Steven S. DeKnight

Steven S. DeKnight is a writer, director, and producer who specializes in fantasy-themed television. From a working class New Jersey background, the smooth-headed creator has a web of tribal tattoos that cover his arms, making him resemble a character in his most successful creation, "Spartacus: Blood and Sand." After a long apprenticeship writing, producing, and directing on the Joss Whedon shows "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," DeKnight created his version of the ancient story of Spartacus for the Starz Network in 2010.

Like "Buffy" and "Angel" (as well as the series "Smallville," which DeKnight wrote and produced for as well) "Spartacus" is a serial drama that stretches its story across the entire season. The show was an international success, but when its star, Andy Whitfield, developed non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pre-production was forced to cease on the show's second season. DeKnight instead wrote and produced a six-episode prequel to the series, which did not feature the Spartacus character, entitled "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena" for 2011.