Susan Harris (née Spivak; born October 28, 1940) is an American former television writer and producer who created the Emmy Award–winning sitcoms Soap (1977–1981) and The Golden Girls (1985–1992). Between 1975 and 1998, Harris was one of the most prolific television writers, creating 13 comedy series. In 2011, she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
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. 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".
Harris formed the production company Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions with Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas.
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.
Personal life Harris was born to a Jewish family in Mount Vernon, New York. She was married from 1965 to 1969 to actor Berkeley Harris; the couple's son is philosopher, neuroscientist, author, and podcast host Sam Harris. Harris married television producer Paul Junger Witt on September 18, 1983; he co-produced all the shows she created. He died in 2018. Harris lives in suburban Los Angeles.
Credits Year Title Role Notes1970Then Came BronsonwriterEpisode: "Then Came Bronson"1970Barefoot in the ParkwriterEpisode: "You'll Never Walk Alone" 1971–1973All in the Familywriter3 episodes1971The Courtship of Eddie's FatherwriterEpisode: "To Catch a Thief"1971The Good Lifewriter3 episodes1972–1973The Partridge Family writer3 episodes1972–1973Maudewriter4 episodes1973Love, American Stylewriter2 episodes1975–1976Faycreator10 episodes1977Loves Me, Loves Me Notcreator6 episodes1977–1981Soapcreator, executive producer87 episodesNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series (1978, 1980–81)1979–1986Bensoncreator, executive producer158 episodes1980–1981I'm a Big Girl Nowcreator, executive producer19 episodes1982–1983It Takes Twocreator, executive producer22 episodesNominated – Humanitas Prize for 30 Minute Network or Syndicated Television1985Hail to the Chief creator, executive producer7 episodes1985–1992The Golden Girlscreator, executive producer177 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)1988–1995Empty Nestcreator, executive producer170 episodes1991Good & Evil creator, executive producer6 episodes1991–1994Nursescreator, executive producer68 episodes1992–1993The Golden Palacecreator, executive producer24 episodes1998–1999The Secret Lives of Mencreator, executive producer13 episodes
References
External links
Museum of Broadcast Communications profile of Susan Harris (archive)