Susan Harris
Harris in the White House in 1999
Born
Susan Spivak

(1940-10-28) October 28, 1940
Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Producer, writer
Years active1970–1999
Spouses
Berkeley Harris
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​
(m. 1965; div. 1969)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1983; died 2018)​
    ChildrenSam Harris, Oliver Witt
    RelativesMarion Segal Freed (step-sister)

    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.

    Life and career

    The first script Harris sold was for 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 received great acclaim. 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 & 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

    She was honored with the Writers' Guild's Paddy Chayefsky Award in 2005 and inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2011.[6]

    Personal life

    Susan is the mother of American philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and podcast host Sam Harris.

    Credits

    Year Title Role Notes
    1970 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 episodes
    1971 The Courtship of Eddie's Father writer Episode: "To Catch a Thief"
    1971 The Good Life writer 3 episodes
    1972–1973 The Partridge Family writer 3 episodes
    1972–1973 Maude writer 4 episodes
    1973 Love, American Style writer 2 episodes
    1975–1976 Fay creator 10 episodes
    1977 Loves Me, Loves Me Not creator 6 episodes
    1977–1981 Soap creator, executive producer 87 episodes
    Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (1978, 1980–81)
    1979–1986 Benson creator, executive producer 158 episodes
    1980–1981 I'm a Big Girl Now creator, executive producer 19 episodes
    1982–1983 It Takes Two creator, executive producer 22 episodes
    Nominated — Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television
    1985 Hail to the Chief creator, executive producer 7 episodes
    1985–1992 The Golden Girls creator, executive producer 177 episodes
    Primetime 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 episodes
    1991 Good & Evil creator, executive producer 6 episodes
    1991–1994 Nurses creator, executive producer 68 episodes
    1992–1993 The Golden Palace creator, executive producer 24 episodes
    1998–1999 The Secret Lives of Men creator, executive producer 13 episodes

    References

    1. ↑ 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.
    2. ↑ 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.
    3. ↑ DuBrow, Ric (September 10, 1991). "Golden Girls Creator Adds Shows". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
    4. ↑ Hunt, Stacey Wilson. "The Golden Girls Creators On Finding a New Generation of Fans". Vulture. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
    5. ↑ Barnes, Mike (December 25, 2011). "Marion Segal Freed, Film Editor, Dies at 77". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
    6. ↑ "Susan Harris - Hall of Fame Inductee". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. January 21, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
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