TV SHOWRUNNERS

1. Akiva Goldsman

Akiva Goldsman was born on July 7, 1962 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for A Beautiful Mind (2001), Batman & Robin (1997) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022).

2. Alberto E. Rodriguez

Cinematographer | Little High, Little Low

Alberto E. Rodriguez is known for Little High, Little Low (2014), The 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2021) and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005).

3. Bisha K. Ali

Writer | Loki

Bisha K Ali is a screenwriter and stand up comedian known for her personal, political comedy. She was recently selected for BAFTA's 2018 Elevate programme. As a performer, Bisha is frequently heard on the Guilty Feminist podcast and she also co hosts the BBC Radio 4 podcast GrownUpLand. In 2012 she...

4. Jessica Gao

Writer | She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Jessica Gao was born on January 2, 1984 in Hanford, California, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022), Rick and Morty (2013) and Silicon Valley (2014).

5. Jen Statsky

Writer | Hacks

Jen Statsky was born on November 19, 1985 in Milton, Massachusetts, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for Hacks (2021), The Good Place (2016) and Broad City (2014).

6. Paul W. Downs

Actor | Hacks

Paul W. Downs is an American actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his portrayal of Trey Pucker on the Comedy Central series Broad City and as a co-creator, show-runner, and actor on the HBO Max series Hacks, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy ...

7. Lucia Aniello

Producer | Hacks

Lucia Aniello was born on January 10, 1983 in Italy. She is a producer and writer, known for Hacks (2021), Rough Night (2017) and Broad City (2014). She is married to Paul W. Downs. They have one child.

8. Dan Fogelman

Writer | This Is Us

Dan Fogelman was born on February 19, 1976 in River Vale, Bergen County, New Jersey, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for This Is Us (2016), Life Itself (2018) and Tangled (2010). He has been married to Caitlin Thompson since June 13, 2015. They have one child.

9. Elizabeth Berger

Writer | Love, Simon

Elizabeth Berger was born on July 18, 1985 in the USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Love, Simon (2018), This Is Us (2016) and Love, Victor (2020).

10. Isaac Aptaker

Writer | Love, Simon

Isaac Aptaker was born on July 23, 1987 in Arlington, Massachusetts, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Love, Simon (2018), This Is Us (2016) and How I Met Your Father (2022).

11. Jesse Armstrong

Writer | In the Loop

Jesse Armstrong was born on December 13, 1970 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, UK. He is a writer and producer, known for In the Loop (2009), Four Lions (2010) and Succession (2018).

12. Kenya Barris

Writer | Black·ish

Kenya Barris was born on August 9, 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Black-ish (2014), #BlackAF (2020) and You People (2023). He has been married to Rainbow Barris since December 3, 1999. They have six children.

13. Alec Berg

Producer | Barry

Alec Berg is known for Barry (2018), Silicon Valley (2014) and The Cat in the Hat (2003). He has been married to Michele Maika since May 28, 2000.

14. Bill Hader

Actor | The Skeleton Twins

Bill Hader is an American comedian and actor who is known for playing in Saturday Night Live from 2005 to 2013. He created and starred in the HBO show Barry. He also played Flint Lockwood from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Colonel Custer from Night at the Museum 2, Fear from Inside Out and ...

15. Greg Berlanti

Director | Love, Simon

WGA, DGA and Golden Globe nominated writer, director, and producer, Greg Berlanti, is the force behind several of the most inventive and acclaimed works of film and television.

He is the writer, director and producer behind several of the most creative and lauded television series, including ABC's "...

16. Steve Blackman

Producer | Fargo

Steve Blackman is known for Fargo (2014), Legion (2017) and Altered Carbon (2018).

17. Quinta Brunson

Actress | Abbott Elementary

Quinta Brunson is a writer, actress and Stand-Up Comedian living in LA. Born and raised in Philadelphia PA, Quinta started studying comedy in Chicago at the Second City. She moved to LA in 2013. Her 2014 viral series "The Girl Who's Never Been on a Nice Date" launched her into viral fame, ...

18. Gloria Calderón Kellett

Producer | One Day at a Time

Gloria Calderón Kellett was born on April 11, 1975 in Portland, Oregon, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for One Day at a Time (2017), Jane the Virgin (2014) and Drunk History (2013). She has been married to Dave Kellett since February 24, 2001. They have two children.

