middle of five brothers - his younger brothers are Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon. Both his father, Tom Whedon and his grandfather, John Whedon were successful television writers. Joss' mother, Lee Stearns, was a history teacher and she also wrote novels as Lee Whedon. Whedon was ...
Buffy, Angel, Firefly, etc.
2. Lynda La Plante
Writer | Prime Suspect
Lynda La Plante was born on March 15, 1943 in Liverpool, England, UK. She is a writer and actress, known for Prime Suspect (1991), Prime Suspect 3 (1993) and Widows (2018). She was previously married to Richard La Plante.
Prime Suspect & Above Suspicion, some of the best crime drama I have ever seen. I wonder has she ever thought of writing Sci Fi?
3. Michelle Lovretta
Writer | The Umbrella Academy
Michelle Lovretta is known for The Umbrella Academy (2019), Killjoys (2015) and Lost Girl (2010).
For Lost Girl, simply astounding and keeps getting better!
4. J.J. Abrams
Producer | Lost
Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, the son of TV producer parents. At 15, he wrote the music for Don Dohler's Nightbeast (1982). In his senior year of college, he and Jill Mazursky teamed up to write a feature film, which became Taking Care of Business (1990)....
5. Russell T. Davies
Writer | Doctor Who
Sometimes described as a genius and sometimes as a talentless hack, Russell T. Davies is one of the most prominent - and polarising - British television writers of his generation, who specializes in emotional dramas, frequently with gay and sex-related adult themes. He was born in Swansea, Wales (...
For writing almost all if not all of my favorite episodes of Doctor Who and for Queer as Folk, and creating Torchwood,
6. Toby Whithouse
Writer | Being Human
Toby Whithouse is known for Being Human (2008), The Game (2014) and Bridget Jones's Diary (2001).
For Being Human (UK)
7. Dennis Kelly
Writer | Utopia
Dennis Kelly is known for Utopia (2013), Matilda: The Musical (2022) and Pulling (2006). He was previously married to Monica Nappo.
Utopia
8. Steven Moffat
Writer | Doctor Who
Steven Moffat was born on November 18, 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Doctor Who (2005), Sherlock (2010) and The Adventures of Tintin (2011). He has been married to Sue Vertue since 1999. They have two children. He was previously married to Maggie.
Sherlock & Coupling
9. Ryan Murphy
Producer | Glee
Born November 9, 1965 in Indianapolis, Indiana, US as Ryan Patrick Murphy, he is an American writer, director, and producer, responsible for creating such hits as Nip/Tuck (2003), Glee (2009) and American Horror Story (2011). His mother, J. Andy Murphy, was a writer and communications worker and ...
Mostly for this 3rd season of American Horror Story. Fantastic
10. Brad Falchuk
Writer | Glee
Brad Falchuk was born on March 1, 1971 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Glee (2009), American Horror Story (2011) and Pose (2018). He has been married to Gwyneth Paltrow since September 29, 2018. He was previously married to Suzanne Bukinik.
Same as above
11. Rockne S. O'Bannon
Writer | Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Farscape (1999), Alien Nation and Evil (2019).
Mostly for Farscape and countless other contributions and writing of many of the greatest episodes of other TV shows.
12. Alex Kurtzman
Producer | Sleepy Hollow
Alex Kurtzman is an American filmmaker and screenwriter. He directed People Like Us and the panned 2017 reboot The Mummy starring Tom Cruise and Sofia Boutella. He wrote Transformers 1 and 2, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Star Trek, The Island and Cowboys & Aliens. He also created the TV show Fringe.
13. Roberto Orci
Producer | Star Trek
Roberto Orci was born on July 20, 1973 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. He is a producer and writer, known for Star Trek (2009), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) and Fringe (2008). He has been married to Adele Heather Taylor since June 6, 2020. He was previously married to ...
14. Steven S. DeKnight
Writer | Pacific Rim Uprising
Steven S. DeKnight was born in Millville, New Jersey, USA. He is known for Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), Daredevil (2015) and Jupiter's Legacy (2021). He is married to Jaime Slater.
15. Jane Espenson
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Jane Espenson was born on July 14, 1964 in Ames, Iowa, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Husbands (2011) and Game of Thrones (2011).
16. Elizabeth Craft
Producer | The Fix
Elizabeth Craft is known for The Fix (2019), The Shield (2002) and 666 Park Avenue (2012). She has been married to Adam Fierro since 2007. They have one child.
17. Sarah Fain
Producer | The Fix
Sarah Fain is known for The Fix (2019), Fantasy Island (2021) and The Shield (2002).
18. David Fury
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
David Fury was born on March 5, 1959 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Lost (2004) and 24 (2001). He has been married to Elin Hampton since May 16, 1993. They have three children.
19. Tim Minear
Producer | American Horror Story
Mr. Minear came to "The X Files" in 1998 after serving successfully as executive story editor on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." His episode credits on "Lois and Clark" include "Brutal Youth," "Twas the Night Before Mxymas," "Meet John Doe" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". Prior ...
20. Paul Abbott
Writer | Shameless
Paul Abbott was born on February 22, 1960 in Burnley, Lancashire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for Shameless (2011), Shameless (2004) and State of Play (2003). He has been married to Saskia Abbott since 1993. They have two children. He was previously married to Sheila Culf.
