Episode 249 - Kurt Sutter

Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine

Kurt Sutter is a storyteller. That obligation has manifested into writing, producing, directing,

and acting. Born and raised in the homogenous suburbs of Jersey, his home positioned

between the Mafia-stronghold neighborhoods to the west and Rahway State Prison to the

east. Sutter would struggle with those conflicting influences -- absolute authority and

unbridled rebellion -- for most of his life.

After graduating from Rutgers University with a BA in Mass Media & Film, Kurt spent

several years as an actor in NYC, performing in off-off-Broadway theatres, meatpacking

warehouses, and NYPD holding cells. His theatre work eventually led to teaching and

directing and in the mid-nineties he joined the faculty of The Gately-Poole Acting Studio on

Theatre Row, teaching the Sanford Meisner Technique and directing productions at The

Nat Horne Theatre.

In the late 90’s Kurt was awarded an MFA Fellowship to attend Northern Illinois University.

In Chicago, his exposure to the dramatic masters -- Strindberg, O'Neill, Genet -- inspired

Sutter, and he began writing unproducible plays and cultivating ideas for the screen. After

graduating with a Master of Fine Arts, Kurt moved to Los Angeles where he began his

writing career.

In 2001, he landed his first gig on FX's The Shield. Starting as a staff writer, he finished the

last two seasons as an Executive Producer. Then, in 2008, Kurt created the critically

acclaimed drama series Sons of Anarchy for FX. Its seven-year run is the most successful

episodic series in the history of the network. In 2014, he followed up SOA with the

medieval drama series, The Bastard Executioner. Then, co-created the next chapter of the

Sons saga, Mayans MC. Mayans is entering its third season on FX. Kurt also ventured into

reality programming with a documentary series on the Discovery Channel, Kurt Sutter’s

Outlaw Empires.

In 2015, Sutter made his feature writing debut with Southpaw starring Jake Gyllenhaal and

directed by Antoine Fuqua.

A collaboration with award-winning BOOM! Studios produced several successful comic

books for Sutter. Including Sons of Anarchy and two originals -- Lucas Stand, about a

drug-addicted vet turned hit man for Hell. And Sisters of Sorrow, where victims of abuse

spin their pain and rage into vengeance through the cover of vigilante nuns. The next four

issues of Sisters will be on shelves in 2021.

As an actor, Kurt had recurring roles on The Shield and Sons of Anarchy. Playing an

Armenian hitman with a foot fetish and an incarcerated outlaw with a proclivity for ironic,

self-mutilation. Chaos Walking, directed by Doug Liman, is Sutter’s first feature film role.

Awards/Nominations

Peabody Award (The Shield)

Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics:

“Come Join the Murder” (SOA)

Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics:

“Day is Gone” (SOA)

Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Music:

“This Life” (SOA)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices