Tom Fontana was born on September 12, 1951 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), St. Elsewhere (1982) and Oz (1997). He was previously married to Sagan Lewis.
He usually writes early in the morning just after waking up. He has said that most of the time ideas will come to him at this time from dreams he has had during the night. Prior to going to bed he usually will briefly look over the scenes he plans to write in the morning in order to generate these dreams.
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Appeared at a St. Elsewhere (1982) reunion at Buffalo State College, his alma mater, in the 2000-2001 school year along with cast members Ed Begley Jr. and Howie Mandel, among others.
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Graduate of Canisius High School, class of '69 and active alumni member/donor
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The character played by Dennis Farina on Law & Order (1990) is named Fontana. According to creator Dick Wolf, this is no coincidence.
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Attended Buffalo State College, Class of 1973
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He got his first big break in television in 1982, from producer Bruce Paltrow who hired him to write for the series St. Elsewhere (1982).
TV Series creator - 29 episodes, 2011 - 2014 story - 24 episodes, 2011 - 2014 written by - 3 episodes, 2011 - 2013 teleplay - 1 episode, 2014
Copper
TV Series created by - 23 episodes, 2012 - 2013 story - 14 episodes, 2012 - 2013 written by - 1 episode, 2012
The Philanthropist
TV Series created by - 8 episodes, 2009 written by - 1 episode, 2009 story - 1 episode, 2009 teleplay - 1 episode, 2009
M.O.N.Y.
2007
TV Movie
The Bedford Diaries
TV Series story - 7 episodes, 2006 creator - 1 episode, 2006 writer - 1 episode, 2006
The Jury
TV Series story - 9 episodes, 2004 teleplay - 1 episode, 2004 writer - 1 episode, 2004
Strip Search
2004
TV Movie written by
Judas
2004
TV Movie written by
Oz
TV Series created by - 56 episodes, 1997 - 2003 written by - 50 episodes, 1997 - 2003 story - 5 episodes, 1998 teleplay - 5 episodes, 1998 teleplay and story by - 1 episode, 2001
America: A Tribute to Heroes
2001
TV Special documentary
The Beat
2000
TV Series
Homicide: The Movie
2000
TV Movie written by
Homicide: Life on the Street
TV Series story by - 57 episodes, 1993 - 1999 written by - 10 episodes, 1993 - 1999 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1996
Firehouse
1997
TV Movie
The Prosecutors
1996
TV Movie
Under Fire
1995
TV Series 1995
Philly Heat
1994
TV Series
New Year
1993
TV Movie
Home Fires
TV Series story - 5 episodes, 1992 creator - 1 episode, 1992
Tattinger's
TV Series 1 episode, 1989 created by - 13 episodes, 1988 - 1989 story - 1 episode, 1989 writer - 1 episode, 1988
St. Elsewhere
TV Series story by - 61 episodes, 1982 - 1988 written by - 27 episodes, 1983 - 1987 teleplay by - 9 episodes, 1982 - 1988
First Thing Monday
1987
Short
The Fourth Wise Man
1985
TV Movie teleplay
Decalogue
TV Mini-Series 10 episodes announced
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 20th Century: Yesterday's Tomorrows
1999
TV Movie documentary executive producer
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993-1999
TV Series executive producer - 122 episodes
Family Brood
1998
TV Movie producer
Firehouse
1997
TV Movie executive producer
The Prosecutors
1996
TV Movie executive producer
Philly Heat
1994
TV Series executive producer
New Year
1993
TV Movie executive producer
Tattinger's
1988-1989
TV Series executive producer - 8 episodes
St. Elsewhere
1983-1988
TV Series producer - 115 episodes
Killing Fields
2016
TV Series executive producer - 7 episodes
Borgia
2011-2014
TV Series executive producer - 38 episodes
Copper
2012-2013
TV Series executive producer - 12 episodes
You Don't Know Jack
2010
TV Movie executive producer
The Philanthropist
TV Series executive producer - 7 episodes, 2009 producer - 1 episode, 2009
M.O.N.Y.
2007
TV Movie executive producer
50/50
2006
Video short executive producer
The Bedford Diaries
2006
TV Series executive producer - 4 episodes
Anytown, USA
2005
Documentary executive producer
In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick's Journey of Faith
2004
Documentary executive producer
The Jury
2004
TV Series executive producer
Strip Search
2004
TV Movie executive producer
Judas
2004
TV Movie executive producer
Oz
1997-2003
TV Series executive producer - 56 episodes
Baseball Wives
2002
TV Movie executive producer
Shot in the Heart
2001
TV Movie executive producer
The Press Secretary
2001
TV Movie documentary executive producer
Hudson's Law
2001
TV Movie executive producer
American Tragedy
2000
TV Movie executive producer
The Beat
2000
TV Series executive producer
Homicide: The Movie
2000
TV Movie executive producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
St. Elsewhere
TV Series story editor - 20 episodes, 1982 - 1983 creative consultant - 1 episode, 1988
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Two Black Coffees
2014
Short very special thanks
Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
2000
Documentary special thanks
South Park
2000
TV Series special thanks - 1 episode
Jaded
1998
thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Long Live TOY, Defending Children's Theatre in the Nickel City
2012
Documentary
America in Primetime
2011
TV Series documentary
Himself - Executive Producer, Homicide: Life on the Street
Biography
2010
TV Series documentary
Himself
PoliWood
2009
Documentary
Himself
A Moral Right: The Politics of Dirty Harry
2008
Video documentary short
Himself
The Business End: Violence in Cinema
2008
Video documentary short
Himself
The Evolution of Clint Eastwood
2008
Video documentary short
Himself
The Long Shadow of Dirty Harry
2008
Video documentary short
Himself
An Omar Broadway Film
2008
Documentary
Himself
Who Is Norman Lloyd?
2007
Documentary
Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2006
TV Series
Himself
The White Shadow: The Shadow of Bruce Paltrow
2006
Video documentary short
Himself
Homicide: Life at the Start
2003
Video documentary short
Himself
Brilliant But Cancelled: Pilot Season
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself
TV's Most Censored Moments
2002
TV Special documentary
Himself
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner
2001
TV Special
Himself
The 70s: The Decade That Changed Television
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Great Books
2000
TV Series documentary
Himself
Anatomy of a 'Homicide: Life on the Street'
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Charlie Rose
1997
TV Series
Himself - Guest
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1993
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
The 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
1986
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series & Nominee: Outstanding Drama Series
The 36th Primetime Emmy Awards
1984
TV Special
Himself - Winner: Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Richard B. Jablow Award
Writers Guild of America, USA
2005
Special Edgar
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
2005
OFTA TV Hall of Fame
Online Film & Television Association
Behind the Scenes
1995
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
1994
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
1993
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Drama Series
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993)
1987
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Episodic Drama
St. Elsewhere (1982)
1986
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
St. Elsewhere (1982)
1985
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
60 Minute Category
St. Elsewhere (1982)
1984
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
St. Elsewhere (1982)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2010
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Made for Television Movie
You Don't Know Jack (2010)
2002
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program