19. Christopher Storer

Producer | The Bear

Christopher Storer is known for The Bear (2022), Ramy (2019) and Eighth Grade (2018).

20. Joanna Calo

Producer | The Bear

Joanna Calo is known for The Bear (2022), BoJack Horseman (2014) and Hacks (2021).

21. Ryan J. Condal

Producer | House of the Dragon

Ryan J. Condal is known for House of the Dragon (2022), Rampage (2018) and Colony (2016).

22. Ross Duffer

Writer | Stranger Things

Ross Duffer is known for Stranger Things (2016), We All Fall Down (2005) and Wayward Pines (2015). He has been married to Leigh Janiak since December 22, 2015.

23. Matt Duffer

Writer | Stranger Things

Matt Duffer of The Duffer Brothers, born in Durham, February 15, 1984, is a writer, producer, and director for film and television. He is most known as the creator and showrunner of the hit Netflix Sci-Fi TV series Stranger Things. Other works include the thriller film Hidden and he has written ...

24. Ava DuVernay

Writer | Queen Sugar

A director, producer, writer, marketer and film distributor, Ava DuVernay made her feature film debut with the documentary This is the Life (2008), a history on hip hop movement that flourished in Los Angeles in the 1990's. This was followed by series of television music documentaries which ...

25. Dan Erickson

Writer | Severance

Dan Erickson is known for Severance (2022) and Chambers (2019).

26. Sam Esmail

Producer | Mr. Robot

Sam Esmail was born on September 17, 1977 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Mr. Robot (2015), Homecoming (2018) and Leave the World Behind (2023). He has been married to Emmy Rossum since May 28, 2017. They have two children.

27. Jon Favreau

Producer | Chef

Initially an indie film favorite, actor Jon Favreau has progressed to strong mainstream visibility into the millennium and, after nearly two decades in the business, is still enjoying character stardom as well as earning notice as a writer/producer/director.

The amiable, husky-framed actor with the ...

28. Peter Gould

Producer | Breaking Bad

Writer/Director Peter Gould was born and raised in the Chelsea neighborhood of Lower Manhattan where he was expelled from a number of tony, non-conformist private schools. After graduating with a B.A. in English from Sarah Lawrence College, Peter became a fixture on the New York Indie scene, ...

29. Vince Gilligan

Producer | The X Files

George Vincent Gilligan Jr. (born February 10, 1967) is an American writer, producer, and director. He is known for his television work, specifically as creator, head writer, executive producer, and director of Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul. He was a writer and producer for The ...

30. Angela Kang

Producer | The Walking Dead

Angela Kang is known for The Walking Dead (2010), Terriers (2010) and The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023).

31. Scott M. Gimple

Producer | The Walking Dead

Scott M. Gimple was born on March 29, 1971 in New Jersey, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Walking Dead (2010), Fillmore! (2002) and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011). He has been married to Julia Wackenheim-Gimple since August 2009.

32. Donald Glover

Actor | Solo: A Star Wars Story

The multi-talented Donald Glover is a writer, actor, musician, comedian, producer and director, who performs under the stage names Childish Gambino and mcDJ. He was born Donald McKinley Glover at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly (...

33. Jenny Lumet

Writer | Rachel Getting Married

Jenny Lumet was born on February 2, 1967 in New York City, New York, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Rachel Getting Married (2008), The Mummy (2017) and The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022). She has been married to Alexander Weinstein since May 2, 2007. They have one child. She was ...

34. 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.

35. Akiva Goldsman

Writer | A Beautiful Mind

Akiva Goldsman was born on July 7, 1962 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for A Beautiful Mind (2001), Batman & Robin (1997) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022).

36. Sterlin Harjo

Writer | Reservation Dogs

Sterlin Harjo is known for Reservation Dogs (2021), Barking Water (2009) and Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People (2015).

37. John Hoffman

Producer | Only Murders in the Building

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised outside of Columbus, Ohio, John worked for many years as an actor in theatre, television and film. He began a successful feature screenwriting career ("Indianapolis", "Queen of the Jews, aka Queen Bess", "The Last of Sheila") after moving to Los Angeles in 1991...

38. Soo Hugh

Writer | Pachinko

Soo Hugh is known for Pachinko (2022), The Whispers (2015) and Passengers (2008).