For Shameless UK. Out of this world! Also for Hit & Miss
21. Denis Leary
Writer | Rescue Me
Denis Leary was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of Nora (Sullivan) and John Leary, Irish immigrants who had grown up together. His mother was a maid and his father was an auto mechanic. After a childhood in the 1960s, Leary went to Emerson College in Boston, where he tried his ...
Rescue Me, of course!
22. Peter Tolan
Writer | Rescue Me
Peter Tolan was born on July 5, 1958 in Scituate, Massachusetts, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Rescue Me (2004), The Larry Sanders Show (1992) and America's Sweethearts (2001).
For his half of the writing of most of the series Rescue Me
23. René Echevarria
Producer | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
After graduating with a degree in History from Duke University in 1984, Rene Echevarria moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater. He joined the Circle Repertory Lab Company in 1985, where he assistant directed a production of Victor Muniz' play "Darts", and acted in a production of ...
The 4400
24. Scott Peters
Writer | The 4400
Scott Peters is known for The 4400 (2004), The Outer Limits (1995) and Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990).
Also for creating the wonderful show The 4400. There should be a pic, he's cute...
25. Chris Carter
Writer | The X Files
Born and raised in Bellflower, California, Chris Carter graduated from the California State University at Long Beach with a degree in journalism. Formerly a freelance journalist and editor of "Surfing" magazine, Carter began his career as a screenwriter in 1985 at The Walt Disney Studios. In 1992 ...
How could I have just remembered, The X Files, one of the best Sci Fi shows ever!!!
26. Ronald D. Moore
Producer | Battlestar Galactica
Ron Moore was a member of the Kappa Alpha literary society during his time at Cornell University. He dropped out of college during his senior year, after which he moved to Los Angeles, California, with a friend in hopes of becoming a working writer. He was two weeks away from joining the United ...
Battlestar Gallactica
27. Glen A. Larson
Writer | McCloud
Born on January 3, 1937 in Los Angeles, California, Glen A. Larson was the man behind some of the world's best-known prime-time television series. His highly successful productions (successful both financially and popularly, less often critically) include Knight Rider (1982), The Fall Guy (1981), ...
For originally creating BSG to begin with
28. Gene Roddenberry
Writer | Star Trek
While in junior high school, he became interested in science fiction, and years later while reading a copy of 'Astounding Stories' when he was working as an airline pilot, he decided to give it up and become a writer. He moved West and joined the Los Angeles police force to gain experience that ...
The one who started it all for me, as far as SF goes. For Star Trek
29. David Greenwalt
Producer | Profit
David Greenwalt was born on October 16, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Profit (1996). He has been married to Veronica Greenwalt since October 16, 2016.
Angel
30. David Lynch
Writer | Twin Peaks
Born in precisely the kind of small-town American setting so familiar from his films, David Lynch spent his childhood being shunted from one state to another as his research scientist father kept getting relocated. He attended various art schools, married Peggy Lynch and then fathered future ...
For Twin Peaks
31. Stephen King
Writer | Maximum Overdrive
Stephen Edwin King was born on September 21, 1947, at the Maine General Hospital in Portland. His parents were Nellie Ruth (Pillsbury), who worked as a caregiver at a mental institute, and Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman. His father was born under the surname "Pollock," but used the last name ...
The Stand
32. Neil Cross
Writer | Luther
Neil Cross is known for Luther (2010), Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023) and The Mosquito Coast (2021).
Luther is also one of the best crime dramas around. What is it with British crime drama?
33. Alan Ball
Producer | American Beauty
Alan Ball is an American writer, director, and producer who is known for writing the acclaimed film American Beauty and creating the HBO series True Blood starring Anna Paquin. He also wrote the films Towelhead and Uncle Frank. He also created Here and Now, Six Feet Under, and Banshee. He won ...
True Blood. My absolute hands down favorite show. I can't believe it took me so long to think of it. Also Six Feet Under. Such an amazing show. There are very few non SF shows that are noteworthy for me, but this is one of them.
34. Marti Noxon
Producer | Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Marti Noxon was born on August 25, 1964 in California, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), Sharp Objects (2018) and To the Bone (2017).
writing so many wonderful eps of Buffy, etc.
35. Tim Kring
Producer | Heroes
Tim Kring was born on July 9, 1957 in El Dorado County, California, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Heroes (2006), Chicago Hope (1994) and The Conspiracy for Good: London 2010 (2010).
Heroes
36. Jenji Kohan
Producer | Orange Is the New Black
Jenji Kohan was born on July 5, 1969 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Orange Is the New Black (2013), Weeds (2005) and Tracey Takes On... (1996). She was previously married to Christopher Noxon.
For Orange is the New Black
37. Chris Chibnall
Writer | Broadchurch
Chris Chibnall gained a First Class Honours degree in Drama and English from St Mary's University College, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham where whilst a student he wrote 'Victims' a play about young homeless in London which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. Amongst the cast were 'Rebecca Craig' (...
For many episodes of Torchwood
38. J. Michael Straczynski
Writer | Babylon 5
J. Michael Straczynski was born on July 17, 1954 in Paterson, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Babylon 5 (1993), Changeling (2008) and Jeremiah (2002). He was previously married to Kathryn M. Drennan.
Jeremiah, Babylon 5, etc.
39. Howard Overman
Writer | Misfits
Howard Overman is known for Misfits (2009), Vexed (2010) and Dirk Gently (2010).
Misfits!
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