Kurt Sutter
Kurt Sutter | |
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![]() Sutter in 2012 | |
Born | [1] Rahway, New Jersey,U.S. | May 5, 1960
Education | Rutgers University Northern Illinois University |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1980s–present |
Known for |
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Spouse | |
Children | 1 |
Kurt Leon Sutter(born May 5, 1960) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor. He worked as a writer, director, and executive producer onThe Shield,and appeared on the show as hitmanMargos Dezerian.Sutter is also the creator ofSons of Anarchyand its spinoffMayans M.C.onFX;he wrote, produced, and directed the series, as well as played incarcerated club member Otto Delaney. Sutter spent time with members of anoutlaw motorcycle clubin Northern California as research forSons of Anarchy.[2]Sutter's wife, actressKatey Sagal,played main characterGemma Teller.
Early life
[edit]Sutter was born inRahway,New Jersey.His father worked at theGeneral Motorsplant inLinden, New Jersey,and his mother was a secretary for theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.He has two older sisters.[3]He grew up in the township ofClark, New Jersey[3]and graduated fromRoselle Catholic High Schoolin 1982.[3]
Sutter attendedLivingston Collegefor the journalism department ofRutgers University—which was located there—eventually graduating from Rutgers University with a BA in mass media with a minor in English in 1986. He moved toNew York Cityand studiedMeisner technique,did theater, and taught at the Gately/Poole Conservatory.[3]Sutter then attendedNorthern Illinois Universityfor three years, starting in 1997, to obtain his M.F.A. in performance and directing.[3]
Career
[edit]![]() |
Sutter was hired as a staff writer for the first season of FX crime dramaThe Shieldin 2002. He made his television acting debut with the episode "Blowback",in which he appeared asArmenianmob hitmanMargos Dezerian.He co-wrote the episodes "Dragonchasers"and"Two Days of Blood"with fellow staff writerScott Rosenbaum,and was promoted to story editor for the second season in 2003. He wrote the episodes "Scar Tissue"and"Dead Soldiers"and in 2004, joined the production team in the junior role of co-producer for the third season. He continued to write episodes and scripted"Playing Tight"and"Mum"with series creator and executive producerShawn Ryan,"Slipknot"solo, and" Fire in the Hole "with consulting producerCharles H. Eglee.He reprised his role as Dezerian in the season's final episodes "All In"and"On Tilt".
He was promoted to supervising producer for the fourth season in 2005. He wrote the episode "Grave"solo, co-wrote the story for the episode"Judas Priest"with Eglee and co-wrote the teleplay with Rosenbaum. He co-wrote the story for the season finale" Ain't That a Shame "with Ryan; Ryan co-wrote the teleplay for the episode with co-executive producerGlen Mazzara.Sutter became a co-executive producer for the fifth season in 2006. He wrote the episode "Extraction",co-wrote the episode"Trophy"with Renee Palya and Tony Soltis, and co-wrote the season's penultimate episode" Fire in the Hole "with Eglee.
He became an executive producer for the sixth season in 2007, directed a promotional mini-episode for the sixth season entitled "Wins and Losses," and wrote the sixth-season premiere "On the Jones".He co-wrote the episode"Exiled"with Rosenbaum, also now an executive producer.
Sutter returned as an executive producer and writer for the seventh and final season in 2008. He wrote the premiere "Coefficient of Drag"and co-wrote the episode"Parricide"with Gary Lennon. At the close of the season he was the series' second most prolific writer (after Ryan), having written or co-written 18 episodes in total.
Also in 2008, Sutter created and executive produced a new series for FX entitledSons of Anarchy.The show centers on the titular motorcycle club in a fictitious town called Charming in California. He was the series head writer and showrunner. Along with thepilot episodehe wrote the episodes "Seeds", "Fun Town","Capybara ","The Sleep of Babies",and the season finale"The Revelator".He would go on to write 61 of the show's 92 episodes. Sutter appears in the show as incarcerated club memberOtto Delaney,and he cast his wifeKatey Sagalin the starring role as the club's matriarchGemma Teller Morrow.Sutter also hired several crew members whom he had worked with onThe Shield,including unit production manager and producer Kevin G. Cremin, post-production supervisor and producer Craig Yahata, and directorsGuy Ferland,Stephen Kay,Gwyneth Horder-Payton,Paris Barclay,Terrence O'Hara,andBilly Gierhart.The first season also featuredThe ShieldstarJay Karnesas a recurring specialguest starplayingATFAgentJoshua Kohn.[4]This is a trend that continued in later seasons with the majority of the main cast ofThe Shieldappearing in later episodes in a variety of different roles.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Kurt_Sutter_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg/220px-Kurt_Sutter_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg)
Sutter remained showrunner and executive producer for the series' second season in 2009. He wrote the season premiere "Albification",co-wrote the episode" Eureka "with Brett Conrad, co-wrote the episode" Gilead "with co-producerChris Collins,co-wrote the episode "Potlatch" withMisha Green,co-wrote the teleplay for the episode "Service" with co-executive producerJack LoGiudicefrom a story by Brady Dahl and Cory Udica, co-wrote the episode "The Culling" with consulting producerDave Erickson,and wrote and directed the season finale "Na Trioblóidí".The second season featuredThe ShieldstarKenny Johnsonas a special guest star playing a club member named Kozik.