39. Hwang Dong-hyuk

Writer | Ojing-eo geim

Hwang Dong-hyuk is known for Squid Game (2021), The Fortress (2017) and Silenced (2011).

40. Mindy Kaling

Actress | The Office

Vera Mindy Chokalingam is an Indian-American actress, comedienne, producer, writer and director from Cambridge, Massachusetts known for playing Kelly Kapoor from The Office, Disgust from Inside Out and creating The Mindy Project. She also acted in Wreck-It Ralph, Despicable Me, The 40-Year-Old ...

41. David E. Kelley

Writer | The Practice

David Kelley might be described as living the American Dream, 1990s' style: write a screenplay, move to Hollywood, make millions and marry a movie star. A former Boston lawyer, in the last decade, he switched careers to become a successful television producer whose shows are recognized for their ...

42. Courtney A. Kemp

Producer | Power Book II: Ghost

Courtney A. Kemp was born on May 4, 1977 in Westport, Connecticut, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Power Book II: Ghost (2020), The Good Wife (2009) and Power (2014).

43. Robert King

Writer | The Good Wife

Robert King was born on December 10, 1959 in the USA. He is a writer and producer, known for The Good Wife (2009), Evil (2019) and The Good Fight (2017). He is married to Michelle King.

44. Michelle King

Writer | The Good Wife

Michelle King was born on May 11, 1962 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a writer and producer, known for The Good Wife (2009), Evil (2019) and The Good Fight (2017). She is married to Robert King.

45. Jason Sudeikis

Actor | Ted Lasso

Jason Sudeikis was born on September 18, 1975 in Fairfax, Virginia as Daniel Jason Sudeikis. His father is Daniel Joseph Sudeikis, a Vice President of a business development and his mother is Kathryn (née Wendt), a travel agent at Brennco and President of the American Society of Travel Agents. He ...

46. Bill Lawrence

Producer | Scrubs

Bill Lawrence was born on December 26, 1968 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Scrubs (2001), Ted Lasso (2020) and Shrinking (2023). He has been married to Christa Miller since November 27, 1999. They have three children. He was previously married to Megyn Price.

47. Sam Levinson

Writer | Euphoria

Sam Levinson was born on January 8, 1985 in the USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Euphoria (2019), The Idol (2023) and Malcolm & Marie (2021).

48. Chuck Lorre

Writer | Two and a Half Men

For the past twenty years, award-winning creator, executive producer and writer Chuck Lorre has conquered the entertainment industry with hit shows like Grace Under Fire (1993), Dharma & Greg (1997), Roseanne (1988) and Cybill (1995) as well as the number 1 comedy on television and four year ...

49. Bart Nickerson

Writer | Yellowjackets

Bart Nickerson is known for Yellowjackets (2021), Narcos: Mexico (2018) and Narcos (2015).

50. Ashley Lyle

Writer | Yellowjackets

Ashley Lyle is known for Yellowjackets (2021), Narcos: Mexico (2018) and Narcos (2015). She is married to Bart Nickerson.

51. Jonathan Lisco

Producer | Yellowjackets

Jonathan Lisco is known for Yellowjackets (2021), Animal Kingdom (2016) and Jack & Bobby (2004).

52. Patrick McKay

Writer | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Patrick McKay is known for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Escape and Flash Gordon.

53. John D. Payne

Writer | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

John D. Payne is known for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022), Escape and Flash Gordon.

54. Elizabeth Meriwether

Producer | New Girl

Elizabeth Meriwether was born on October 11, 1981. She is a producer and writer, known for New Girl (2011), No Strings Attached (2011) and The Dropout (2022). She has been married to Alex Cuthbertson since June 11, 2016. They have two children.

55. Bruce Miller

Producer | The Handmaid's Tale

Bruce Miller is known for The Handmaid's Tale (2017), Eureka (2006) and Alphas (2011).

56. 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 ...

57. Tyler Perry

Writer | Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Perry was born and raised in New Orleans, to Willie Maxine (Campbell) and Emmitt Perry, Sr. His mother was a church-goer and took Perry along with her once a week. His father was a carpenter and they had a very strained and abusive relationship, which led Perry to suffer from depression as a ...

