Kevin COWLEY

Bruno Heller, born January 13, 1960, is a British television creator, screenwriter, producer, and director. His father was a German Jewish emigre and screenwriter, and his mother was an English Quaker involved in political activism. After working as a union soundman in England during the 1980s, Heller moved to New York and later Los Angeles, where he began his television career.

His breakthrough came with the HBO series *Rome*, which he co-created and executive produced. He went on to create the CBS series *The Mentalist*, the Fox series *Gotham* (based on Batman lore), and co-create the prequel *Pennyworth*. Heller also had a legal drama project sold to CBS that did not go to series. He is married to Miranda Cowley Heller, a bestselling author and former HBO executive, and they have two children.

Bruno Heller began his career in the 1980s as a union soundman in England. During this period, he worked on films related to the Miners' Strike, an experience that led him to collaborate with Portuguese director Eduardo Guedes. This collaboration resulted in Heller's first writing credit for the 1994 film *pax*. Following his work in England, Heller relocated to New York, where he met his wife, Miranda Cowley. After five years, he moved his family to Los Angeles, contributing to various television dramas, including projects for the USA Network like *Touching Evil* and *The Huntress*.

Heller achieved significant recognition for co-creating the HBO series *Rome*, serving as executive producer and head writer for eleven episodes. The series depicted the lives of historical figures alongside two common Roman soldiers. Following *Rome*'s cancellation, Heller developed *The Mentalist* for CBS, which aired for seven seasons and earned awards. His success continued with the creation of *Gotham* for Fox, a series exploring the early days of James Gordon and Batman villains. He also co-created *Pennyworth*, a prequel focusing on Alfred Pennyworth's origins in an alternate 1960s England, drawing from Batman and *V for Vendetta* franchises.