David Chase

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David DeCesare
Pseudonym:David Chase
Born: August 22 1945 (1945-08-22) (age 63)
Flag of United States Mount Vernon, NY, USA
Occupation:Screenwriter
Director
Producer
Nationality:American
Spouse:Denise Kelly
Children:Michele DeCesare

David Chase (born David DeCesare—although some sources list his birth name as David Del Cesare—August 22, 1945) is an American television writer, director and producer. After working as a writer and producer on the television series The Rockford Files and Northern Exposure, he gained mainstream recognition for creating the HBO series The Sopranos. Centering on a modern Mafia family living in New Jersey, the show has roots in Chase's own personal life, and debuted in 1999 to almost instant acclaim.

Table of contents

Early life

An only child, David Chase was born to Henry and Norma Chase in Mount Vernon, New York. He grew up in a small garden apartment in Clifton, New Jersey.[1] Chase has stated that he had many issues with his parents—who he feels were overbearing—as a youth.[1] He grew up watching matinee crime films and was well-known as a creative storyteller during his childhood.[1] Chase claims his father was an angry man who belittled him constantly as a child and his mother was a "passive-aggressive drama queen" and "a nervous woman who dominated any situation she was in by being so needy and always on the verge of hysteria. One of his characters on the HBO original series The Sopranos, Livia Soprano is based on his own mother. You walked on eggshells."[1] Chase struggled with depression as a teenager. He graduated from high school in 1964 and attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where his depression worsened.[1] "I slept 18 hours a day," Chase later stated.[1] He described his problems as "what's come to be known as normal, nagging, clinical depression. It was awful."[1] He also worked as drummer during this period, and held aspirations of being a professional musician.[1] After two years, he transferred to New York University (NYU), where he announced his decision to pursue a career in film, a decision which was not well received by his parents.

Career

Before creating and developing The Sopranos, Chase produced episodes of Northern Exposure and The Rockford Files, among other series. He also worked as a writer while on The Rockford Files—a show which he worked on in various capacities for more than four years.[1] He won several Emmys, including one for a television movie story of runaway he scripted in 1980.[1] After The Rockford Files run ended the same year, Chase worked in numerous television jobs until he wound up in charge of Northern Exposure in 1993.[1] Chase worked in relative anonymity before The Sopranos debuted.[1] Inspired as a youth by the film The Public Enemy,[1] Chase created the critically and commercially successful show by drawing heavily on his own personal life; the character of Livia Soprano is modelled after his own mother.[1] In a recent interview Chase stated that he experienced frustration for a long period with being unable to break out of the TV genre and into film over this time.[1] In 2005, Chase received a Special Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his entire body of work.

His first original created series was Almost Grown in 1988, with Eve Gordon and Timothy Daly.[1] Although the one hour series was well received by critics,[1] only 10 episodes aired from November 1988 to February 1989.[1]

Personal life

After graduating from NYU in 1968 Chase moved to California and married his high school sweetheart Denise Kelly.[1] Their daughter Michele DeCesare plays the character Hunter Scangarelo on The Sopranos.

The Sopranos

Chase has written or co-written 25 episodes of The Sopranos. He is also the show's creator, showrunner and executive producer and has developed every major storyline of the show. He also directed the pilot episode and the series finale.

Written

Directed

References

External links


  The Sopranos
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Characters: Tony • Dr. Melfi • Carmela • Christopher • Uncle Junior • Meadow • A.J. • Janice • Silvio • Paulie Walnuts • Bobby "Bacala" • Johnny Sack • Vito • Adriana • Furio • Tony B. • Ralph • Big Pussy • Livia • Artie • Jackie Jr. • Rosalie • Phil • Hesh • Richie • Carmine • Little Carmine • Patsy • Benny • Charmaine • Little Paulie • Eugene • Carlo • Agent Harris • Kelli • Larry Boy • Feech • Walden • Mikey • Gigi •Butch • Anthony • Johnny Boy • Dante •
Fictional universe: DiMeo crime family • Lupertazzi crime family • FBI • Bada Bing • Satriale's Pork Store • Cleaver • Death List • Timeline • Family Tree
Production: Episode List • Writers & Directors • David Chase • Music • Awards
Persondata
NAME DeCesare, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Chase, David; Del Cesare, David
SHORT DESCRIPTION Screenwriter, Director, Producer
DATE OF BIRTH August 22, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH Mount Vernon, NY, USA
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Retrieved from "http://wiki.thesopranos.com/David_Chase"
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