Ken Sanzel is an American film and television director, producer, writer, and former law enforcement officer. Sanzel spent a decade as an officer of the New York City Transit Police Department before becoming a screenwriter in the 1990s.
Career Ken Sanzel worked as an officer of the New York City Transit Police Department for ten years. In 1990, Sanzel and his plainclothes partner encountered a pair of armed muggers on the IRT Subway train in Brooklyn attacking a couple with a baby. A shootout ensued in which one of the muggers fled while the other suffered a non-lethal gunshot wound and was quickly arrested. Sanzel took a shot in his left shoulder which left a bullet fragment embedded in his body. As a result of his actions Sanzel was awarded the New York City Police Department Combat Cross and Distinguished Duty Medal.
Sanzel began writing screenplays in the early 1990s in his off hours from his job. Sanzel managed to achieve success thanks to a childhood friend who became a film executive, which led to Savoy Pictures buying three of his screenplays and hiring him to write a fourth. Sanzel left his role as a detective for the Transit Police Department not long thereafter.
As Sanzel had a relationship with CBS, regularly selling them pilots, then chairperson Nina Tassler asked him to come on board the first season of Numb3rs to help improve the police dialogue. Sanzel began regularly collaborating with creators Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, which led to his becoming a regular contributor on the series, writing and directing a few episodes.
Following his work on Numb3rs, Sanzel was hired by CBS to serve as showrunner and executive producer for the first season of Blue Bloods. By August 2010, it was reported that Sanzel had exited Blue Bloods as showrunner due to creative differences with star Tom Selleck, with Sanzel favoring more compelling procedural storylines while Selleck favored softer character focused material.
In April 2012, it was reported Sanzel had signed an overall deal with Universal Television.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer1998 The Replacement Killers Scar City 2002Lone Hero 2015 Blunt Force Trauma 2019Kill Chain TBA Best Pancakes in the County
Television Year Title Creator Writer Executiveproducer Notes 1997 Lawless Wrote and produced the original pilot which went unused after Frank Lupo became showrunner. 1999 Dodge's City Also director, Unsold Pilot for MTV/UPN2005 Jonny Zero Numb3rs Also consulting producer, 104 episodes2010 Blue BloodsAlso showrunner, 6 episodesNomads Unsold Pilot for The CW2012 NYC 22 Ironside 2019 Reef Break
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