David Guy Flebotte (October 12, 1959 – July 8, 2025) was an American television producer and writer.

Background

Flebotte was born in Hanson, Massachusetts, on October 12, 1959. He attended Emerson College, where a professor encouraged him to take up writing. He briefly did stand-up comedy, performing at open mics at Boston comedy clubs.

Career

Flebotte produced and wrote for television programs including I'm Dying Up Here, Good Advice, Ellen, Just Before I Go, Commando Nanny[fr], Taxi 0-22, Masters of Sex, 8 Simple Rules, Will & Grace, The Sopranos, Desperate Housewives, Suddenly Susan, Sherri, Dirt, Raising Hope, State of Mind, Chance, George Lopez, The 5 Mrs. Buchanans, Boardwalk Empire, The Geena Davis Show and The Bernie Mac Show. His final credit was the series Tulsa King, producing and writing episodes in the show's first and second seasons.

As a hockey fan and Boston Bruins supporter, Flebotte wrote a column for the first chapter of the 2009 book Puck Funnies: Hockey Humor, Hilarity & Hi-Jinx, published by The Hockey News.

In 1999, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Best Animated Program for his work on the television program The PJs. His nomination was shared with Steve Tompkins, Larry Wilmore, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Tony Krantz, Eddie Murphy, Will Vinton, Tom Turpin, Bill Freiberger, Mary Sandell, David Bleiman Ichioka, Michael Price, J. Michael Wendel, Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Les Firestein, Donald R. Beck and Mark Gustafson. He was nominated twice –in 2012 and 2013– for a WGA Award for his work on Boardwalk Empire.

Personal life and death

Flebotte was married to Sandra Lindqvist from 2012 and had two children.

Flebotte was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was a child, and was not expected to survive to adulthood. In the late 1990s, he underwent a double lung transplant. He died from cystic fibrosis at a hospital in Missoula, Montana, on July 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

Filmography

Flebotte worked extensively in television as a writer and producer, contributing to both comedies and dramas across major networks and streaming platforms. He was best known for creating the Showtime series I'm Dying Up Here and producing shows such as Desperate Housewives, Boardwalk Empire, and Tulsa King.

Film

Year(s)TitleRole(s)Notes
2014Just Before I GoWriter
2014BacklashCo-writerShort film

Television

Year(s)TitleRole(s)Notes
2022–2024Tulsa KingCo-executive producer, writer14 episodes (producer), 4 episodes (writer)
2017–2018I'm Dying Up HereCreator, executive producer, writer26 episodes total, wrote 6 episodes
2017ChanceWriter1 episode
2016Brothers in AtlantaExecutive producerTV movie
2014–2015Masters of SexCo-executive producer, writer24 episodes (producer), 4 episodes (writer)
2012–2014Raising HopeConsulting producer24 episodes
2011–2013Boardwalk EmpireWriter3 episodes
2008–2012Desperate HousewivesCo-executive producer, consulting producer, writer70 episodes (co-exec), 23 episodes (consulting), 7 episodes (writer)
2009SherriCreator, executive producer, writer15 episodes
2007–2008DirtCo-executive producer, writer7 episodes (producer), 3 episodes (writer)
2007Men in TreesConsulting producer5 episodes
2007State of MindWriter1 episode
2004–2005Will & GraceExecutive producer, writer14 episodes (producer), 1 episode (writer)
2004Commando Nanny[fr]Executive producerUnaired
2003–20048 Simple RulesConsulting producer, writer37 episodes (producer), 3 episodes (writer)
2002–2003The Bernie Mac ShowCo-executive producer, writer10 episodes (producer), 2 episodes (writer)
2002The SopranosTeleplay writerEpisode: "Watching Too Much Television"
2002George LopezConsulting producer3 episodes
2000–2001The Geena Davis ShowExecutive producer, writer10 episodes (producer), 1 episode (writer)
1999–2000The PJsSupervising/co-executive producer, writer3 episodes (writer), 3 episodes (producer)
1999–2000Suddenly SusanConsulting producer, writer13 episodes (producer), 1 episode (writer)
1995–1997EllenCo-producer, executive story editor, writer10 episodes (producer), 1 episode (editor), 7 episodes (writer)
1994–1995The 5 Mrs. BuchanansStory editor, writer3 episodes (editor), 2 episodes (writer)
1994Good AdviceWriter1 episode

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultReference
1999Emmy AwardsOutstanding Animated ProgramThe PJsNominated
2012Writers Guild of America AwardsTelevision: Dramatic SeriesBoardwalk EmpireNominated
2013Writers Guild of America AwardsTelevision: Dramatic SeriesBoardwalk EmpireNominated

External links