Kessler wrote and produced the second and third seasons of
HBO's
The Sopranos,
Michael Mann's
Robbery Homicide Division and the first season of
NBC's
Providence. Kessler began his career as a playwright working with
David Rabe, moving into film and television when
Spike Lee hired him as a screenwriter. Kessler is credited with co-writing (with David Chase) the Sopranos season 2 finale
Funhouse -- widely lauded as one of the best episodes of the series. Despite his success on
The Sopranos, HBO did not retain Kessler beyond season 3, an experience Kessler described as "painful and formative." He also has a small role in
Damages as Perry the Doorman. In 2015, his
Kyle Chandler-led
Netflix series
Bloodline premiered. In 2016 it was cancelled, and ended its run after its third season in 2017. ==Education==