Sutter returned as showrunner and executive producer for the third season in 2010. He wrote the season premiere "SO",co-wrote the episode" Oiled "with Erickson, now a co-executive producer, co-wrote the episode" Home "withLiz Sagal,series' star Katey Sagal's sister and his sister-in-law. He co-wrote the episode "Widening Gyre" with co-producerRegina Corradoand the episode "Lochan Mor" with Erickson and Liz Sagal. He wrote the story for the episode "Turas"; the teleplay was co-written by Collins (now a producer) and Dahl. He co-wrote the episode "Firinne" with Vaunn Wilmott and the episode "Bainne" with Corrado and Erickson. He wrote the story for the episode "June Wedding"; Collins wrote the teleplay. He reprised the role of Otto in the season finale, titled "NS",which he also directed and co-wrote with Erickson. Johnson returned as Kozik in the third season. He would go on to produce seven seasons of Sons. The show concluded airing in December 2014.
In 2010,DreamWorkspicked up Sutter's film script,Southpaw,andEminemwas eyed for the lead role. The film was dropped byDreamWorksin 2011,[5][6]and was later picked up byMGMandColumbia Pictures.[7]Antoine Fuquadirected the film, andJake GyllenhaalreplacedEminemin the lead.Rachel McAdams,Rita Ora,50 Cent,andForest Whitakeralso appeared in the film.[8]Southpawwas released on July 24, 2015, byThe Weinstein Company.[9]
In 2014, it was announced Sutter had begun developingThe Bastard Executioner,a new series forFX,The series was ordered to pilot on December 12, 2014.[10]Katey Sagal,Lee Jones, andStephen Moyersigned on to join the cast of the pilot.[11][12]On May 22, 2015, the pilot was ordered to series with a 10-episode launch to premiere on September 15, 2015, on FX. The series was cancelled after one season.[13][14]He went on to create theSons of AnarchyspinoffMayans M.C.In October 2019, Sutter was fired from FX after multiple complaints were lodged against him about his "abrasive" and "unprofessional" behavior.[15]Sutter appeared in the 2021science fictionfilmChaos Walking,his first feature film acting role.[16]
Comic books
[edit]In 2016, Sutter produced a six-issue comic book miniseries withBoom! StudiosentitledLucas Stand.The first issue was released on June 1, 2016.[17]He also worked on a comic book calledSisters of Sorrow;the book was launched at the 2016San Diego Comic-Con.[18]
Projects in development
[edit]In May 2021, it was announced that Sutter would direct a horror film titledThis BeastforNetflix.[19]In November 2021, it was announced that he would create a western series titledThe Abandonsfor Netflix.[20]
Influences
[edit]Sutter has stated he's had multiple influences in his writing style, includingWilliam Shakespeare,specifically his playHamlet.He based the characters ofSons of AnarchyonHamlet.Other cultural influences includeMad Magazine,Hanna-Barberacartoons, and the television showHill Street Blues,among others.[21]
Personal life
[edit]Sutter moved to Los Angeles in 2000.[3]Sutter married actressKatey Sagalin a private ceremony on October 2, 2004, at their home inLos Feliz, California.[22]Their first child, daughter Esme Louise, was born January 10, 2007. Esme was carried by asurrogate mother.[23]
Sutter is an animal rights activist, and isvegan.[24]He is also a motorcycle enthusiast.[25]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Film | Actor | Director | Writer | Role(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Southpaw | No | No | Yes | N/A | |
2021 | Chaos Walking | Yes | No | No | Cillian Boyd | |
TBA | This Beast | TBA | Yes | TBA |
Television
[edit]Actor
[edit]Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002–2004 | The Shield | Margos Dezerian | 4 episodes |
2008–2013 | Sons of Anarchy | "Big" Otto Delaney | 20 episodes |
