David Milch

Milch graduated with a B.A. summa cum laude from Yale University, where he won the Tinker Prize in English, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter,{{cite web| url= http://www.godeke.org/Deke_Alumni/Phi_David_Milch.htm |title=Prominent Deke Alumni: Phi's David Milch |publisher= | website = GoDeke.org |access-date=2014-06-12}}{{cite web|url= http://english.yale.edu/undergraduate-program/prizes-deadlines |title=Prizes and Deadlines |publisher= English Department, Yale University| website = Yale.edu |access-date=2014-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140728224326/http://english.yale.edu/undergraduate-program/prizes-deadlines |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |df=mdy }} along with future US President George W. Bush. Milch earned a Master of Fine Arts with distinction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa.{{cite web |title= David Milch | publisher = University of Iowa Alumni Association |website = iowalum.com |url= http://www.iowalum.com/daa/milch.html |access-date=January 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110215000932/http://www.iowalum.com/daa/milch.html |archive-date=February 15, 2011 |df=mdy }}

To avoid the draft during the Vietnam War, Milch enrolled in Yale Law School, but he was expelled for allegedly shooting out a police car siren with a shotgun.{{cite web | url=https://newcriterion.com/issues/2023/3/david-milch-the-strategies-of-indirection-in-fiction | title=David Milch & the strategies of indirection in fiction by William Logan | date=February 22, 2023 }}

Milch worked as a writing teacher and lecturer in English literature at Yale. During his teaching career, he assisted Robert Penn Warren and Cleanth Brooks in the writing of several college textbooks on literature. Milch's poetry and fiction have been published in The Atlantic Monthly and the Southern Review.{{cite web| title= David Milch |url= http://writing.upenn.edu/wh/people/fellows/milch.html| website = writing.UPenn.edu | publisher= University of Pennsylvania |access-date= January 25, 2012}}

In 1982, Milch wrote a script for Hill Street Blues, which became the episode "Trial by Fury". This began his career in television. He worked five seasons on Hill Street Blues as executive story editor and then as executive producer. Milch earned two Writers Guild Awards, a Humanitas prize, and a Primetime Emmy Award while working on that show.{{Cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-02-25-ca-45280-story.html|title=Passing Along His 'Street' Luck|last=Champlin|first=Charles|date=February 25, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 25, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

Milch created NYPD Blue with Steven Bochco and served as executive producer of that series for seven seasons. He received three Primetime Emmy Awards during his time with the series.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/18/arts/television-radio-the-demons-that-have-driven-nypd-blue.html|title=Television/Radio; The Demons That Have Driven 'N.Y.P.D. Blue'|last=Weinraub|first=Bernard|access-date=September 25, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=June 18, 2000 }} In a 1994 seminar on "Human Values in Entertainment Writing: The Challenges and the Pitfalls," Milch described his affinity for the show's character Detective Andy Sipowicz by noting, "I'm racist."{{cite news |last1=Braxton |first1=Greg |title='NYPD' Figure Tries to Clarify Race Remarks' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-10-ca-61087-story.html |access-date=16 June 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=10 November 1994}} He also recalled a writing workshop he led some years earlier, noting that "None of the black writing was any good," adding: "Jews tend to do very well in this business . . . because Jews experience a typical emotional doubleness in relation to the dominant culture, which is that they are both inside and outside it . . . A black has to experience more anger and self-division in order to achieve the kind of emotional neutrality that you need to write about the culture." Milch explained in a later statement that "The seminar I gave was an attempt to describe the process of writing and not a statement of political or social values." In response to Milch's comments, David Mills wrote a letter in which he challenged Milch's assumptions concerning black writers. As a result, Milch hired Mills as a writer for NYPD Blue.{{Cite web |last=Millman |first=Joyce |date=September 22, 1997 |title=Racist -- or realistic? |url=http://www.salon.com/sept97/media/media970922.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703061913/http://www.salon.com/sept97/media/media970922.html |archive-date=July 3, 2007}}

Milch co-created the patrol police drama Brooklyn South with Bochco, Bill Clark, and William M. Finkelstein in 1997 while still working on NYPD Blue. After NYPD Blue, Milch created a CBS series called Big Apple.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-14-ca-37219-story.html|title=Detective Work at 'Big Apple's' Core| last= Littlejohn| first= Janice Rhoshalle|date=March 14, 2001|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 25, 2018| language= en-US|issn=0458-3035}}

