Edward Kitsis Bio
Edward Lawrence Kitsis (born February 4, 1971) is an American screenwriter and television producer best known for his collaborative work with writing partner Adam Horowitz on the acclaimed ABC drama series Lost and the fantasy drama Once Upon a Time. A Minneapolis native, Kitsis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in radio, television, and film from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he forged a partnership with Horowitz that would define his career. He has contributed to numerous Disney projects, including writing Tron: Legacy, and maintains a reputation for crafting intricate, mythology-driven narratives that have earned him widespread recognition in the television industry.
Early Life and Background
Edward Lawrence Kitsis was born on February 4, 1971, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Arlene and Tybe Kitsis. He grew up in a Jewish American household in the North Star State. From an early age, Kitsis developed a passion for storytelling and the craft of filmmaking, though his specific early influences are not widely documented. His upbringing in Minneapolis provided a foundation that would later support his ambitions in the entertainment industry.
Kitsis pursued higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in radio, television, and film. It was during his time at the university that he met Adam Horowitz in an Introduction to Film class. This encounter marked the beginning of one of television’s most enduring writing partnerships, as the two discovered shared creative interests and complementary storytelling sensibilities that would serve them throughout their careers.
Path to Writer
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1993, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz made the decision to relocate together to Los Angeles, California, to pursue opportunities in the competitive entertainment industry. The two young writers initially took on entry-level positions as assistants and messengers, performing the grunt work that many aspiring writers endure before breaking into the business. These formative experiences provided them with insight into Hollywood operations while they honed their craft and sought their first major writing opportunities.
Their persistence paid off when they landed their first writing job on the remake of the television series Fantasy Island. Although the show was canceled after only 13 episodes, the experience proved valuable as Kitsis and Horowitz continued to build their credits. They subsequently wrote for other television series, including Felicity and Popular, accumulating experience across different genres and formats. These early assignments sharpened their storytelling abilities and prepared them for the breakthrough opportunity that awaited.
Edward Kitsis Career
Early Career (2004–2005)
Edward Kitsis joined the writing staff of Lost during the first season in 2005, arriving midway through the show’s inaugural run as part of a writer-producer team with Adam Horowitz. Their addition to the series proved significant from the start, as they brought a fresh perspective to the ensemble drama set on a mysterious island after a plane crash. Their collaborative approach to storytelling aligned perfectly with the complex, riddle-driven narrative that Lost was establishing as its signature style.
During their early years on Lost, Kitsis and Horowitz quickly rose through the production ranks. They were promoted to supervising producers for the second season in fall 2005, reflecting the importance of their contributions to the show’s development. Their writing work on the first and second seasons earned them and the writing staff the prestigious Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2006 ceremony. This early recognition validated their approach and established them as rising talents in the industry.
Breakthrough (2006–2015)
Kitsis and Horowitz continued their ascent on Lost, earning promotions to co-executive producers for the third season during the 2006-2007 television season. Their influence on the series grew as they contributed to its increasingly complex mythology and character development. The writing staff received additional recognition when they were nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2009 ceremony for their work on the fourth season. This continued nomination demonstrated the sustained quality of their writing contributions.
In 2009, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz were promoted to executive producers for the fifth season of Lost, cementing their leadership position within the show’s creative team. Their work on the fifth season earned the writing staff another WGA Award nomination for Best Dramatic Series in February 2010. Throughout the sixth and final season in 2010, Kitsis and Horowitz remained in their executive producer roles while continuing to contribute as regular writers. Their partnership proved instrumental in bringing Lost to a conclusion that satisfied long-term viewers. During Lost’s run, both Kitsis and Horowitz signed an overall deal with ABC Studios in 2007, solidifying their relationship with the network.
Notable Works and Milestones
Beyond Lost, Edward Kitsis expanded his portfolio with significant projects. He co-wrote the screenplay for Tron: Legacy, the 2010 sequel to the 1982 cult classic Tron, collaborating once again with Adam Horowitz on the project. He also worked on the book for Universal Pictures’ planned film adaptation of Ouija Board. Perhaps most notably, Kitsis and Horowitz created the fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time, which premiered on ABC on October 23, 2011. The show introduced a town populated by fairytale characters unaware of their true identities, blending classic stories with modern storytelling. The concept for Once Upon a Time had originated seven years before the show premiered, and Kitsis and Horowitz had waited until Lost concluded before pursuing the project.
The success of Once Upon a Time led to additional ventures. Kitsis co-created the spin-off series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, which aired on ABC starting October 10, 2013. The spin-off focused on Alice’s quest to find her true love in a post-cursed Wonderland. The creative team behind the project included Adam Horowitz, Zack Estrin, and Jane Espenson. Kitsis and Horowitz continued their Disney relationship by co-creating and co-writing a Beauty and the Beast miniseries for Disney+, working alongside Josh Gad. This project serves as a prequel to Disney’s 2017 live-action remake of the 1991 animated classic. In December 2019, they announced a new television project titled Epic, focusing on characters from fairy tales and Disney properties. Although ABC picked up the pilot in January 2021, the project was dropped in August of that same year.
Edward Kitsis Award Nominations
Edward Kitsis has received multiple award nominations throughout his career, particularly for his work on Lost. He has been nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series on three separate occasions: for the fourth season in 2009, for the fifth season in 2010, and was part of the writing staff nominated for seasons one and two in 2006, though that nomination resulted in a win. These nominations reflect the critical recognition his writing contributions received within the industry.
Edward Kitsis Awards Won
Edward Kitsis achieved a significant early career milestone when he and the Lost writing staff won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Dramatic Series at the February 2006 ceremony. This honor recognized their outstanding work on the first and second seasons of Lost, establishing them as major contributors to one of the most acclaimed dramas in television history. The award validated their collaborative approach to complex, serialized storytelling.
Edward Kitsis Family
Edward Kitsis was born to Arlene and Tybe Kitsis, who raised him in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father Tybe Kitsis and mother Arlene Kitsis provided the foundation for his upbringing in the Jewish American community of the North Star State. Information about his siblings, if any, is not widely available in public sources. His parents’ support and his formative experiences in Minneapolis contributed to the values and drive that would later carry him through his career in Hollywood.
Personal Life
Edward Kitsis married Jennifer Susman in 2003. Their engagement was announced in May 2002, and the couple wed on March 29, 2003, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Jennifer Susman graduated from the University of Texas in 1999 with a degree in television and film, bringing her own background in the entertainment industry to the marriage. The couple has maintained their relationship largely out of the public eye, with Kitsis rarely discussing his personal life in interviews. No children have been publicly reported as of the available information.