2015 | The Bastard Executioner | The Dark Mute | 9 episodes |
Producer
[edit]Year | Show | Role |
---|---|---|
2002–2008 | The Shield | Credited as:
Executive producer (Seasons 6–7) |
2008–2014 | Sons of Anarchy | Executive producer |
2015 | The Bastard Executioner | Executive producer |
2018–2023 | Mayans M.C. | Executive producer |
Writer
[edit]Year | Show | Season | Episode title | Episode | Original airdate | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Mayans M.C. | 2 | "Hunahpu" | 10 | November 5, 2019 | |
"Itzam-Ye" | 9 | October 29, 2019 | Co-written withElgin James | |||
"Xbalanque" | 1 | September 3, 2019 | ||||
2018 | 1 | "Cuervo/Tz'ikb'ull" | 10 | November 6, 2018 | ||
"Serpiente/Chikchan" | 9 | October 30, 2018 | Co-written with Sean Tretta | |||
"Murcielago/Zotz" | 4 | September 25, 2018 | Co-written with Santa Sierra | |||
"Escorpion/Dzec" | 2 | September 11, 2018 | ||||
"Perro/Oc" | 1 | September 4, 2018 | ||||
2015 | The Bastard Executioner | 1 | "Effigy/Delw" | 3 | September 22, 2015 | Co-written with Charles Murray and Nichole Beattie |
"Pilot, Part 2" | 2 | September 15, 2015 | ||||
"Pilot, Part 1" | 1 | September 15, 2015 | ||||
2014 | Sons of Anarchy | 7 | "Papa's Goods" | 13 | December 9, 2014 | |
"Red Rose" | 12 | December 2, 2014 | Co-written with Charles Murray | |||
"Suits of Woe" | 11 | November 18, 2014 | Co-written with Peter Elkoff and Mike Daniel | |||
"Faith and Despondency" | 10 | November 11, 2014 | Co-written with Kem Nunn and Gladys Rodriguez | |||
"What a Piece of Work is Man" | 9 | November 4, 2014 | Co-written with Mike Daniels and Roberto Patino | |||
"The Separation of Crows" | 8 | October 28, 2014 | Co-written with Peter Elkoff and John Barcheski | |||
"Greensleeves" | 7 | October 21, 2014 | Co-written with Gladys Rodriguez and Josh Botana | |||
"Smoke 'em If You Got 'em" | 6 | October 14, 2014 | Co-written with Mike Daniels | |||
"Some Strange Eruption" | 5 | October 7, 2014 | Co-written with Roberto Patino | |||
"Poor Little Lambs" | 4 | September 30, 2014 | Co-written with Kem Nunn | |||
"Playing with Monsters" | 3 | September 23, 2014 | Co-written with Peter Elkoff | |||
"Toil and Till" | 2 | September 16, 2014 | Co-written with Kem Nunn | |||
"Black Widower" | 1 | September 9, 2014 | ||||
2013 | 6 | "A Mother's Work" | 13 | December 10, 2013 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |
"You Are My Sunshine" | 12 | December 3, 2013 | Co-written with Kem Nunn and Mike Daniels | |||
"Aon Rud Persanta" | 11 | November 19, 2013 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |||
"Huang Wu" | 10 | November 12, 2013 | Co-written with Charles Murray | |||
"John 8:32" | 9 | November 5, 2013 | Co-written with Kem Nunn | |||
"Los Fantasmas" | 8 | October 29, 2013 | Co-written with Roberto Patino | |||
"Sweet and Vaded" | 7 | October 22, 2013 | Co-written with Adria Lang | |||
"Salvage" | 6 | October 15, 2013 | Co-written with Mike Daniels | |||
"The Mad King" | 5 | October 8, 2013 | Co-written with Roberto Patino and Chris Collins | |||
"Wolfsangel" | 4 | October 1, 2013 | Co-written with Kem Nunn | |||
"Poenitentia" | 3 | September 24, 2013 | Co-written with Charles Murray | |||
"Straw" | 1 | September 10, 2013 | ||||
2012 | 5 | "J'ai Obtenu Cette" | 13 | December 4, 2012 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |
"Darthy" | 12 | November 27, 2012 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |||
"To Thine Own Self" | 11 | November 20, 2012 | Co-written with Mike Daniels and John Barcheski | |||
"Andare Pescare" | 9 | November 6, 2012 | Co-written with Liz Sagal | |||
"Toad's Wild Ride" | 7 | October 23, 2012 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |||
"Orca Shrugged" | 5 | October 9, 2012 | Co-written with Regina Corrado | |||
