Brilliant Emmy-winning television comedy writer, she either wrote or co-wrote every episode of her series Soap (1977). According to a documentary on The Golden Girls (1985), the only reason she did not take more of an active role in the production of the latter series once she created it is because she suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Susan Harris was born on October 28, 1944 in Evanston, Illinois. Her parents were both successful professionals; her father was an engineer and her mother was a homemaker. Harris was the middle child in her family, with an older sister and a younger brother. Harris was an excellent student and was active in sports and extracurricular activities in high school. She graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1962.
Harris went on to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in English. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and was active in campus life. Harris graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 1966.
After graduation, Harris moved to New York City to pursue a career in writing. She found work as a freelance writer and editor, and soon began writing for television. In 1971, Harris wrote the pilot episode for a new sitcom called “The Bob Newhart Show.” The show was a huge success, and Harris went on to write several more episodes over the course of its six-season run.
In 1975, Harris created a new sitcom called “The Golden Girls.” The show starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan as four older women who shared a home in Miami. The show was an instant hit, and ran for seven seasons. Harris won two Emmy Awards for her work on “The Golden Girls.”
In the 1990s, Harris wrote and produced a new sitcom called “Empty Nest.” The show starred Richard Mulligan as a widowed father of two grown daughters. “Empty Nest” ran for seven seasons and was popular with viewers.
Harris has been married twice. Her first husband was television producer Paul Junger Witt. Harris and Witt divorced in 1992. Harris’ second husband is actor William Rader. Harris and Rader have been married since 1996.
Harris has three children: two sons from her first marriage, and a daughter from her second marriage. She also has four grandchildren.
Harris is currently retired from writing and producing television shows. She lives with her husband in Los Angeles, California.
General Info
Full Name
Susan Harris
Profession
Screenwriter, Television producer
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Paul Junger Witt, Berkeley Harris
Children
Sam Harris
Accomplishments
Awards
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement
Music Groups
The Albion Band
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
TV Shows
The Golden Girls, Soap, Empty Nest, Benson, The Golden Palace, Nurses, It Takes Two, The Secret Lives of Men, Good & Evil, Loves Me, Loves Me Not, Hail to the Chief, Fay, Hurricane Saturday, I'm a Big Girl Now, Mama's Boy, Full Moon Over Miami
The Writers Guild of America awarded her as the recipient of its Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television in 2005.
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She was inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio.
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She has one child with actor Berkeley Harris, Sam Harris, born in 1967, who is a world renowned author and neuroscientist whose latest book is 'Free Will' (2012).
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She studied English Literature at Cornell and New York University.
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Her shows usually feature a character who likes to impart wisdom through stories. (The Governor on Benson (1979), Rose and Sophia on The Golden Girls (1985)).
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Brilliant Emmy-winning television comedy writer, she either wrote or co-wrote every episode of her series Soap (1977). According to a documentary on The Golden Girls (1985), the only reason she did not take more of an active role in the production of the latter series once she created it is because she suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Movies
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Los años dorados
2015
TV Series 4 episodes
Golden Girls
2012
TV Series
Altin kizlar
TV Series created by - 1 episode, 2009 original scenario - 1 episode, 2009
Hrysa koritsia
TV Series creator: original series - 19 episodes, 2008 teleplay: original series - 5 episodes, 2008 teleplay original series - 1 episode, 2008
The Secret Lives of Men
1998-1999
TV Series created by - 13 episodes
Juntas pero no revueltas
TV Series characters - 25 episodes, 1995 - 1996 original screenplay - 6 episodes, 1995 - 1996
Empty Nest
TV Series created by - 170 episodes, 1988 - 1995 written by - 3 episodes, 1988
Nurses
TV Series created by - 68 episodes, 1991 - 1994 written by - 2 episodes, 1991
The Golden Palace
TV Series created by - 24 episodes, 1992 - 1993 written by - 1 episode, 1992
Brighton Belles
1993
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Golden Girls
TV Series created by - 177 episodes, 1985 - 1992 written by - 9 episodes, 1985 - 1989
Good & Evil
TV Series created by - 6 episodes, 1991 written by - 1 episode, 1991
Benson
TV Series created by - 158 episodes, 1979 - 1986 written by - 2 episodes, 1979
Hail to the Chief
TV Series created by - 7 episodes, 1985 written by - 2 episodes, 1985
It Takes Two
TV Series created by - 22 episodes, 1982 - 1983 written by - 2 episodes, 1982 teleplay - 1 episode, 1982
I'm a Big Girl Now
TV Series created by - 19 episodes, 1980 - 1981 written by - 2 episodes, 1980 - 1981
Soap
TV Series created by - 86 episodes, 1977 - 1981 written by - 70 episodes, 1977 - 1981 story - 14 episodes, 1978 - 1981 teleplay - 14 episodes, 1978 - 1981
Loves Me, Loves Me Not
1977
TV Series written by - 1 episode
Fay
TV Series created by - 10 episodes, 1975 - 1976 written by - 3 episodes, 1975 - 1976
Maude
TV Series written by - 2 episodes, 1972 - 1973 teleplay by - 2 episodes, 1972
All in the Family
TV Series story by - 2 episodes, 1971 - 1973 written by - 1 episode, 1972 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1971
Love, American Style
TV Series written by - 2 episodes, 1971 - 1973 teleplay - 1 episode, 1972
The Partridge Family
1972-1973
TV Series written by - 3 episodes
The Good Life
1971
TV Series written by - 3 episodes
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
1971
TV Series written by - 1 episode
Barefoot in the Park
1970
TV Series written by - 1 episode
Then Came Bronson
1970
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Secret Lives of Men
1998-1999
TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes
Nurses
1991-1994
TV Series executive producer - 68 episodes
The Golden Palace
1992-1993
TV Series executive producer - 24 episodes
The Golden Girls
1987-1992
TV Series executive producer - 24 episodes
Good & Evil
1991
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
Empty Nest
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode, 1988 producer - 1 episode, 1988