Bill D'Elia
American screenwriter, producer, director and actor
About Bill D'Elia
Born 1953. Bill D'Elia is an American screenwriter, film producer, film director, executive producer and television producer.
William D'Elia is an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor.
Life D'Elia grew up in Queens, New York City, and is a second generation Italian-American. He graduated from Ithaca College, and earned a master's degree in communication arts from William Paterson University in 1972.
D'Elia has two sons with his wife, Ellie Dombroski: actor and comedian Chris D'Elia, and filmmaker Matt D'Elia.
Career In the 1980s, D'Elia was a director of television commercials. In 1989, he independently produced and directed the film The Feud, based on the 1983 novel by Thomas Berger. The film attracted the attention of Steven Bochco, who hired D'Elia to direct an episode of Doogie Howser, M.D.. D'Elia went on to direct episodes of numerous other television series including Northern Exposure, Glee, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Legal, and The West Wing. D'Elia was an executive producer and a director of Chicago Hope, Boston Legal, Ally McBeal, Harry's Law, Monday Mornings, The Crazy Ones (all collaborations with David E. Kelley), and the Shonda Rhimes series How To Get Away With Murder. He also co-created the series Judging Amy. He is currently an executive producer and a director for the Disney+ series Big Shot starring John Stamos.
Awards D'Elia has been nominated for a total of eight Emmy Awards – four as director and four as executive producer: Chicago Hope (two for producing, one for directing); one for directing Ally McBeal; and two each for producing and directing Boston Legal.
Filmography Film Year Title Functioned as Notes Director Producer Writer 1989 The Feud 1995 Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story Television film 1995 In the Name of Love: A Texas Tragedy Television film 1996 The Tomorrow Man Television film 2011 American Animal
Television
As actor Film Year Title Role Notes 2011My Date with Drew Himself Documentary
Television
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Important facts
Family & relationships
People in Bill D'Elia's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Bill D'Elia?
American screenwriter, producer, director and actor
When was Bill D'Elia born?
Bill D'Elia was born in 1953 in Queens.
What is Bill D'Elia's occupation?
Bill D'Elia is a screenwriter, film producer, film director, executive producer and television producer.
What nationality is Bill D'Elia?
Bill D'Elia is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill D'Elia. https://biography.guide/bill-d-elia/
MLA: "Bill D'Elia." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-d-elia/.
Chicago: "Bill D'Elia." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-d-elia/.
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