Susan Harris (née Spivak; born October 28, 1940) is an American television writer and producer, creator of Emmy Award-winning sitcoms Soap (1977–1981) and The Golden Girls (1985–1992).[1] Between 1975 and 1998, Harris was one of the most prolific television writers, creating 13 comedy series.[2] In 2011, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
Harris was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, and her symptoms affected her ability to participate in the production of The Golden Girls. In an episode of that show titled "Sick and Tired" (1989), Harris wrote some of her struggles into the storyline where Bea Arthur's character Dorothy Zbornak was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. It later turned out Harris had an adrenal issue, but she wrote the episode as "my revenge script for all the people out there who had a disease like that".[4]
Harris married television producer Paul Junger Witt on September 18, 1983; he co-produced all the shows she created. He died in 2018. She was married from 1965 to 1969 to actor Berkeley Harris; the couple's son is author and neuroscientist Sam Harris. She lives in suburban Los Angeles. Harris was the step-sister to American film producer, editor and screenwriter Marion Segal Freed.[5]
^Seife, Beza (November 16, 2018). "The Golden Girls creator Susan Harris on pushing the boundaries of the sitcom". Q. CBC Radio One. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
^Baldwin, Kristen (October 15, 2018). "How The Golden Girls creator Susan Harris changed TV comedy forever — and why she doesn't watch it now". Yahoo Entertainment.
^DuBrow, Ric (September 10, 1991). "Golden Girls Creator Adds Shows". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
^Hunt, Stacey Wilson. "The Golden Girls Creators On Finding a New Generation of Fans". Vulture. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
^Barnes, Mike (December 25, 2011). "Marion Segal Freed, Film Editor, Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^"Susan Harris - Hall of Fame Inductee". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. January 21, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
Museum of Broadcast Communications profile of Susan Harris
October 30, 2023
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For other people named Susan Harris see Susan Harris disambiguation Susan Harris nee Spivak born October 28 1940 is an American television writer and producer creator of Emmy Award winning sitcoms Soap 1977 1981 and The Golden Girls 1985 1992 1 Between 1975 and 1998 Harris was one of the most prolific television writers creating 13 comedy series 2 In 2011 she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame Susan HarrisBornSusan Spivak 1940 10 28 October 28 1940 age 83 Mount Vernon New York U S Occupation s Producer writerYears active1970 1999SpousesBerkeley Harris m 1965 div 1969 wbr Paul Junger Witt m 1983 died 2018 wbr ChildrenSam Harris Oliver WittRelativesMarion Segal Freed step sister Contents 1 Life and career 2 Awards and honors 3 Credits 4 References 5 External linksLife and career editThe first script Harris sold was Then Came Bronson She then wrote for Love American Style All in the Family The Partridge Family and the TV adaptation of Neil Simon s Barefoot in the Park Her abortion episode for the Bea Arthur starring series Maude in the 1970s won Harris the Humanitas Prize She worked with Arthur again in the 1980s when Arthur took one of the lead roles in The Golden Girls Harris created many television series Fay Soap Loves Me Loves Me Not Benson It Takes Two The Golden Girls Empty Nest Nurses Good amp Evil The Golden Palace and The Secret Lives of Men 3 Her most financially successful show was The Golden Girls Harris was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and her symptoms affected her ability to participate in the production of The Golden Girls In an episode of that show titled Sick and Tired 1989 Harris wrote some of her struggles into the storyline where Bea Arthur s character Dorothy Zbornak was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome It later turned out Harris had an adrenal issue but she wrote the episode as my revenge script for all the people out there who had a disease like that 4 Harris formed the production company Witt Thomas Harris Productions with Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas Harris married television producer Paul Junger Witt on September 18 1983 he co produced all the shows she created He died in 2018 She was married from 1965 to 1969 to actor Berkeley Harris the couple s son is author and neuroscientist Sam Harris She lives in suburban Los Angeles Harris was the step sister to American film producer editor and screenwriter Marion Segal Freed 5 Awards and honors editShe was honored with the Writers Guild s Paddy Chayefsky Award in 2005 and inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011 6 Credits editYear Title Role Notes1970 Then Came Bronson writer Episode Then Came Bronson 1970 Barefoot in the Park writer Episode You ll Never Walk Alone 1971 1973 All in the Family writer 3 episodes1971 The Courtship of Eddie s Father writer Episode To Catch a Thief 1971 The Good Life writer 3 episodes1972 1973 The Partridge Family writer 3 episodes1972 1973 Maude writer 4 episodes1973 Love American Style writer 2 episodes1975 1976 Fay creator 10 episodes1977 Loves Me Loves Me Not creator 6 episodes1977 1981 Soap creator executive producer 87 episodesNominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series 1978 1980 81 1979 1986 Benson creator executive producer 158 episodes1980 1981 I m a Big Girl Now creator executive producer 19 episodes1982 1983 It Takes Two creator executive producer 22 episodesNominated Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television1985 Hail to the Chief creator executive producer 7 episodes1985 1992 The Golden Girls creator executive producer 177 episodesPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series 1987 Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series 1988 1991 Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series 1986 1988 1995 Empty Nest creator executive producer 170 episodes1991 Good amp Evil creator executive producer 6 episodes1991 1994 Nurses creator executive producer 68 episodes1992 1993 The Golden Palace creator executive producer 24 episodes1998 1999 The Secret Lives of Men creator executive producer 13 episodesReferences edit Seife Beza November 16 2018 The Golden Girls creator Susan Harris on pushing the boundaries of the sitcom Q CBC Radio One Retrieved October 30 2021 Baldwin Kristen October 15 2018 How The Golden Girls creator Susan Harris changed TV comedy forever and why she doesn t watch it now Yahoo Entertainment DuBrow Ric September 10 1991 Golden Girls Creator Adds Shows Los Angeles Times Retrieved October 30 2021 Hunt Stacey Wilson The Golden Girls Creators On Finding a New Generation of Fans Vulture Retrieved March 3 2017 Barnes Mike December 25 2011 Marion Segal Freed Film Editor Dies at 77 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved January 21 2012 Susan Harris Hall of Fame Inductee Academy of Television Arts amp Sciences January 21 2011 Retrieved October 30 2021 External links editSusan Harris at IMDb Museum of Broadcast Communications profile of Susan Harris Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Susan Harris amp oldid 1170262607, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
