Perry Lawrence Chafe (born February 9, 1969) is a Canadian television writer, producer, and bestselling author, best known for co-creating the television series Republic of Doyle and Saint-Pierre.
Early life Perry Chafe was born and raised in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. He received a bachelor of arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1992.
Career In 2009, Chafe co-founded Take the Shot Productions, a film and television-based production company. Chafe was the co-showrunner and head writer for the TV series Republic of Doyle, a show he created with Allan Hawco and Malcolm MacRury.Etan Vlessing, "McGuinley takes lead in Doyle". Playback, July 8, 2009.
Chafe was also an executive producer and writer for the Netflix and Discovery Canada series Frontier, starring Jason Momoa."Republic of Doyle creators to film new show on Avalon, western Newfoundland". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, April 18, 2015. In addition, Chafe was an executive producer and writer for Caught, a CBC limited series based on Lisa Moore's award-winning novel of the same name.
In 2021, Chafe began working as a writer and producer on the CBC series Son of a Critch, based on the best-selling memoir from Mark Critch. The show stars Malcolm McDowell, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin, and Mark Critch.
Chafe is the partner of Maureen Ennis of the Juno and SOCAN award winning musical group The Ennis Sisters,Tara Bradbury, "'Son of a Critch' screenwriter and novelist Perry Chafe answers 20 Questions". SaltWire Network, May 29, 2023. with whom he has cowritten songs including "Shine Your Light" which was part of a campaign to promote mental health and wellness for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. The duo was also commissioned to write the song "Dream On" for the internationally acclaimed Lady Cove Women's Choir in 2021, as well as the song "Forever Far From Home" for a special Come Home Year Remembrance Day ceremony in 2022.
In May 2023, Chafe released his debut novel, Closer By Sea, published by Scribner Canada and Simon & Schuster. The novel became an instant national bestseller. A German-language edition, titled Sommer auf Perigo Island, is scheduled for publication in February 2026 by Mare Verlag in Germany.
On May 23, 2024, CBC announced a 10-episode order for Saint-Pierre, an hour-long procedural series co-created by Chafe. The series premiered as part of CBC's 2025 winter lineup. Chafe served as executive producer and senior writer. Filming on the second season wrapped in November 2025.
Filming took place in the summer of 2025 on an untitled six-part Netflix horror series set in Newfoundland and centered on a mysterious sea creature. The series was created by Jesse McKeown, with Chafe serving as a senior writer and co-executive producer.
Film and television
Year Title Role Notes 2010–2014 Republic of Doyle Co-creator, executive producer, writer Six seasons 2016–2018 Frontier Executive producer, writer Three seasons 2018 Caught Executive producer, writer One season 2022– Son of a Critch Executive producer, writer Five Seasons 2024– Saint-Pierre Co-creator, executive producer, writer Two seasons 2026 Below Senior writer, co-executive producer Six-part series
Novels
Year Title Publisher 2023 Closer By Sea Scribner Canada / Simon & Schuster 2026 Sommer auf Perigo Island German-language edition
Awards
Award Year Category Film/TV Show Result Ref Canadian Screen Awards 2019 Best Limited Series or Program Caught Brent Furdyk, "The Winners: Canadian Screen Awards Presented For Creative Fiction Storytelling". ET Canada, March 27, 2019.2023Cogeco Audience Choice Award Son of a Critch 2024Best Comedy SeriesCogeco Audience Choice Award
References
External links