(Creator and Executive Producer of COPS)
A director, writer, and producer of television and film, John Langley is best known as the creator and executive producer of the long-running, critically acclaimed reality television show COPS. With 20 seasons and over 700 episodes aired, the success of COPS has certified Langley’s place in television history. A true pioneer of the reality television phenomenon, John Langley has established himself as one of the premiere visionaries in the entertainment world and has since moved on to many various projects for both television and film. He is currently producing a two hour block of primetime network television for MyNetworkTV with son Morgan Langley, which includes the successful series JAIL and STREET PATROL. With COPS on Fox Saturday nights, Langley Productions now has three hours of primetime network programming. And 2009 aims to be the biggest year ever for Langley with the release of his highly-anticipated feature film BROOKLYN’S FINEST. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day”), stars Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Ellen Barkin and is slated for release in early 2009. In addition, later this year, Langley will begin production on feature film BANGKOK 8 and is producing the upcoming MyNetwork reality improv comedy series currently titled “The Tony Rock Project.”
Perhaps Langley’s most incredible innovation was the creation of the "video verite" signature style of the award-winning COPS. The camera technique notably influenced TV advertising and news reporting, not to mention other network and syndicated programming. COPShas broken records for primetime network television making it one of the longest running series in TV history. Langley has received numerous recognitions for the series, including a 2008 Peabody Award nomination, the American Television Awardand four Emmy nominations. In addition, he received the Cine Golden Eagle award and was the Houston International Film Festival winner for the documentary COCAINE BLUES. He serves as a Trustee of the International Documentary Association (IDA) and is a Board Member of the Ojai Film Festival – serving as Chair for its Blue Ribbon Jury for documentary films.
Langley’s additional credits include numerous original series including VIDEO JUSTICE and ANATOMY OF A CRIME for CourtTV, specials for network, cable and first-run syndication, including AMERICAN VICE: THE DOPING OF A NATION, featuring three “live” drug busts across the United States during primetime viewing, WHO MURDERED JFK?, an examination of the John F. Kennedy assassination and TERRORISM: TARGET USA, an early warning of the coming problems with terrorism in the United States and across the world. These programs set the tone for a series of crime-related specials which quickly followed, including THE NEW MAFIA, INNOCENCE LOST and MURDER: LIVE FROM DEATH ROW, all ranking in the top-ten syndicated programs of all time. Other Langley credits include specials SONS OF SCARFACE, DEVIL WORSHIP, MODERN LOVE, INSIDE THE KGB (NBC) and NIGHT PROWLERS (CBS). He also produced two seasons of the prime-time reality series CODE 3 for FOX, the series COP FILES, and POLICE BEAT.
In 1995, Langley Films was established to create and produce independent theatrical motion pictures. Since then, Langley has produced and directed various films including DOGWATCH, starring Sam Elliott, Esai Morales and Paul Sorvino ,TIPTOES, a quirky drama starring Matthew McConaughey, Kate Beckinsale, Gary Oldman and Patricia Arquette and WILDSIDE, an erotic thriller starring Anne Heche, Christopher Walken and Joan Chen. Other features developed produced by Langley Films include REALITY CHECK, the true crime story, VAMPIRE CLAN, SEARCH & DESTROY with Martin Scorcese as executive producer, GUNFIGHTER’S MOON and DEADLY SINS, a psychological thriller starring David Keith and Alyssa Milano.