58. Issa Rae

Producer | Insecure

Jo-Issa Rae Diop credited professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, producer, and comedian. Rae first garnered attention for her work on the YouTube web series Awkward Black Girl. Since 2011, Rae has continued to develop her YouTube channel, which features various short films, web...

59. Shonda Rhimes

Producer | Grey's Anatomy

Shonda Lynn Rhimes is an African-American producer, author and screenwriter. She is known for working on the Britney Spears and Zoe Saldana film Crossroads, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice, the Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews film The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and the Halle ...

60. Stefani Robinson

Producer | Atlanta

Stefani Robinson is known for Atlanta (2016), What We Do in the Shadows (2019) and Fargo (2014).

61. Paul Simms

Producer | The Larry Sanders Show

Paul Simms is known for The Larry Sanders Show (1992), What We Do in the Shadows (2019) and Flight of the Conchords (2007).

62. Michael Schur

Producer | The Good Place

Michael Schur was born on October 29, 1975 in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA as Michael Herbert Schur. He is a TV series creator, a writer, and producer known for series such as The Office (2005), Parks and Recreation (2009), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) and The Good Place (2016). He has been married...

63. Taylor Sheridan

Writer | Hell or High Water

Taylor Sheridan is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He is best known for writing the screenplay for 'Sicario' (2015) and 'Hell or high water' (2016), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

He also starred in the FX television series 'Sons of ...

64. Darren Star

Writer | Sex and the City

Darren Star was born on July 25, 1961 in Potomac, Maryland, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Sex and the City (1998), Emily in Paris (2020) and Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990).

65. Danny Strong

Producer | Dopesick

Danny Strong started his career as an actor in numerous classic films and TV shows such as Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls, then transitioned into screenwriting, exploding onto the scene with his 2007 script Recount which was #1 on the Hollywood Blacklist and became an award winning HBO ...

66. Krista Vernoff

Producer | Grey's Anatomy

Krista Vernoff was born on October 24, 1971 in New York City, New York, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Grey's Anatomy (2005), Shameless (2011) and Charmed (1998). She has been married to Alexandre Schmitt since 2018. They have three children.

67. Mike White

Writer | School of Rock

Mike White was born Michael Christopher White on June 28, 1970 in Pasadena, California. He is a writer, director and producer, mostly acknowledged for his award-winning HBO series The White Lotus (2021). He wrote and produced the HBO series Enlightened (2011), and wrote and co-produced Year of the ...

68. Dick Wolf

Producer | Law & Order

Dick Wolf was born on December 20, 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Law & Order (1990), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001). He has been married to Noelle Lippman since June 17, 2006. They have two ...

69. Ramy Youssef

Actor | Ramy

Ramy Youssef was born on March 26, 1991 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Ramy (2019), Mr. Robot (2015) and Ramy Youssef: Feelings (2019).

70. David Benioff

Producer | Game of Thrones

David Benioff was born on September 25, 1970 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), The Kite Runner (2007) and 25th Hour (2002). He has been married to Amanda Peet since September 30, 2006. They have three children.

71. D.B. Weiss

Producer | Game of Thrones

D.B. Weiss was born on April 23, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), 3 Body Problem (2024) and Metal Lords (2022). He is married to Andrea Troyer.

72. David Chase

Producer | The Sopranos

Born in Mt. Vernon, New York, and raised in New Jersey, David Chase (born David DeCesare) dreamed of being a star drummer in a rock band! He spent many years playing drums and bass trying to be part of a successful rock band in the 1960s East Coast music scene. He also loved movies, such as The ...

73. Howard Gordon

Producer | 24

Howard Gordon was born on March 31, 1961 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for 24 (2001), Homeland (2011) and The X-Files (1993).

74. Doug Ellin

Writer | Entourage

Doug Ellin was born on April 6, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Entourage (2004), Entourage (2015) and Ramble On. He has been married to Andy Adler since September 18, 2017. He was previously married to Melissa Hecht.

75. Tom Kapinos

Producer | Californication

Kapinos was born in 1969, raised in Levittown, New York and graduated from Island Trees High School in 1987. Kapinos then moved from New York to California in the mid-1990s, working in Los Angeles for Creative Artists Agency as a script reader, until Fox Studios purchased his first screenplay The ...

76. Ian Edelman

Writer | Entergalactic

Ian Edelman is known for Entergalactic (2022), Puerto Ricans in Paris (2015) and I Am Sam (2001).

