Visual & Media Arts Faculty

Kevin Bright

Executive Artist-In-Residence (2006)
B.A. Emerson College

As one of the three original executive producers behind the highest-rated comedy on television— NBC's Friends—Kevin S. Bright (along with creators and fellow executive producers Marta Kauffman and David Crane) has gained recognition as one of TV's most talented producers. After graduating from Emerson College magna cum laude in 1976, he began his career at the Joseph Cates Company, where he later produced the first six David Copperfield magic specials. He also produced specials starring Johnny Cash, Bill Cosby, and George Burns.

After moving to Los Angeles, Mr. Bright produced the CableACE Award-winning series The History of White People in America, as well as comedy specials starring Robin Williams, Martin Mull, and Harry Shearer, In 1989, he received an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series as supervising producer on the FOX hit In Living Color. In that same year, Mr. Bright began his relationship with Kauffman and Crane as executive producer on the cable series Dream On. In 1990, he also served as executive producer of the Ron Reagan Show.

In 1993, Mr. Bright entered a partnership with Kauffman and Crane to and began a development deal with Warner Bros., where the trio produced the comedy series Friends, Veronica's Closet, Jesse, and Family Album. During its 1994–2004 run, Friends received 44 Emmy Award nominations, winning for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2002. Mr. Bright directed more than 50 episodes of Friends, including the season finale of each year.

Other directing credits include numerous pilots, along with episodes of Veronica's Closet, Jesse, and Dream On. In 2004, after the completion of Friends, Bright signed on as executive producer of the spin-off Joey, directing the pilot and nine episodes. During the second season of Joey, Bright directed 10 episodes, including the final episode. Bright is president of Bright-san Productions, Inc. and lives in Los Angeles.