David Crane (producer)

David Crane
Born (1957-08-13) August 13, 1957 (age 67)
West New York, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materBrandeis University
Occupations
  • Writer
  • producer
Years active1987–present
Notable workFriends
Episodes
PartnerJeffrey Klarik
RelativesMilton Rackmil (stepfather)

David Crane (born August 13, 1957) is an American writer and producer. He is best known as one of the co-creators of the television sitcoms Friends and Episodes.

Early life

Crane was born into a Jewish family[1][2] in West New York, New Jersey, the son of Joan Crane and veteran Philadelphia television personality Gene Crane. He attended Harriton High School in Pennsylvania and graduated from there in 1975.[3] He is a 1979 graduate of Brandeis University.[4]

Career

He and his husband, Jeffrey Klarik[5][6][7] (creator of Half & Half,[8] co-producer Mad About You[9]), created the 2006 ensemble sitcom The Class.[10]

In 2011, Crane and Klarik created a sitcom called Episodes for the BBC. Airing first in the US on Showtime on Sunday January 9, 2011[11] and then on BBC Two on Monday January 10, 2011,[12] it features Friends star Matt LeBlanc and Green Wing's Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Creator Executive producer Producer Writer Notes
1987 Everything's Relative No No No Yes Episode: "It Had to Be You and You"
1990–1993 Dream On Yes Yes Yes Yes Creator of 119 episodes
Writer of 17 episodes
Producer of 14 episodes
Co-Executive Producer of 40 episodes
Creative Consultant of 24 episodes
CableACE Award for Comedy Series (1992)
CableACE Award for Writing a Comedy Series for episode "For Peter's Sake" (1993)
Nominated – CableACE Award for Comedy Series (1991, 1993, 1994)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for episode "For Peter's Sake" (1993)
1991 Sunday Dinner No No No Yes Episode: "In Sickness and in Health"
1992–1993 The Powers That Be Yes No No Yes 21 episodes; Writer 2 episodes (teleplay)
Episode: "The Love Child (Part 1 & 2)" (1992)
1993 Family Album Yes Yes No Yes Creator of 6 episodes
Writer of 2 episodes
Executive Producer of 6 episodes
1994 Couples No No No No Television Movie
Associate Producer
1994–2004 Friends Yes Yes No Yes Creator/Executive Producer of 236 episodes
Writer of 18 episodes
Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Writing in a Comedy Series (2002)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (2002)
TV Quick Award for Best Comedy Show (2004)
Nominated – Gold Derby Award for Episode of the Year for episode "The Last One (Part 1 & 2)" (2004)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003)
1996 Crashendo No No No Yes Short film; Story by
1997–2000 Veronica's Closet Yes Yes No Yes Creator of 67 episodes
Writer of 3 episodes (including "Unaired Pilot")
Executive Producer of 67 episodes (including "Unaired Pilot")
1998–2000 Jesse No Yes No No Executive Producer of 34 episodes
2004–2006 Joey No No No No 46 episodes; character developer: Joey Tribbiani
2006–2007 The Class Yes Yes No Yes Creator of 19 episodes
Writer of 6 episodes
Executive Producer of 19 episodes
2011–2017 Episodes Yes Yes No Yes Creator/Writer/Executive Producer for 41 episodes
Nantucket Film Festival Award for Creative Impact in Television Writing Award (2017)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for episode "Episode Seven" (2011)
Nominated – Writers Guild Award for New Series (2012)
Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy (2013)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for episode "209" (2013)
Nominated – Writers Guild Award for Episodic Comedy for episode "Episode Nine" (2013)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for episode "Episode 305" (2014)
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for episode "Episode 409" (2015)
2021 Friends: The Reunion No Yes Yes No

References

  1. ^ Pazornik, Amanda (November 11, 2010). "It's been six years, but they'll always be my Jewish 'Friends'". Jweekly. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  2. ^ Schleier, Curt (July 27, 2021). "Writing 'Episodes' Together". The Forward. I grew up in suburban Philadelphia, very Reform Jewish, assimilated Jewish. I went to Hebrew school, had a bar mitzvah and went to Brandeis. I'm Jewish more in terms of food than anything religious. Passover is a chance to cook with matzo. Unless someone is getting bar mitzvahed, you won't find us in a temple.
  3. ^ "LMSD CELEBRATES 2018 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD HONOREES". Harriton High School. Lower Merion School District. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  4. ^ "Marta Kauffman '78". Brandeis Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Vaillancourt, Daniel (September 15, 1998). "Behind the Camera – David Crane". The Advocate. pp. 39–40. Retrieved November 13, 2016 – via Google Books. As someone who is gay, I certainly feel[...]
  6. ^ Littlefield, Warren; Pearson, T.R. (February 12, 2013). "Six of One". Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV. New York City: Anchor Books. p. 162. ISBN 9780307739766. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Taylor, Candace (October 13, 2016). "'Friends' Co-Creator David Crane Lists L.A. Penthouse for $29.9 Million". The Wall Street Journal.(subscription required)
  8. ^ Gervich, Chad. (2008). Small screen, big picture : a writer's guide to the TV business (First ed.). New York, New York. ISBN 978-0-307-39531-3. OCLC 191090486.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Raven, Robin (August 18, 2017). "David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik: Interview with the Creative Team Behind "Episodes"". HuffPost. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  10. ^ "Exclusive Interview: David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Creators of The Class". BuddyTV.com. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  11. ^ "Biggest Sunday Ever on Showtime! Shameless, Episodes & Californication to Premiere January 9th". FutonCritic.com. Showtime press release. September 22, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
  12. ^ "Press Packs: Episodes". BBC. December 17, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.