Richard A. Wolf life and biography

Richard Anthony "Dick" Wolf, also known as Richard A. Wolf, Dick Wolf, Richard Wolf born December 20, 1946 in New York, New York is an American writer.

"Sidelights"

Since the mid-1970s, when he ended his successful advertising career, Richard A. Wolf, know professionally as Dick Wolf, has worked regularly in both the television and film businesses. In television, Wolf served as executive script consultant for Hill Street Blues, an acclaimed police drama that won numerous Emmy awards in the mid-1980s, and he was both head writer and producer of Miami Vice, a police action series of considerable popularity during the same period.

Wolf has also produced and written several films. His first work, the 1977 comedy Skateboard, concerns a beleaguered agent who realizes an opportunity to resolve his considerable debts after he befriends a master skateboarder on the eve of a lucrative competition. Wolf also wrote and produced Gas, a 1981 comedy about the effects of a fuel shortage on an American community.

Six years elapsed before Wolf returned to screenwriting with No Man's Land, a thriller about an accomplished thief who steals expensive sports cars. Unbeknownst to the master criminal, his new partner is an undercover member of the police force. The officer becomes seduced by the alluring life enjoyed by his target, and he soon begins to question his dedication to his assignment.

Wolf followed No Man's Land with Masquerade, another thriller. Here a handsome yacht racer courts the favors of a withdrawn woman who has recently inherited a substantial sum. Although his designs are initially contrived, he soon finds himself truly falling in love with the woman. Meanwhile, his employer's wife, with whom he has been maintaining a sexual relationship, determines to undo his new romance. Matters are further complicated when his plan is uncovered by a fellow yachtsman. Dave Kehr, in his Chicago Tribune appraisal, applauded Bob Swaim, director of Masquerade, for fashioning the film with "fine European softness, subtlety and polish." Masquerade, Kehr declared, "is a very elegant piece of work."

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Known professionally as Dick Wolf; born December, 20, 1946, in New York, NY; son of George (an advertising executive) and Marie G. (a homemaker; maiden name, Gaffney) Wolf; married Susan Scranton, September 5, 1970 (divorced, 1981); married Christine Harburg (a homemaker), June 29, 1983; children: Olivia Iselin, Serena Granger. Education: University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1969. Memberships: Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; Writers Guild of America, West. .

AWARDS

Clio awards for advertising excellence, Clio Enterprises, 1971, 1973, and 1975; gold medals for best print advertisement, 1974, and for best advertising campaign, 1975, both from Advertising Club of New York; nominated for an Emmy Award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and an award from the Writers Guild of America, both 1986, both for "What Are Friends For" episode of Hill Street Blues.

CAREER

Worked in advertising, 1969-76; creator, producer and executive producer of motion pictures and television programs, 1977--; writer. Executive script consultant for Hill Street Blues television series, 1985-86; head writer for Miami Vice television series, 1986-87. Executive producer for numerous television shows, television movies, and films, including Gas, Paramount, 1981; Presented By, Orion, 1986; No Man's Land, 1987; Dying For Love, MGM, 1987; Masquerade, 1988; Gideon Oliver, 1989; Christine Cromwell, 1989; Things That Go Bump in the Night, 1989; Miami Vice, 1989; Easy Come, Easy Go, 1989; Nasty Boys, NBC, 1990; Kill or Be Killed, NBC, 1990; H.E.L.P., ABC, 1990; Law & Order, NBC, 1990--; Only the Good Die Young, 1990; Mann & Machine, NBC, 1992; The Human Factor, CBS, 1992; Crime & Punishment, CBS, 1993; South Beach, NBC, 1993; New York Undercover, Fox, 1994; (and creator) The Wright Verdicts, CBS, 1995; Swift Justice, 1996; Feds, 1997; Players, 1997; Exiled, 1998; The Invisible Man, 1998; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 1998--; D.C., 2000; Deadline, 2000; Arrest & Trial, 2000; Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 2001; Trial and Error, 2001; Dragnet (remake of the 1950s show), 2003. Has appeared on television in: Masquerade, 1988, and Intimate Portrait: Jaclyn Smith, 1998.

WRITINGS:
SCREENPLAYS

* Skateboard, Universal, 1977.
* (As Richard Wolf) Gas, Paramount, 1981.
* (As Dick Wolf) No Man's Land, Orion, 1986.
* (As Dick Wolf) Masquerade, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1987.
* (As Dick Wolf) School Ties, 1992.
* (As Dick Wolf) Exiled, 1998.

FOR TELEVISION; EPISODIC; AS DICK WOLF

* Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1985-86.
* Miami Vice, NBC, 1986-87.
* Nasty Boys, NBC, 1989.
* Law & Order, NBC, 1990.
* H.E.L.P., ABC, 1990.
* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 1999.
* Deadline, 2000.
* Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 2001.
* (And executive producer) Law and Order: Trial by Jury, NBC, 2005.

Also wrote for The Blue Lightning, 1987.


WORKS IN PROGRESS
Various film and television projects; developing a prime time television series based on the Dragnet series from the 1950s, which will be ready for the 2003 fall season. Wolf will write the pilot episode and serve as the series' executive producer.

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