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Animal Planet » Executive Bios » Kurt Tondorf
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Kurt Tondorf

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Senior Vice President, Development

Kurt Tondorf is Animal Planet’s senior vice president of development. In this role he oversees the development strategy and slate for the network and creates and curates series, stunts and other programming initiatives.

Since joining Animal Planet in 2012, Tondorf has developed numerous series, including THE ZOO, I WAS PREY and ANIMAL CRIBS.  Other series Tondorf developed during his tenure with Animal Planet have included PROJECT GRIZZLY, THE GUARDIANS, THE LAST ALASKANS, ICE COLD GOLD and DR. JEFF: ROCKY MOUNTAIN VET.

Tondorf joined Animal Planet with more than 15 years of experience in television production and program development. Prior to his appointment with the network, Tondorf helmed development for Optomen Productions in New York and developed series for History, Discovery ID, Animal Planet, National Geographic Channel and Travel Channel. As a producer for Optomen, Tondorf was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Science, Natural History and Technology Programming for EVOLVE, a 13-part series he developed for History.

Prior to joining Optomen, Tondorf was the sole U.S.-based development producer for London’s BAFTA-winning indie Windfall Films and helped develop its internationally acclaimed series MY BRILLIANT BRAIN for National Geographic.

Tondorf has a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He currently resides in Katonah, NY, with his wife, Carissa, and daughters Cassady and Wren.