William M. Finkelstein is an American

People of the United States

The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...

 screenwriter

Screenwriter

Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...

, television producer

Television producer

The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...

, actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

 and television director

Television director

A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...

. He has worked as a writer and producer on Law & Order

Law & Order

Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...

, Brooklyn South

Brooklyn South

Brooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997-98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill...

, Murder One

Murder One (TV series)

Murder One is an American legal drama series that first aired on the ABC network in the United States in 1995. The series was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Channing Gibson.-Premise:...

, L.A. Law

L.A. Law

L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...

, Cop Rock

Cop Rock

Cop Rock is an American musical police drama series that aired on ABC in 1990. The show, a police drama presented as a musical, was co-created by Steven Bochco, who also served as executive producer...

and NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue is an American television police drama set in New York City, exploring the internal and external struggles of the fictional 15th precinct of Manhattan...

. He co-created Brooklyn South with frequent collaborators David Milch

David Milch

David S. Milch is an American writer and producer of television series. He has created several television shows, including NYPD Blue and Deadwood.-Biography:...

, Steven Bochco

Steven Bochco

Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....

 and Bill Clark

Bill Clark

Clark joined the New York City Police Department in 1969. He worked a special undercover assignment for two years before entering the Police Academy. In 1972 he earned his gold detective shield. On December 31, 1994, Clark retired from the Queens Homicide Detective Squad as a First Grade...

. He won the Emmy Award

Emmy Award

An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...

 for Outstanding Drama Series

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series

This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...

 for L.A. Law in both 1989 and 1990. He was nominated for the award again in 2001 for Law & Order. He Has been nominated 4 times for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

The Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series is awarded to one television episode each year at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Often regarded as the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual episode of television, the nominees and winners often reflect outstanding achievement in...

. He also recently penned the script for Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...

's Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a 2009 American crime drama film directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicolas Cage.-Overview:...

to largely positive acclaim.

Awards and nominations

Year	Awarding body	Category	Result	Work	Notes
2001	Emmy Award Emmy Award An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...	Outstanding Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series This page lists the winners and nominees for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, since its institution in 1951. The award is often cited as one of the "main awards" at the Emmys ceremonies, and has changed names many times in its history. It was first called Best Dramatic Show...	Nominated	Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...	Shared with fellow producers Dick Wolf Dick Wolf Richard Anthony "Dick" Wolf is an American producer, specializing in crime dramas such as Miami Vice and the Law & Order franchise. Throughout his career he has won several awards including an Emmy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Early life:Wolf was born in New York City, the son... , Barry Schindel, Jeffrey M. Hayes, Arthur Penn Arthur Penn Arthur Hiller Penn was an American film director and producer with a career as a theater director as well. Penn amassed a critically acclaimed body of work throughout the 1960s and 1970s.-Early years:... , Kathy McCormick, Lewis Gould, Richard Sweren, Arthur W. Forney, William N. Fordes, Lynn Mamet Lynn Mamet Lynn Mamet is an American theatre director, playwright, screenwriter, and television producer. Her latest and most notable work is as a producer and writer for Law & Order and The Unit... , Kati Johnston and Gary Karr Gary Karr Gary Karr b. November 20, 1941 in Los Angeles, California, is an American classical double bass virtuoso and teacher.- Biography :Although he comes from seven generations of bassists, he was not encouraged by them to go into music...
1999	Edgar Award Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...	Best Television Episode	Nominated	Brooklyn South Brooklyn South Brooklyn South is an American ensemble police drama series that aired on CBS for only one season during the 1997-98 television season. The series was co-created by Steven Bochco, Bill Clark, David Milch and William M. Finkelstein. Bochco is the creator of many well-known police dramas such as Hill... episode "Skel in a Cell"	Shared with co-writers Doug Palau Doug Palau Doug Palau is an American television writer and producer. He has worked on the ABC crime drama NYPD Blue and has been nominated for an Emmy Award and an Edgar Award.-Biography:... , Nicholas Wootton Nicholas Wootton Nicholas Wootton is an American Emmy Award-winning writer for and producer for television.He has written to various TV shows, including Chuck, Prison Break, Law & Order, NYPD Blue.- External links :... , Stephen Bochco, David Milch David Milch David S. Milch is an American writer and producer of television series. He has created several television shows, including NYPD Blue and Deadwood.-Biography:...  and Bill Clark Bill Clark Clark joined the New York City Police Department in 1969. He worked a special undercover assignment for two years before entering the Police Academy. In 1972 he earned his gold detective shield. On December 31, 1994, Clark retired from the Queens Homicide Detective Squad as a First Grade...
			Nominated	Brooklyn South episode "Fools Russian"	Shared with co-writers Scott A. Williams Scott A. Williams Scott A. Williams is an American television writer and producer. He has worked on the NBC crime dramas Brooklyn South and Third Watch. He worked as a co-executive producer and writer for the Fox procedural Bones from 2006 to 2009... , Matt Olmstead Matt Olmstead Matt Olmstead is an American writer and producer for television shows.-Early life:Olmstead graduated from California State University, Chico. He is an alumnus of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. He went to Hollywood in hopes of being a script writer. Olmstead eventually worked with an... , Allen Edwards, Stephen Bochco, David Milch and Bill Clark
1990	Emmy Award	Outstanding Drama Series	Won	L.A. Law L.A. Law L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...	Shared with fellow producers David E. Kelley David E. Kelley David Edward Kelley is an American television writer and producer, known as the creator of Picket Fences, Chicago Hope, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Boston Legal and Harry's Law, as well as several films. Kelley is one of the only screenwriters to have had a show created by him run on... , Rick Wallace Rick Wallace Rick Wallace is an American director and producer. He has worked on Smallville, L.A. Law, Doogie Howser, M.D., and The Closer, as well as many other programs.-Director:*The Closer*Women's Murder Club* Men in Trees... , Elodie Keene Elodie Keene Elodie Keene is an American film/television director, producer and editor. As a television director her credits include ER, NYPD Blue, The Practice, Ally McBeal, Charmed, Felicity, The Wire, House, M.D., The Closer, Nip/Tuck and among other series.She has won three Primetime Emmy Awards, two for... , Michael M. Robin Michael M. Robin Michael M. Robin is an American television producer and director, most notable for his work as an executive producer on the FX series, Nip/Tuck where he is also a frequent director. Robin is also currently an executive producer/director on the TNT series, The Closer... , Alice West, Robin Breech
		Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series The Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series is awarded to one television episode each year at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Often regarded as the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual episode of television, the nominees and winners often reflect outstanding achievement in...	Nominated	L.A. Law L.A. Law L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,... episode "Bang... Zoom... Zap"	Shared with co-writer David E. Kelley
	Edgar Award	Best Television Episode	Nominated	L.A. Law episode "Urine Trouble Now"	Shared with co-writers David E. Kelley, Michelle Gallery and Judith Parker
1989	Emmy Award	Outstanding Drama Series	Won	L.A. Law	Shared with fellow producers Steven Bochco, Rick Wallace, David E. Kelley, Scott D. Goldstein, Michelle Gallery, Judith Parker, Phillip M. Goldfarb and Alice West
		Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Nominated	L.A. Law episode "His Suit is Hirsute"	Shared with co-writers Steven Bochco, David E. Kelley and Michele Gallery
		Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Nominated	L.A. Law episode "Urine Trouble Now"	Shared with co-writers David E. Kelley, Michelle Gallery and Judith Parker
1987	Emmy Award	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Nominated	L.A. Law episode "Sidney, the Dead-Nosed Reindeer"

External links