Acclaimed writer, producer and director Donald P. Bellisario brings signature storytelling to the one-hour, dramatic adventure series JAG which he created and serves as executive producer. JAG is a Belisarius Production in association with Paramount Network Television for CBS-TV.

A prolific writer since college, Bellisario has been crafting copy for a variety of readers and audiences for more than 30 years – long before he gained notoriety as a creator/producer of numerous ground breaking television series.

In 1961, armed with a degree in journalism from Penn State University, Bellisario began his writing career as a copywriter with a small advertising agency in Lancaster, Penn. Three years later, he moved to Dallas to take a prestigious copy position at the famous Bloom Agency. By 1976, after eight years at the agency, Bellisario had risen to senior vice president, creative director and a member of the board of directors, yet was eager to gamble on a new career.

Moving to Hollywood, he became a story editor on the 1976-78 series "Baa Baa Black Sheep." After just five episodes, he was promoted to producer, a position he held for one year. He then became supervising producer on "Battlestar Galactica," and subsequently began to develop his own shows.

Bellisario is best known for two of his 1980s creations, "Magnum, P.I." and "Quantum Leap." Running from 1980-88, "Magnum P.I." starred Tom Selleck. Bellisario’s work on the series won an Edgar Allan Poe writing award, among others. "Quantum Leap," the 1989-1993 science-fiction drama starring Scott Bakula, garnered several Emmy Award nominations during its run.

His other television series credits include "Tales of the Gold Monkey" with Stephen Collins, "Airwolf" with Jan-Michael Vincent and "Tequila and Bonetti" with Jack Scalia. He served as executive producer of all five series, and also served in the same capacity on the 1995 detective telefilm "Crowfoot."

Bellisario also wrote, produced and directed the 1987 feature film "Last Rites," starring Tom Berrenger.

Born in Cokeburg, Penn., Bellisario served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, which spawned an interest in all things military. He enjoys flying helicopters and golfing.

JAG is a Belisarius Production in association with paramount Network Television. The Paramount Television Group is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.