David Kelley, a true embodiment of the American Dream, has lived a life of remarkable success. Born in 1956 in Maine, he began his journey by studying at Princeton University and later at Boston University Law School. A former lawyer, Kelley made the bold decision to switch careers and pursue a career in television production.
Kelley's big break came when he wrote a film script based on his legal experiences, which was optioned and produced in 1987 as the film "From the Hip." Around the same time, producers Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher were looking for writers with legal backgrounds to join their new series, "L.A. Law." Kelley's script caught their attention, and he was invited to Los Angeles to discuss writing a single script for the show.
The meeting was a success, and Kelley joined the show's staff as a story editor. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming executive story editor the following year and eventually supervising producer after Terry Fisher left the show. When Steven Bochco left "L.A. Law" after the third season, Kelley took over as executive producer, continuing to write many of the show's scripts himself.
Kelley's success on "L.A. Law" led to him producing more critically acclaimed and successful shows. He served as creative consultant on "Doogie Howser, M.D." and as executive producer and writer for "Picket Fences." He is also the executive producer of "Chicago Hope," a show that has received widespread critical acclaim.
Throughout his career, Kelley has been recognized for his exceptional work in television production. He is part of the television production division of Twentieth Century Fox, a media conglomerate owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation Ltd. since 1985.
In his personal life, Kelley is married to actress Michelle Pfeiffer, whom he married in 1993. The couple has two children, Claudia Rose Kelley and John Henry Kelley. Claudia Rose was adopted by Pfeiffer eight months before their marriage and was christened and given Kelley's name at the couple's wedding ceremony.
