Born in Baltimore, Maryland, David Jacobs graduated Maryland Institute College of Arts in 1961, and moved to New York City where he worked as an illustrator and researcher on Grolier's Encyclopedia. When his ex-wife moved to Los Angeles, he relocated as well, to be close to his daughter. An aspiring novelist, he wrote a couple episodes for the 1977 television series Kingston: Confidential, and was the story editor and writer for the series Family to earn money. It was in 1978 that he became screenwriter and producer behind the creation of the hugely successful primetime series Dallas, followed in 1979 with Knots Landing.
David Jacobs battled Alzheimer's in his later years, and died from a series of infections at the age of 84.