77. Larry David

Producer | Curb Your Enthusiasm

Lawrence Gene David is an American comedian, writer, actor, director, and television producer. He and Jerry Seinfeld created the television sitcom Seinfeld, on which David was head writer and executive producer for the first seven seasons. He gained further recognition for the HBO series Curb Your ...

78. Louis C.K.

Writer | Louie

Louis C.K. was born on September 12, 1967 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Louie (2010), American Hustle (2013) and Horace and Pete (2016). He was previously married to Alix Bailey.

79. Ricky Gervais

Writer | The Office

Ricky Dene Gervais was born in a suburb of Reading, Berkshire, to Eva Sophia (House) and Lawrence Raymond Gervais, who was a hod carrier and labourer. His father was born in Ontario, Canada, of French-Canadian descent, and his mother was English. He was educated at Ashmead Comprehensive School and ...

80. Scott Silveri

Producer | Friends

Scott Silveri is known for Friends (1994), Speechless (2016) and Perfect Couples (2010). He has been married to Shana Goldberg-Meehan since October 7, 2006.

81. Ilene Chaiken

Writer | Barb Wire

Ilene Chaiken was born on June 30, 1957 in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Barb Wire (1996), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021). She has been married to LouAnne Brickhouse since 2013. She was previously married to Miggi ...

82. Lee Daniels

Producer | Precious

Lee Daniels gave his parents an early Christmas present when he entered the world on December 24, 1959; unfortunately, the Philadelphia native was to have a difficult relationship with his police officer father who later reacted violently to his son's sexuality. Despite the brutality of his ...

83. Beau Willimon

Writer | The Ides of March

Beau Willimon is known for The Ides of March (2011), House of Cards (2013) and Andor (2022).

84. Damon Lindelof

Producer | Lost

Damon Lindelof was born on April 24, 1973 in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Lost (2004), The Leftovers (2014) and Watchmen (2019). He has been married to Heidi Fugeman since May 28, 2005. They have one child.

85. Alex Gansa

Producer | Homeland

Alex Gansa is known for Homeland (2011), Beauty and the Beast (1987) and Maximum Bob (1998). He is married to Lauren White (IX).

86. Sarah Treem

Producer | The Affair

Sarah Treem is a television writer, producer and playwright. Treem is the co-creator and showrunner of the Golden Globe-winning Showtime drama The Affair. Previously, Treem was a co-executive producer on the inaugural season of House of Cards. She also wrote on all three seasons of HBO's In ...

87. Bill Lawrence

Producer | Scrubs

Bill Lawrence was born on December 26, 1968 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Scrubs (2001), Ted Lasso (2020) and Shrinking (2023). He has been married to Christa Miller since November 27, 1999. They have three children. He was previously married to Megyn Price.

88. Melissa Rosenberg

Producer | Jessica Jones

Melissa Rosenberg was born on August 28, 1962 in Marin County, California, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Jessica Jones (2015), Dexter (2006) and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010). She has been married to Lev L. Spiro since 1995.

89. Steven Levitan

Producer | Modern Family

Steven Levitan was born on April 6, 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Modern Family (2009), Just Shoot Me! (1997) and Stark Raving Mad (1999). He has been married to Krista Schmuck since November 28, 1992. They have three children.

90. Seth MacFarlane

Writer | Family Guy

Seth Woodbury MacFarlane was born in the small New England town of Kent, Connecticut, where he lived with his mother, Ann Perry (Sager), an admissions office worker, his father, Ronald Milton MacFarlane, a prep school teacher, and his sister, Rachael MacFarlane, now a voice actress and singer. He ...

91. Warren Littlefield

Producer | The Handmaid's Tale

Warren Littlefield was born on May 11, 1952 in Montclair, New Jersey, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for The Handmaid's Tale (2017), Fargo (2014) and Dopesick (2021).

92. Anthony Hemingway

Director | Red Tails

Anthony Hemingway is known for Red Tails (2012), Underground (2016) and American Crime Story (2016).

93. 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).

94. Shawn Ryan

Producer | The Shield

Shawn Ryan was born on October 11, 1966 in Rockford, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for The Shield (2002), S.W.A.T. (2017) and Timeless (2016). He has been married to Cathy Cahlin Ryan since April 25, 1998. They have two children.