Kevin Murphy | |
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Born | River Forest, Illinois, U.S. | November 3, 1956
Nationality | American |
Education | Drew University |
Occupations |
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Notable work |
Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American screenwriter, television producer, lyricist and composer. He wrote the book and lyrics of the musical Reefer Madness , as well as its television adaptation. For television, he has worked as a writer and producer for many series, most notably Desperate Housewives . He also wrote the stage musical Heathers: The Musical .
Murphy's television career began as a writer for the family sitcom Big Brother Jake . He went on to write for the animated series Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog , Sabrina: The Animated Series and Phantom Investigators ; the science fiction-themed family programs Weird Science , Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show and So Weird ; the action series Martial Law ; the romantic comedy-dramas Jack & Jill and Ed ; and the family dramas Get Real and The O'Keefes . From its premiere in 2004 to 2007, he worked as head writer and co-executive producer for the hit comedy-drama Desperate Housewives. [1] Desperate Housewives was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2005, when Murphy was its head writer. [1]
In 2007, Murphy wrote and produced an original TV movie titled Nobody. In the same year, he worked as a writer and co-executive producer for the supernatural-themed comedy-drama Reaper . He also contributed original songs to Nobody and Reaper. In 2008, Murphy created the short-lived comedy-drama Valentine . In October 2009, Murphy joined the staff of the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica . [2] A month later, he became the showrunner for the Syfy drama, taking over from Jane Espenson. [3]
As of 2009, Murphy has been working with Tom Welling to develop the September 2010 series Hellcats television series for The CW, based on the book Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders by Kate Torgovnick. [2] He was also working on a drama titled Velvet Hammer for USA Network. [2]
Murphy was the producer for the Syfy series Defiance . [4]
From 2017 to 2019, he was the showrunner and writer of The Son on AMC, which ran for two seasons. [5]
Murphy wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the book for the musical Reefer Madness . It was his third collaboration with writer-composer Dan Studney, but the first to be professionally produced. For the off-Broadway production of Reefer Madness, Murphy was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Outstanding Lyrics". [1] In 2005, Murphy and Studney adapted their stage musical for television for Showtime. The song "Mary Jane/Mary Lane", which they composed for the television adaptation, won an Emmy Award for Music and Lyrics. [1]
In 2009, Murphy began developing a musical adaptation of the 1988 film Heathers . [2] Murphy wrote the book and lyrics, and the score was written by Laurence O'Keefe, composer of Legally Blonde: The Musical . [6] Three staged readings of Heathers: The Musical took place, with Kristen Bell in the starring role; the creators hoped for a regional production in 2010, to be followed by a Broadway run in 2011. [2] [6] In 2013, the musical began a run September 21 at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles. [7] The musical then began an Off-Broadway run in March 2014 and closed in August 2014. The musical later had a run at The Other Palace in London from June 2018 to August 2018, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a run from September 2018 to November 2018.
Murphy is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. [1]