Kelley was born in Chicago, growing up and attending school at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois until 1985.

Kelley has written and produced on shows including The O.C., One Tree Hill and Providence. He co-wrote episodes of Providence with Jennifer M. Johnson. He is creator of the TV series Swingtown, and has also written episodes for the show, which began airing on CBS in 2008.