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Dick Wolf
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Dick Wolf

Dick Wolf, one of television's most respected drama series creator/producers, is the architect of one of the most successful brands in the history of television Law & Order. Wolf serves as creator and executive producer of the four Law & Order drama series from Wolf Films and NBC Universal Television Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the upcoming Law & Order: Trial By Jury, scheduled for later in the 2004-05 season. In addition, he is creator and executive producer of NBC's courtroom reality series Crime & Punishment, which chronicles real-life cases prosecuted by the San Diego District Attorney's office.

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 lost their lives in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. Bill Guttentag (executive producer of Crime & Punishment) and Robert Port directed the film, which was also screened at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in January 2003.

Wolf's Law & Order series continue to re-write the annals of television history. With more than 320 episodes under its belt, Law & Order – now entering its 15th season on NBC – is the longest-running current drama series on television. It has received 11 consecutive Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nominations – the record for most consecutive series Emmy nominations in the history of television (tied with Cheers and M*A*S*H) – and won the coveted Emmy in that category in 1997. With NBC's most recent pick up (through 2005-06), Law & Order will become the longest-running police series and the second-longest running drama series in the history of television, behind only Gunsmoke. Law & Order's other accolades include: the highly coveted Peabody Award; multiple Emmys; the Crystal Apple Award from the New York City's Mayor's office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting; the Writer's Guild Award for Television and numerous other high ranking tributes.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, entering its sixth year on NBC, has been one of the network's top performers, and continually wins its Tuesday (10-11 p.m. ET) time period, monopolizing audiences by a wide margin in ratings, share and demographics. The series also continues to break records with its dual window USA Network airings and has been renewed on NBC through 2005-06.

Law & Order: Criminal Intent, entering its fourth season, is enjoying its highest ratings to date, continually winning its time period (Sunday, 9-10 p.m. ET) and often the highest-rated primetime program on Sunday nights. Also renewed through 2005-06, the series stars Vincent D'Onofrio (The Cell), Kathryn Erbe, Courtney B. Vance and Jamey Sheridan, and breaks from the traditional Law & Order format to reveal the point of view of the criminal, as well as the police and prosecutors.

Crime & Punishment, now in its third season on NBC, has positioned itself as one of the network's best summer efforts to date, consistently winning its time period and ranking among the top 50 weekly primetime programs. Executive-produced by Oscar and Emmy-winning documentarian Guttentag, this compelling project combines the best of cinema verite with three-camera production, giving viewers the look and feel of a top-notch drama series.

The fourth installment of the brand, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, has been picked up for the 2004-05 season and is expected to star Jerry Orbach as (now) retired Detective Lennie Briscoe, and other familiar and new faces. The series will revolve around the court house, with the action picking up from the point of arrest and working through the judicial process.

The Law & Order franchise also includes the highly rated NBC telefilm Exiled: A ‘Law & Order' Movie (one of the top-rated telefilms for the 1997-98 season) in which Chris Noth reprised his role as Detective Mike Logan, as well as DVDs and video games. In addition, Wolf and Jessica Burstein (Law & Order's longtime unit photographer) have teamed to author Law & Order: Crime Scenes (Barnes & Noble publishing), a stunning, rivet-bound hardcover presenting more than 100 black-and-white crime scene photographs from its most popular episodes.

Wolf has been a creative force in television for more than 25 years, with an illustrious career as a top advertising executive and continuing as one of television's most prolific producer/writers with such series as L.A. Dragnet, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, New York Undercover, Arrest & Trial, South Beach, Feds and Players. Among his feature-film credits are the screenplay for the hit Paramount release School Ties, writer and executive producer of Masquerade and writer and producer of No Man's Land.

Wolf's personal honors include such awards as: the prestigious 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 & Sciences; the 1997 achievement award from the Caucus for Producers, Writers, and Directors, the 1998 Television Showman of the Year Award from the Publicist's Guild of America and the 2002 Tribute from the Museum of Television and Radio.

Wolf is also an Honorary Consul of Monaco and is actively involved in the principality's prestigious annual Television Festival, and is its primary liaison with the entertainment community.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Dick Wolf Facts

OccupationProducer, Creator
BirthdayDecember 20, 1946 (77)
SignSagittarius
BirthplaceNew York, New York, USA

Selected Filmography

Not available.