From 2004 to 2006, Milch produced Deadwood, a dramatic series for HBO. Milch served as creator, writer, and executive producer. The series received critical acclaim and garnered Milch two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for writing and producing. The series ended in 2006 after three seasons. There were plans for two feature-length movies to conclude the series, ultimately resulting in a single film released by HBO in 2019. Actor Ian McShane presented David Milch with the 2006 Outstanding Television Writer Award at the Austin Film Festival.{{Cite news |url=https://austinfilmfestival.com/festival-and-conference/2016/04/29/2006-winners/|title=2006 Winners - Austin Film Festival|date=April 29, 2016| work= Austin Film Festival|access-date= September 25, 2018|language=en-US}}

Milch began production in 2006 on John from Cincinnati, another dramatic series for HBO. The series was canceled after its first season. Initial ratings had been lower than expected but increased steadily. Ratings for the final episode were more than 3 million.Nielsen Media News, August 14, 2007. In October 2007, HBO renewed its contract with Milch. A pilot was commissioned for Last of the Ninth, "a drama set in the New York Police Department during the 1970s, when the Knapp Commission was formed to ferret out corruption in the force." Collaborating with Milch on Last of the Ninth was former NYPD Blue writer and friend Bill Clark.{{cite news | url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/10/the-saga-of-dea.html | work=Chicago Tribune | title=The saga of 'Deadwood' takes another turn | date=October 10, 2007 | access-date=December 10, 2007 | archive-date=February 8, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208040555/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/10/the-saga-of-dea.html | url-status=dead }} In December 2008, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Last of the Ninth would not be picked up by the network.{{cite news| url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic41d147829e712a6a10e023fa9980d2e | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081219035202/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3ic41d147829e712a6a10e023fa9980d2e | archive-date=December 19, 2008 | title=HBO picks up 'Hung' | work=The Hollywood Reporter (via web archive) }}

In January 2010, Milch announced that he was developing a new drama for HBO entitled Luck, based around the culture of horse racing. Michael Mann directed the pilot{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/mann-milch-in-luck-with-hbo-1118013352/ | work=Variety | first=Michael | last= Fleming | title=Mann, Milch in 'Luck' with HBO | date=January 5, 2010}} and Dustin Hoffman was cast in the lead role.{{cite news| last= Andreeva |first=Nellie |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6210C720100302 |title=Dustin Hoffman to star in HBO pilot Luck |date=March 2, 2010 |work=Reuters |access-date=2014-06-12}} HBO picked up the series on July 14, 2010.{{cite news| last= Hibberd |first=James |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66D5KX20100714 |title=Dustin Hoffman to star in horse racing series |date=July 14, 2010 |work=Reuters |access-date=2014-06-12}} The series ceased production after three horse deaths on set, having aired one season. Other unrealized projects of Milch's during the early 2010s included a film adaptation of Quantic Dream's 2010 video game Heavy Rain,{{Cite web| url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/david-milch-adapting-heavy-rain-game-1118030985/|title=David Milch adapting 'Heavy Rain' game| last=McNary| first= Dave|date=2011-01-27| website= Variety |language=en|access-date= 2019-04-25}} a reunion with NYPD Blue collaborator Steven Bochco on an NBC legal drama,{{cite web |url= https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/10/drama_titans_steven_bochco_and.html |title=Drama Titans Steven Bochco and David Milch Are Reuniting to Save NBC |work=New York | date=October 14, 2011 }} and a series of films and television series for HBO based on the literary works of William Faulkner.{{cite magazine| url= https://entertainment.time.com/2011/11/30/hbo-signs-david-milch-and-his-new-partner-william-faulkner/|title=HBO Signs David Milch and His New Partner, William Faulkner|date=November 30, 2011|magazine=Time}}{{cite news| url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324328904578621821045072476|title=William Faulkner's Heirs Aim to Preserve His Legacy and Profit From It| work=Wall Street Journal |date=July 25, 2013 |access-date=July 26, 2013 |last1=Cohen |first1=Stefanie }} In July 2013 HBO announced{{cite magazine |url= http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/07/25/deadwood-creator-near-deal-for-hbo-drama-pilot/ |title='Deadwood' creator near deal for HBO drama pilot |magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=July 25, 2013 }} at the Television Critics Association Press Tour that Milch was developing a new series for the cable network tentatively titled The Money. The show would depict a dynastic New York media family. Irish actor Brendan Gleeson was cast in the lead role as a family patriarch and media mogul.{{cite web|title=HBO Orders New David Milch Pilot, The Money|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/08/hbo-orders-new-david-milch-pilot-the-money.html|work=New York |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2013}} It was announced on March 4, 2014, that HBO had passed on the project.{{cite web|last=Andreeva |first= Nellie |url= https://deadline.com/2014/03/david-milch-hbo-pilot-the-money-not-going-forward-693792/ |title=David Milch's HBO Pilot 'The Money' Not Going Forward |work=Deadline Hollywood |date= March 5, 2014 |access-date=2014-06-12}}

