Ilene Chaiken

Ilene Chaiken Headshot

Producer • Director • Writer

Birth Date: June 30, 1957

Age: 67 years old

Birth Place: Elkins Park, Pennsylvania

Co-creator of the critically lauded lesbian-themed drama "The L Word," Ilene Chaiken began her career as an agent trainee at Creative Artists Agency, also known as CAA. From there she wrangled a job as an executive for Aaron Spelling and Quincy Jones Entertainment. This led to her first television credit as a supervising executive on the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," which starred up-and-coming actor and rapper Will Smith. By the show's second season, Chaiken had stepped up to coordinating producer. In 1996, Chaiken's writing drew notice when "Barb Wire," the Pamela Anderson science-fiction action movie, hit theaters. Chaiken earned a story credit on the screenplay, and went on to write a couple of made-for-TV movies: "Dirty Pictures," and "Damaged Care."

In 2004, "The L Word" debuted to controversy and acclaim. Alongside Michele Abbott and Kathy Greenberg, Chaiken developed the series, which centers on a group of women living in Los Angeles. The show's frank portrayal of Sapphic sexuality caused controversy that helped contribute to the show's success. Chaiken has gone on to serve as writer, director, and producer on the series.

Credits

Law & Order: Organized CrimeStream

Creator
Series
2021

Law & Order: Organized CrimeStream

Executive Producer
Series
2021

Law & Order: Organized CrimeStream

Writer
Series
2021

The L Word: Generation QStream

Executive Producer
Series
2019

Queering the Script

Actor
Movie
2019

Entertainment Weekly Cast Reunions

Guest
Show
2018

The Handmaid's TaleStream

Executive Producer
Series
2017
83%

Wrestling: WWE Raw

Actor
Screenplay
Show
2017

Empire Season 2: Game On

Host
Show
2015

EmpireStream

Executive Producer
Series
2015
84%

Inside Empire

Guest
Show
2014

L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin

Producer
Show
2014

Empire: Extras

Actor
Show
2014

Black Box

Executive Producer
Show
2014

Black Box

Writer
Show
2014

L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin

Executive Producer
Movie
2014

The Real L Word

Screenwriter
Show
2010

The L WordStream

Creator
Series
2004
57%

The L WordStream

Executive Producer
Series
2004
57%

Damaged Care

Writer
Movie
2002

Dirty Pictures

Screenwriter
Movie
2000

Dirty Pictures

Writer
Movie
2000

Barb Wire

Screenwriter
Movie
1996

Satisfaction

Associate Producer
Movie
1988
40%

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