James Duff (writer)

James Duff
Born (1955-09-03) September 3, 1955
New Orleans, Louisiana
EducationMonterey High School, Coronado High School, Texas Tech University
OccupationsPlaywright, television series creator
Spouse
​
(m. 2013)​
Writing career
Years active1992–present
Notable worksDoing Time on Maple Drive, The Closer, Major Crimes, Sherlock & Daughter
Notable awards

James Duff (born September 3, 1955) is an American television writer, producer and director. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and has written plays and television screenplays. He is credited as the creator of the TV series The Closer and Major Crimes.[1]

Early life and education

Duff was born in New Orleans and grew up in multiple cities in Texas with his adoptive parents. He attended Monterey High School, where he studied theatre arts with Harlan Reddell, and later graduated from Coronado High School. Duff also studied theatre at Texas Tech University.[2]

Career

In 1992, Duff wrote the made-for-television drama film Doing Time on Maple Drive, which premiered on Fox and received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.[3][4] The following year, in 1993, he wrote the TV movie Without a Kiss Goodbye, a "fact-based drama about a mother who is falsely arrested and convicted of poisoning her infant."[5] Duff also co‑wrote the short drama film A Song for You with Ken Martin, which starred Christopher Thornton and Mark Ruffalo.[6]

In 1995, Duff wrote the television film Betrayed: A Story of Three Women, described as a "well‑structured drama" featuring performances by Meredith Baxter and Swoosie Kurtz.[7] The same year, Duff also wrote 919 Fifth Avenue, and served as creator and co‑executive producer of Long Island Fever.[8] In the next year, Duff’s 1984 play Homefront was adapted into the 1996 drama war film The War at Home, directed by, starring, and co‑produced by Emilio Estevez, and also featuring Kathy Bates and Martin Sheen.[9] In addition, Duff was co‑executive producer of the CBS project Texas Graces.[8]

In 1999, Duff worked as supervising writer on The WB series Popular, a position he held until 2001. In 2001, Duff wrote the episodes "My Best Friend's Wedding" for Felicity and "Fortunate Son" for Enterprise.[8] The following year, in 2002, Duff collaborated on the CBS series The Agency, writing three episodes and serving as consulting producer. He also collaborated on the UPN series Wolf Lake, writing two episodes and acting as co‑executive producer the same year.[8]

Two years later, Duff created the American legal drama television series The D.A., which aired on ABC from March 19 until April 9, 2004. He wrote all four episodes, including "The People vs. Sergius Kovinsky," "The People vs. Patricia Henry," "The People vs. Oliver C. Handley," and "The People vs. Ahmed Abbas."[10]

Between 2005 and 2012, Duff co‑created and was showrunner of The Closer, produced by the Shephard/Robin Company with Warner Bros. Television and aired on TNT. Starring Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, the series ran for seven seasons. Duff wrote twenty episodes and directed four, and the show concluded in 2012 with the launch of its spin‑off Major Crimes.[11]

Following The Closer, Duff created the American police procedural television series Major Crimes, produced for TNT. Starring Mary McDonnell as Sharon Raydor, the series ran from 2012 to 2018. Across six seasons he wrote seven episodes and directed two, concluding after 105 episodes.[12][13][14]

Between 2018 and 2020, Duff was credited as executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery and co‑wrote the episode "Die Trying" with Sean Cochran, which aired on November 12, 2020.[15] He also served as executive producer on Star Trek: Picard, writing the episodes "Remembrance" and "The End is the Beginning".[16]

Most recently, Duff served as showrunner on Sherlock & Daughter, a series by Brendan Foley based on the Sherlock Holmes stories. The show aired on The CW and Discovery+. He also wrote the episode "Sound Connections," directed by Bryn Higgins.[17]

Personal life

Duff is married to actor Phillip P. Keene, who plays Buzz Watson on The Closer and Major Crimes.[18]