"Laying Pipe" | 3 | September 25, 2012 | Co-written with Kem Nunn and Liz Sagal | |||
"Sovereign" | 1 | September 11, 2012 | ||||
2011 | 4 | "To Be, Act 2" | 14 | December 6, 2011 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |
"To Be, Act 1" | 13 | November 29, 2011 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |||
"Burnt and Purged Away" | 12 | November 22, 2011 | Co-written with Dave Erickson | |||
"Hands" | 10 | November 8, 2011 | Co-written with Chris Collins and David LaBrava | |||
"Fruit for the Crows" | 7 | October 18, 2011 | Co-written with Liz Sagal | |||
"Una Venta" | 4 | September 27, 2011 | Co-written with Marco Ramirez | |||
"Out" | 1 | September 6, 2011 | ||||
2010 | 3 | "NS" | 13 | November 30, 2010 | Co-written with Dave Erickson | |
"June Wedding" | 12 | November 23, 2010 | Story by Sutter, teleplay by Chris Collins | |||
"Bainne" | 11 | November 16, 2010 | Co-written with Dave Erickson and Regina Corrado | |||
"Fírinne" | 10 | November 9, 2010 | Co-written with Vaun Wilmott | |||
"Turas" | 9 | November 2, 2010 | Story by Sutter, teleplay co-written by Chris Collins and Brady Dahl | |||
"Lochan Mor" | 8 | October 26, 2010 | Co-written with Dave Erickson and Liz Sagal | |||
"Widening Gyre" | 7 | October 19, 2010 | Co-written with Regina Corrado | |||
"Home" | 4 | September 28, 2010 | Co-written with Liz Sagal | |||
"Oiled" | 2 | September 14, 2010 | Co-written with Dave Erickson | |||
"SO" | 1 | September 7, 2010 | ||||
2009 | 2 | "Na Trioblóidí" | 13 | December 1, 2009 | ||
"The Culling" | 12 | November 24, 2009 | Co-written with Dave Erickson | |||
"Service" | 11 | November 17, 2009 | Teleplay co-written with Jack LoGiudice from a story by Brady Dahl and Cori Udica | |||
"Potlatch" | 8 | October 27, 2009 | Co-written with Misha Green | |||
"Gilead" | 7 | October 20, 2009 | Co-written with Chris Collins | |||
"Eureka" | 4 | September 29, 2009 | Co-written with Brett Conrad | |||
"Albification" | 1 | September 8, 2009 | ||||
2008 | 1 | "The Revelator" | 13 | November 26, 2008 | ||
"The Sleep of Babies" | 12 | November 19, 2008 | ||||
"Capybara" | 11 | November 12, 2008 | Co-written with Dave Erickson | |||
"The Pull" | 8 | October 22, 2008 | Co-written with Jack LoGiudice | |||
"Fun Town" | 3 | September 17, 2008 | ||||
"Seeds" | 2 | September 10, 2008 | ||||
"Pilot" | 1 | September 3, 2008 | ||||
The Shield | 7 | "Parricide" | 8 | October 21, 2008 | Co-written with Gary Lennon | |
"Coefficient of Drag" | 1 | September 2, 2008 | ||||
2007 | 6 | "Exiled" | 7 | May 15, 2007 | Co-written with Scott Rosenbaum | |
"On The Jones" | 1 | April 3, 2007 | ||||
2006 | 5 | "Of Mice and Lem" | 10 | March 14, 2006 | Co-written with Charles H. Eglee | |
"Trophy" | 5 | February 7, 2006 | Co-written with Renee Palya and Tony Soltis | |||
"Extraction" | 1 | January 10, 2006 | ||||
2005 | 4 | "Ain't That a Shame" | 13 | June 14, 2005 | Story co-written with Shawn Ryan, teleplay by Ryan and Glen Mazzara | |
"Judas Priest" | 12 | June 7, 2005 | Story co-written with Charles H. Eglee, teleplay co-written with Scott Rosenbaum | |||
"Grave" | 2 | March 22, 2005 | ||||
2004 | 3 | "Fire in the Hole" | 13 | June 1, 2004 | Co-written with Charles H. Eglee | |
"Slipknot" | 9 | May 4, 2004 | ||||
"Mum" | 5 | April 6, 2004 | Co-written with Shawn Ryan | |||
"Playing Tight" | 1 | March 9, 2004 | Co-written with Shawn Ryan | |||
2003 | 2 | "Scar Tissue" | 8 | February 25, 2003 | ||
"Dead Soldiers" | 2 | January 14, 2003 | ||||
2002 | 1 | "Two Days of Blood" | 12 | May 28, 2002 | Co-written with Scott Rosenbaum | |
"Dragonchasers" | 10 | May 14, 2002 | Co-written with Scott Rosenbaum | |||
"Blowback" | 5 | April 9, 2002 |
Director
[edit]Year | Show | Season | Episode title | Episode | Original airdate | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Sons of Anarchy | 7 | "Papa's Goods" | 13 | December 9, 2014 | Series finale |