On April 20, 2017, Ian McShane announced that Milch had submitted a script for a two-hour Deadwood movie to HBO. "[A] two-hour movie script has been delivered to HBO. If they don't deliver [a finished product], blame them." McShane said he had spoken to Milch about the script and hoped to soon discuss beginning the film. He also said of the original cast returning that "we'd all love to do it ... It would be nice to see all of the old gang again."{{cite web| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/ian-mcshane-deadwood-creator-submitted-script-hbo-article-1.3079637|title=Actor Ian McShane says 'Deadwood' creator submitted revival movie script to HBO|work=Daily News| date= April 20, 2017 |first=Dan |last= Gunderman |access-date=April 20, 2017}} Deadwood: The Movie began production in October 2018{{Cite news |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/deadwood-movie-starts-filming-majority-cast-returning-1158128| title= 'Deadwood' Movie Starts Filming With Majority of Cast Returning|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date= 2018-11-09|language=en}} and premiered in May 2019. The film received critical acclaim and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

Milch is Jewish.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2007/10/three_things_you_would_have.html|title=David Milch Headlines Most Uncomfortable Panel Discussion Ever at 'New Yorker' Fest|work=Vulture|date=October 9, 2007 |access-date=May 5, 2016}} He has been married to Rita Stern since 1982. They have three children.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Milch has stated he has bipolar disorder.{{cite magazine|last1=Singer|first1=Mark|title=The Misfit|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/02/14/the-misfit-2|access-date=May 21, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker|date=February 14, 2005}}{{Cite episode |series= Dinner for Five|network=Independent Film Channel |date=April 1, 2005 |season=4 |number=4 }} He developed a heart condition in the 1990s. During the filming of NYPD Blue, he suffered a heart attack while arguing with actor David Caruso over the script.

In the 2000s, he became addicted to gambling and lost much of his fortune.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/david-milch-made-100m-gambled-866184/ |title=How the $100 Million 'NYPD Blue' Creator Gambled Away His Fortune |date=2016-02-17 |first1=Stephen |last1=Galloway |first2=Scott |last2=Johnson |work=The Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=2024-02-03}}

Milch was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2015 shortly before beginning work on the script for the Deadwood film.{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/24/writer-david-milch-reveals-he-has-alzheimers-disease/|title=TV writer, Buffalo native David Milch reveals he has Alzheimer's disease|last=Pergament|first=Alan|date=April 24, 2019|work=The Buffalo News}} As of 2019, he lives in an assisted-living facility.{{Cite news| author = Dave Itzkoff | title = David Milch Still Has Stories to Tell | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/books/david-milch-still-has-stories-to-tell.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Books | work = The New York Times| date = September 3, 2022| access-date = September 3, 2022}} On September 13, 2022, Milch published a memoir titled Life's Work.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/books/review/david-milch-lifes-work.html |title=David Milch Made Remarkable TV. His Own Life Was a Drama, Too. |first1=Dwight |last1=Garner |date=2022-09-12 |work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |title=What Happened When I Started Going Back to the Track How the HBO series Luck coincided with the biggest disaster in David Milch's life. |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/09/david-milch-on-luck-and-the-biggest-disaster-in-his-life.html |first1=David |last1=Milch |authorlink=David Milch |date=2022-09-07 |website=vulture.com}}