Filmography

Year Title Credited as
Writer Producer Director Notes Ref
1992 Doing Time on Maple Drive Yes No No TV movie
1993 Without a Kiss Goodbye Yes No No TV movie [5]
1993 A Song for You Yes No No Short film [6]
1995 Betrayed: A Story of Three Women Yes No No TV movie [7]
1995 919 Fifth Avenue Yes No No TV movie [8]
1995 Long Island Fever Yes Yes No TV movie, co-executive producer [8]
1996 The War at Home Yes Yes No Feature film, adapted from Duff's play Homefront
1996 Texas Graces No Yes No TV movie, co-executive producer [8]
1999–2001 Popular Yes No No Supervising writer [8]
2001 Felicity Yes No No Episode: "My Best Friend's Wedding"
2001 Enterprise Yes No No Episode: "Fortunate Son"
2002 The Agency Yes Yes No Wrote 3 episodes, consulting producer
2002 Wolf Lake Yes Yes No Wrote 2 episodes, co-executive producer
2004 The D.A. Yes Yes No Creator, executive producer
2005–2012 The Closer Yes Yes Yes Co-creator and showrunner, wrote 20 episodes, directed 4 episodes
2012–2018 Major Crimes Yes Yes Yes Creator and showrunner, wrote 7 episodes, directed 2 episodes
2018–2020 Star Trek: Discovery Yes No No Episode: "Die Trying", executive producer
2020 Star Trek: Picard Yes Yes No Executive producer, wrote "Remembrance" and "The End is the Beginning"
2025 Sherlock & Daughter No Yes No Showrunner

Awards and nominations

Duff was nominated for an Emmy Award for his screenplay for the television movie Doing Time on Maple Drive.[19] He and Mike Berchem scored an Edgar Award nomination in 2007 for their The Closer episode "Blue Blood".[20]

In 2006, he shared the Women's Image Network Award for Outstanding Drama Series for The Closer with Greer Shephard and Michael M. Robin.

Bibliography

  • Duff, James (2023). Who Dies There?. Amazon Digital Services LLC – KDP. ISBN 9781962896016.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Hale, Mike (August 12, 2012). "The New Boss, Not the Same as the Old Boss 'Major Crimes' Replaces 'The Closer' on TNT". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  2. ↑ Driskill, Jamison (4 February 2022). "Just Keep Writing: The Passion and Perseverance of James Duff". Texas Tech University School of Theatre & Dance. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  3. ↑ Hernandez, Greg (June 29, 2017). "Interview: Doing Time on Maple Drive writer reflects on film's 25th anniversary". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Doing Time on Maple Drive". Television Academy. Archived from the original on October 15, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Hilsman, Hoyt (1993-03-19). "Without a Kiss Goodbye". Variety. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  6. 1 2 "A Song for You". AlloCiné (in French). 1993. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  7. 1 2 Scott, Tony (1995-03-16). "Betrayed: A Story of Three Women". Variety. Archived from the original on 2022-07-24. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Duff, James(1955–)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  9. ↑ Savlov, Marc (May 16, 1997). "The War at Home". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  10. ↑ Verrier, Richard (November 17, 2013). "How I Made It: TV writer James Duff". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  11. ↑ "TNT Orders New Seasons of Three Hit Series: The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage" (Press release). Turner Newsroom. July 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (June 15, 2011). "'Major Crimes' star wants Kyra Sedgwick cameo". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  13. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (January 18, 2017). "Major Crimes Renewed for Sixth Season at TNT". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ Petski, Denise (October 3, 2017). "'Major Crimes' Creator Says Cancellation "Was Not At All My Idea"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2026. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  15. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (June 18, 2018). "Star Trek: Discovery': James Duff Joins As Executive Producer & Inks CBS TV Studios Overall Deal, Duo Promoted". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 10, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  16. ↑ Stewart, Patrick (September 28, 2023). "Patrick Stewart: How Star Trek: Picard Was Really Supposed to End". Time. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  17. ↑ Goldbart, Max (2026-01-27). "'Sherlock & Daughter' Creator Penning Timely Geopolitical Thriller 'Operation: Arctic Fox' For TV". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2026-02-28. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
  18. ↑ Hernandez, Greg. ""Major Crimes" cast member Phillip Keene marries". Greg In Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ "James Duff | Emmy Awards and Nominations". Television Academy. Archived from the original on 2025-10-16. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  20. ↑ "Search the Edgars Database! | Edgar® Awards Info & Database". edgarawards.com. Archived from the original on 2026-02-17. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
  21. ↑ James Duff (2023). Who Dies There?. Amazon Digital Services LLC – KDP. ISBN 9781962896016.
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