2013 | 6 | A Mother's Work | 13 | December 10, 2013 | Season finale | |
2012 | 5 | "J'ai Obtenu Cette" | 13 | December 4, 2012 | Season finale | |
2011 | 4 | "To Be, Act 2" | 14 | December 6, 2011 | Season finale Pt. 2 | |
"To Be, Act 1" | 13 | November 29, 2011 | Season finale Pt. 1 | |||
2010 | 3 | "NS" | 13 | November 30, 2010 | Season finale | |
2009 | 2 | "Na Triobloidi" | 13 | December 1, 2009 | Season finale | |
2008 | 1 | "The Revelator" | 13 | November 26, 2008 | Season finale | |
2007 | The Shield | 6 | "Wins and Losses" | 0 | February 15, 2007 | Promotional short for season 6 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"'Bastard Executioner's' Kurt Sutter on His Troubled Past, C-Word Insults and New 'Sons of Anarchy' Spinoff ".The Hollywood Reporter.August 26, 2015.
- ^Kurutz, Steven (November 30, 2009).""Sons of Anarchy" Creator Kurt Sutter On the Cult Biker Show ".The Wall Street Journal.
- ^abcdefBarone, Matt (February 3, 2011)."Favorite Son: Kurt Sutter grew up dreaming beyond Jersey".NewJersey.com.RetrievedAugust 9,2014.
- ^"Jay Karnes to recur on 'Anarchy'".The Hollywood Reporter.July 6, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 10,2014.
- ^Deadline.com
- ^Deadline.com
- ^"MGM closes Eminem pic 'Southpaw'".Variety.October 20, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on September 27, 2022.
- ^Deadline.com
- ^Rolling Stone
- ^Deadline.com
- ^Deadline.com
- ^Deadline.com
- ^Deadline.com
- ^"FX Renews 'The Strain,' Sets Premiere Dates for 'AHS: Hotel' and More".Variety.August 7, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on February 16, 2023.
- ^Goldberg, Lesley (October 17, 2019)."Kurt Sutter Fired From FX for Being an" Abrasive Dick "(Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedOctober 17,2019.
- ^Busch, Anita (August 9, 2017)."Kurt Sutter Joins 'Chaos Walking' Cast".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2019.RetrievedAugust 14,2017.
- ^"Sons Of Anarchy's Creator Kurt Sutter's New Comic Series Sounds Violent, Awesome And Perfect For TV".CINEMABLEND.March 26, 2016.RetrievedOctober 24,2017.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 21, 2016)."From Bikers To Nuns With Guns; Kurt Sutter Hatches 'Sisters Of Sorrow' Comic Book Series".Deadline.RetrievedOctober 24,2017.
- ^Campbell, Scott (May 9, 2021)."Kurt Sutter Making Directorial Debut With Blumhouse-Produced 'This Beast' for Netflix".Collider.
- ^Massoto, Erick (November 29, 2021)."'Sons of Anarchy's Kurt Sutter to Make Western Series 'The Abandons' for Netflix ".Collider.
- ^"Kurt Sutter Explains His Cultural Influences".Vlulture.com.September 8, 2013.
- ^Silverman, Stephen M. (October 5, 2004)."Married Actress Katey Sagal Weds Writer - Marriage, Katey Sagal".People.com.RetrievedMay 31,2011.
- ^Katey Sagal Has Surrogate Daughter at 51By WENN.com | Thursday, January 11, 2007
- ^"Pop Guns".SutterInk. January 25, 2013.RetrievedOctober 14,2014.
- ^"Sons of Anarchy bike on auction".November 25, 2016.RetrievedNovember 18,2019.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1960 births
- Living people
- American male screenwriters
- American male television actors
- American male television writers
- American people of Norwegian descent
- American television directors
- American television writers
- Male actors from New Jersey
- Northern Illinois University alumni
- People from Los Feliz, Los Angeles
- People from Rahway, New Jersey
- Roselle Catholic High School alumni
- Rutgers University alumni
- American showrunners
- The Shield
- Sons of Anarchy
- Screenwriters from New Jersey
- Television producers from New Jersey
- Television show creators
- Actors from Union County, New Jersey