Milch has been an owner of thoroughbred racehorses. As a co-owner with Mark and Jack Silverman, he won the 1992 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with the colt Gilded Time.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/255495/infirmities-of-old-age-claim-gilded-time-at-age-31 |title=Infirmities of Old Age Claim Gilded Time at Age 31 |first1=Eric |last1=Mitchell |date=2021-12-10 |website=bloodhorse.com}} Milch owned outright Val Royal who captured the 2001 Breeders' Cup Mile.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

• Hill Street Blues (1982–87)
• Bay City Blues (1983)
• Beverly Hills Buntz (1987–88) (co-creator, with Jeffrey Lewis)
• Capital News (1990) (co-creator, with Christian Williams)
• L.A. Law (1992)
• NYPD Blue (1993–2005) (co-creator, with Steven Bochco)
• Murder One (1995)
• Brooklyn South (1997–98) (co-creator, with Steven Bochco)
• Total Security (1997) (co-creator, with Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Theresa Rebeck)
• Big Apple (2001) (creator)
• Deadwood (2004–06) (creator)
• John from Cincinnati (2007) (co-creator, with Kem Nunn)
• Last of the Ninth (2009) (co-creator, with Bill Clark)
• Luck (2011–12) (creator)
• The Money (2013) (creator)
• True Detective (2019)
• Deadwood: The Movie (2019)

• Milch, David and Clark, Bill. True Blue: The Real Stories Behind NYPD Blue. New York: William Morrow & Co, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0688140816}}
• Milch, David. Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills. New York: Bloomsbury USA, 2006. {{ISBN|978-1596912397}}
• Milch, David. Life's Work: A Memoir. New York: Random House, 2022. {{ISBN|978-0525510741}}{{Cite web|last=Abramovitch|first=Seth|date=2022-02-01|title=David Milch to Address Gambling Addiction, Alzheimer's Diagnosis in New Memoir (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-milch-memoir-gambling-alzheimers-1235085191/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|url=http://blip.tv/sag-foundation/an-evening-with-acclaimed-writer-producer-david-milch-5372788|title=An Evening with Acclaimed Writer/Producer David Milch|publisher=SAG Foundation|date=July 13, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Video: 80-minutes.)
• {{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/01/25/145706854/david-milch-trying-his-luck-with-horse-racing|title=David Milch: Trying His 'Luck' With Horse Racing|author=Davies, Dave|author-link=Dave Davies (reporter)|author2=Milch, David|name-list-style=amp|work=Fresh Air|date=January 25, 2012}}
• {{cite news |author=Havrilesky, Heather |url=http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2005/03/05/milch/index.html |title=The man behind 'Deadwood' |work=Salon.com |date=March 5, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823115956/http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2005/03/05/milch/index.html |archive-date=August 23, 2006 |df=mdy }}
• {{cite magazine|author=Singer, Mark|author-link=Mark Singer (journalist)|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/02/14/050214fa_fact_singer|title=The Misfit|magazine=The New Yorker|date=February 14, 2005}} Profile of Milch.
• {{cite book |url=http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/383/ |title=Television's Great Writer (David Milch at MIT) |location=Cambridge, MA |date=April 20, 2006 |access-date=October 17, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102225922/http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/383/ |archive-date=November 2, 2006 |url-status=dead }} (Video: 1:23:15.)
• {{cite magazine |author=Singer, Mark |author-link=Mark Singer (journalist) |date=May 27, 2019 |title=Hello, darkness: the creator of several hit shows has dementia. And some thoughts about that |department=Profiles |magazine=The New Yorker |volume=95 |issue=14 |pages=24–30 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/05/27/david-milchs-third-act }}{{efn|Online version is titled "David Milch's Third Act".}}

{{notelist}}

• {{IMDb name|586965|David Milch}}
• {{emmytvlegends name|david-milch}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=2139 |title=Bio: David S. Milch |website=National Thoroughbred Racing Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100122/http://www.ntra.com/stats_bios.aspx?id=2139 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |df=mdy }}
• {{cite web|url=http://theideaofthewriter.blogspot.com/ |title=Collection of David Milch lectures in audio and video formats|website=The Idea of the Writer}}
• David Milch Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.

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