Perry Chafe


Perry Lawrence Chafe is a Canadian television writer, producer, and bestselling author, best known for co-creating the television series Republic of Doyle and Saint-Pierre.

Early life

Perry Chafe was born and raised in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador. He received a bachelor of arts from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1992.

Career

In 2009, Chafe co-founded Take the Shot Productions, a film and television-based production company. Chafe was the co-showrunner and head writer for the TV series Republic of Doyle, a show he created with Allan Hawco and Malcolm MacRury.
Chafe was also an executive producer and writer for the Netflix and Discovery Canada series Frontier, starring Jason Momoa. In addition, Chafe was an executive producer and writer for Caught, a CBC limited series based on Lisa Moore’s award-winning novel of the same name.
In 2021, Chafe began working as a writer and producer on the CBC series Son of a Critch, based on the best-selling memoir from Mark Critch. The show stars Malcolm McDowell, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Claire Rankin and Mark Critch.
Chafe is the partner of Maureen Ennis of the Juno and SOCAN award winning musical group The Ennis Sisters, with whom he has cowritten songs including "Shine Your Light" which was part of a campaign to promote mental health and wellness for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. The duo was also commissioned to write the song "Dream On" for the internationally acclaimed Lady Cove Women's Choir in 2021, as well as the song "Forever Far From Home" for a special Come Home Year Remembrance Day ceremony in 2022.
In May of 2023, Chafe released his debut novel, Closer By Sea, published by Scribner Canada and Simon & Schuster. The novel became an instant national bestseller. A German-language edition, titled Sommer auf Perigo Island, is scheduled for publication in February 2026 by Mare Verlag in Germany.
On May 23, 2024, CBC announced a 10-episode order for Saint-Pierre, an hour-long procedural series co-created by Chafe. The series premiered as part of CBC’s 2025 winter lineup. Chafe served as executive producer and senior writer. Filming on the second season wrapped in November 2025.
Filming took place in the summer of 2025 on an untitled six-part Netflix horror series set in Newfoundland and centered on a mysterious sea creature. The series was created by Jesse McKeown, with Chafe serving as a senior writer and co-executive producer.

Film and television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010–2014Republic of DoyleCo-creator, executive producer, writerSix seasons
2016–2018FrontierExecutive producer, writerThree seasons
2018CaughtExecutive producer, writerOne season
2022–Son of a CritchExecutive producer, writerFive Seasons
2024-Saint-PierreCo-creator, executive producer, writerTwo seasons
2025Untitled Netflix Newfoundland SeriesSenior writer, co-executive producerSix-part series

Novels

YearTitlePublisher
2023Closer By SeaScribner Canada / Simon & Schuster
2026Sommer auf Perigo IslandGerman-language edition

Awards

AwardYearCategoryFilm/TV ShowResultRef
Canadian Screen Awards2019Best Limited Series or ProgramCaughtNomitated
Canadian Screen Awards2023Cogeco Audience Choice AwardSon of a CritchNomitated
Canadian Screen Awards2024Best Comedy SeriesSon of a CritchNomitated
Canadian Screen Awards2024Cogeco Audience Choice AwardSon of a CritchWon