Deborah Pratt is an American director, writer, television producer and actress.

Early life Pratt was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, to an African American family. She is the daughter of Geraldine Marian (née Bryant), a teacher, and Col. Bertram Roberson Pratt, a vice president of Pullman Heritage Bank. Colonel Pratt commanded the segregated 827th Tank Destroyer Battalion in Europe during the Second World War and later served in the Illinois National Guard. Pratt has four sisters.

Pratt earned a degree in Psychology from Webster University and studied Theatre at The Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

Career Pratt started performing on stage in Chicago theatre. Deborah's talent was discovered through a nationwide search that brought her to Los Angeles under contract to NBC, singing and dancing, on The Dean Martin Show with The Golddiggers. She sang and danced with Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and toured with Debbie Reynolds. Pratt acted in various television series, including Magnum, P.I., Happy Days, The New Odd Couple, Benson, and Airwolf. She started her writing career creating multiple episodes for Magnum P.I. and Airwolf, and starred in three pilots, Katmandu, She's With Me, and Phyl & Mikhy. Pratt also acted in feature films, some of which include Exit to Eden, Last Rites, and the cult classic, Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.

Pratt became showrunner—co-creator, executive producer, and head writer—for the Quantum Leap TV series, which was created by her then-husband, Donald Bellisario. Pratt also frequently starred in the show as both the narrator and the voice of Ziggy.

In 1992, Pratt served as executive producer and co-showrunner for Tequila and Bonetti on CBS. In 1998-1999, Pratt developed the series for TV and was showrunner and executive producer of The Net for CBS. In 2000, she made her directorial debut with Cora Unashamed for Masterpiece Theatre'''s The American Collection. In 2009, she reprised her role as Ziggy for the Quantum Leap fan film, A Leap to Di For. And as of 2022, Deborah returned as executive producer on the Quantum Leap reboot (2022-present) for NBC Universal and Peacock.

Pratt has directed shorts, a TV movie, and a Grey's Anatomy episode after Quantum Leap, but head writer duties kept her from directing her own show. Pratt directed the "Family Style" episode (air date of February 27, 2023) of the Quantum Leap reboot.

Pratt is a published novelist, having written The Vision Quest (a three-book science fiction/fantasy series) and Age of Eve, as well as an inspirational speaker. She has also sold feature scripts to major studios. Pratt is currently working on a play in development for the London stage, Joseph Bologne, as well as a graphic novel, interactive game, and interactive television series all entitled Warrior One''.

She has received numerous awards for her work, including five Emmy Awards nominations, a Golden Block Award, and multiple festival awards for her short films. Pratt is also an advocate for women and minority rights in the industry. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America and is on multiple committees at the Directors Guild of America. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and SAG/AFTRA.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1981Elephant PartsPlayer1983Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden ZoneMeagan1988Last RitesRobin Dwyer1994Exit to EdenDr. Allison2006UnspokenMadison2008Chinaman's Chance: America's Other SlavesRachel2010Peep WorldCassandra Williamson2022DoulaDeb's Mother

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1973The Dean Martin ShowGolddiggerEpisode: "Celebrity Roast: Monty Hall"1975Police WomanKateEpisode: "Pattern for Evil"1978CHiPsCarolEpisode: "Crash Diet"Love Is Not EnoughSusanTelevision Film1979Happy DaysKat ManduEpisode: "Fonzie Meets Kat"1980Phyl & MikhyConnieEpisode: "Phyl's Wedding"KatmanduKat ManduTelevision Film1981Grambling's White TigerJenniferTelevision Film 1982Strike ForceLorettaEpisode: "Humiliation"She's with MeBonnie MadisonTelevision FilmThe New Odd CoupleSandraEpisode: "The Odd Triangle"1983Prime TimesVariousTelevision FilmBensonJill FletcherEpisode: "Who's Arnold?"Gimme a Break!VanessaEpisode: "The Way to a Man's Heart"1984Days of Our LivesLacey Parker6 Episodes1984Magnum, P.I. (1980)Gloria4 Episodes1984Airwolf Writer1 Episode1984–1985Airwolf Marella14 Episodes1984-1985Magnum, P.I. (1980)Writer2 Episodes1987Three on a MatchSissyTelevision FilmHunterSandra BrowningEpisode: "Flashpoint"1989Magnum, P.I. (1980)Writer 2 Episodes1989–1993Quantum Leap (1989)Writer20 EpisodesQuantum Leap (1989)Co-Executive Producer/ Supervising Producer97 EpisodesQuantum Leap (1989)Narrator / Ziggy / Troian Claridge65 Episodes1992Tequila and BonettiNicoleEpisode: "A Perfect Match"Co-Executive Producer/Producer 2 Episodes1997Girlfriends Director/Writer/ProducerShort1998–1999 The NetDeveloped/Writer/Creator/Executive Producer/Director8 Episodes1999 Our Friend, Martin Producer/ScreenplayAnimated TV Film2000Cora Unshamed | BBC Masterpiece Theatre The America CollectionDirectorTelevision Film2016 Game of Chance (TV Series)Executive Producer 4 Episodes Game of Chance (Video)Writer/Executive Producer/DirectorVideo Short 2020 Grey's AnatomyDirectorEpisode: "Put On a Happy Face" (Ep. 1621) 2022–2024Quantum Leap (2022)Executive Producer 18 EpisodesZiggy2 Episodes2023 DirectorEpisode: "Family Style" (Ep. 113)

Bibliography +Year TitlePublisher2013Age of Eve: Return of the NephilimBroadLit2015The Atlantian: The Vision Quest, Book 1VGM Publishing2017The Academy: The Vision Quest, Book 2VGM Publishing2017The Odyssey: The Vision Quest, Book 3VGM PublishingTBDMirrors: The Dragon MirrorVGM Publishing

Discography +YearTitleProject1988"All My Life"Last Rites (Movie)1991"The Alphabet Rap"Quantum Leap (TV Series)

Awards +Year Nom. /Win AwardProject Title1990Women In Film (Win)Lillian Gish Quantum Leap Episode:"The Color of Truth"1991Writing (Win)The Golden Block AwardQuantum Leap Episode:"Private Dancer"The Angel Award1990-1993Best Dramatic TV Series (5 Nominees)Emmy Quantum Leap Producing (5 Nominees) B.E.N. Awards (Black Emmy Nominee)Quantum Leap 1999Writing (5 Nominees)Emmy Animated TV Film Our Friend, MartinWriting (5 Nominees)B.E.N. Awards (Black Emmy Nominee)Animated TV Film Our Friend, Martin

References

External links

Official site Deborah Pratt biodata , thevisionquest.com ActorsE Chat Show appearance, actorsentertainment.com