Howard
Gordon

As a writer and crafter of story arcs in early seasons and when he stepped into the showrunner seat for the show’s final seasons and subsequent follow-ups, Gordon has given longevity to Fox’s hit series “24.” He also co-created “Homeland,” now in its seventh season on Showtime, and FX’s “Tyrant,” which ended after three seasons. 

The prolific showrunner-producer has a multi-year pact with 20th Century Fox, which has been his home since he began working on “The X-Files” in the early 1990s.

Gordon spoke often about “24’s” political overtones. “Drama on television is a great way to try to work through ideas,” Gordon told Variety in 2015. “What’s our response to this rising threat?”

The Princeton graduate broke into the TV business writing for “Spenser for Hire” and the original “Beauty and the Beast.” He had stints on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and spin-off “Angel.” He returned to Fox for follow-up series “24: Legacy,” premiering in February and introducing a new lead character to the show’s ticking clock format. He’s also penned two novels, “Gideon’s War” and “Hard Target.”

“I’ve learned that you can’t do everything,” Gordon told Variety in 2014 about serving as showrunner. “At some point, you have to trust other people. I probably held on too tightly in the early part of my career thinking I was the only one who could do anything. But I also learned you have to hire well.”