Known for movies

Short Info

SpousePaul Junger Witt, Berkeley Harris
FactBrilliant 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 NameSusan Harris
ProfessionScreenwriter, Television producer
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpousePaul Junger Witt, Berkeley Harris
ChildrenSam Harris

Accomplishments

AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement
Music GroupsThe Albion Band
NominationsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
TV ShowsThe 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

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1The Writers Guild of America awarded her as the recipient of its Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television in 2005.
2She was inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio.
3She 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).
4She studied English Literature at Cornell and New York University.
5Her 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)).
6Brilliant 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

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Los años dorados2015TV Series 4 episodes
Golden Girls2012TV Series
Altin kizlarTV Series created by - 1 episode, 2009 original scenario - 1 episode, 2009
Hrysa koritsiaTV Series creator: original series - 19 episodes, 2008 teleplay: original series - 5 episodes, 2008 teleplay original series - 1 episode, 2008
The Secret Lives of Men1998-1999TV Series created by - 13 episodes
Juntas pero no revueltasTV Series characters - 25 episodes, 1995 - 1996 original screenplay - 6 episodes, 1995 - 1996
Empty NestTV Series created by - 170 episodes, 1988 - 1995 written by - 3 episodes, 1988
NursesTV Series created by - 68 episodes, 1991 - 1994 written by - 2 episodes, 1991
The Golden PalaceTV Series created by - 24 episodes, 1992 - 1993 written by - 1 episode, 1992
Brighton Belles1993TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Golden GirlsTV Series created by - 177 episodes, 1985 - 1992 written by - 9 episodes, 1985 - 1989
Good & EvilTV Series created by - 6 episodes, 1991 written by - 1 episode, 1991
BensonTV Series created by - 158 episodes, 1979 - 1986 written by - 2 episodes, 1979
Hail to the ChiefTV Series created by - 7 episodes, 1985 written by - 2 episodes, 1985
It Takes TwoTV Series created by - 22 episodes, 1982 - 1983 written by - 2 episodes, 1982 teleplay - 1 episode, 1982
I'm a Big Girl NowTV Series created by - 19 episodes, 1980 - 1981 written by - 2 episodes, 1980 - 1981
SoapTV 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 Not1977TV Series written by - 1 episode
FayTV Series created by - 10 episodes, 1975 - 1976 written by - 3 episodes, 1975 - 1976
MaudeTV Series written by - 2 episodes, 1972 - 1973 teleplay by - 2 episodes, 1972
All in the FamilyTV Series story by - 2 episodes, 1971 - 1973 written by - 1 episode, 1972 teleplay by - 1 episode, 1971
Love, American StyleTV Series written by - 2 episodes, 1971 - 1973 teleplay - 1 episode, 1972
The Partridge Family1972-1973TV Series written by - 3 episodes
The Good Life1971TV Series written by - 3 episodes
The Courtship of Eddie's Father1971TV Series written by - 1 episode
Barefoot in the Park1970TV Series written by - 1 episode
Then Came Bronson1970TV Series writer - 1 episode

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Secret Lives of Men1998-1999TV Series executive producer - 13 episodes
Nurses1991-1994TV Series executive producer - 68 episodes
The Golden Palace1992-1993TV Series executive producer - 24 episodes
The Golden Girls1987-1992TV Series executive producer - 24 episodes
Good & Evil1991TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
Empty NestTV Series executive producer - 1 episode, 1988 producer - 1 episode, 1988
SoapTV Series producer - 66 episodes, 1977 - 1980 executive producer - 14 episodes, 1980 - 1981 supervising producer - 3 episodes, 1977
I'm a Big Girl Now1980TV Series executive producer
Benson1979-1980TV Series producer - 24 episodes

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Soap1978TV SeriesBabette
The Beverly Hillbillies1970TV SeriesHarem Girl

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Ruby & the Rockits2009TV Series script supervisor - 2 episodes
2271985TV Series script supervisor - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The 39th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1987TV SpecialHerself - Winner: Outstanding Comedy Series
The Paul Ryan Show1977TV SeriesHerself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Eighties2016TV Mini-Series documentaryHerself - Creator, 'The Golden Girls'
TV Tales2002TV SeriesHerself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2005Laurel Award for TV Writing AchievementWriters Guild of America, USA
1989Special Achievement AwardRetirement Research Foundation, USATelevision and Theatrical Film FictionThe Golden Girls (1985)
1987Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1991Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)
1990Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)
1989Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)
1988Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)
1986Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing in a Comedy SeriesThe Golden Girls (1985)
1983Humanitas PrizeHumanitas Prize30 Minute Network or Syndicated TelevisionIt Takes Two (1982)
1981Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesSoap (1977)
1980Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesSoap (1977)
1978Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Comedy SeriesSoap (1977)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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