Born, Toledo Ohio, 1937. Attended Public schools in Toledo,
Ohio.
Attended American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Graduated '57,
Teamed with fellow AADA Graduate Michael Gleason as writing
team... moved to California in '60... sold scripts to
"Laramie", "Rawhide", "My Favorite
Martian", "It's a Man's World"... team split
in amiable manner... Blinn spent year as staff writer on
"Bonanza"... Following year hired as Story Editor
"Here Come The Brides"... Two years there, followed
by writing of pilot of "The Interns" and year as
Head writer after series sale... "Brian's Song"
during following year, followed by producer position on
"The Rookies" at Spelling-Goldberg for two and a
half seasons... "The New Land" series at Warner
Brothers, followed by "Starsky and Hutch" pilot for
Spelling-Goldberg. Following year dealt with pilot and
development of "Eight is Enough" series...
Development of "Roots" for television following
year... post "Roots" formed Blinn/Thorpe
productions with Producer/Director Jerry Thorpe... Series
"American Dream", "The Lazarus Syndrome",
"Our House", and "Aaron's Way" followed
as Blinn/Thorpe productions... Became Executive Producer
"Fame" for following three seasons, then to Disney
for three seasons, Movies of the Week, "Davy
Crockett", "Polly!", (musical remake of
'Pollyanna') "Polly, Comin' Home!", (sequel to
first musical MOW), co-author "Purple Rain"
screenplay between "Fame" and Disney service.
Personal: Two children, Christopher and Anneliese...
presently chairman Board of Trustees American Academy of
Dramatic Arts... chair steering committee Caucus for
Producers, Writers, and Directors... mediocre skier...
diligent golfer... dedicated gym rat...
WILLIAM BLINN
SERIES:
| Heaven Help Us |
Creator/Exec. Producer |
Spelling |
| Boys Of Twilight |
Creator/Exec. Producer |
CBS |
| Aaron's Way |
Developer/Exec. Producer |
NBC |
| Our House |
Executive Producer |
NBC |
| Bridges To Cross |
Developer/Exec. Producer |
CBS |
| Fame |
Executive Producer |
NBC |
| Lazarus Syndrome |
Creator/Exec. Producer |
ABC |
| American Dream |
Executive Producer |
ABC |
| Eight Is Enough |
Developer/Producer |
ABC |
| Starsky And Hutch |
Creator |
ABC |
| The New Land |
Creator |
ABC |
| The Rookies |
Developer/Producer |
ABC |
| The Interns |
Creators |
CBS |
MOW'S AND MINI-SERIES
| The Boys Next Door |
Hallmark Hall of Fame |
| The Beat Goes On |
FBC |
| Journey To Justice |
NBC |
| Polly Comin' Home |
NBC |
| Appearances |
NBC |
| Polly |
NBC |
| The Outside Woman |
CBS |
| All God's Children |
ABC |
| A Question Of Love |
ABC |
| An Eclipse Of Reason |
ABC |
| A Man Called Intrepid |
CBS |
| Roots |
ABC |
| Brian's Song |
ABC |
FEATURES:
Purple Rain (featuring Prince)
AWARDS:
Brian's Song-Peabody, Emmy, and Writers Guild of
America Awards
Roots-Emmy, Humanitas, and Te1evision Critics
Awards; WGA Nominee
The New Land-Writers Guild of America Nominee
1996
| HALLMARK HALL OF FAME |
"The Boys Next Door" |
| CBS MOW/PILOT |
"Shaughnessy" (AKA "Haven")
Writer-Executive Producer |
| EIGHT IS ENOUGH |
Writers Guild of America Nominee |
| A MAN CALLED INTREPID |
Writers Guild of America Nominee |
| A QUESTION OF LOVE |
ACLU A.L. Wirin Award; W.G.A. Nominee |
| THE ROOKIES |
N.A.A.C.P. Image Award |
| ALL GOD'S CHILDREN |
N.A.A.C.P. Image Award |
| OUR HOUSE |
Humanitas Award Nominee |
| FAME |
Two Golden Globe Awards, five Emmy Awards;
Humanitas and Writers Guild of America Nominee. |
WILLIAM BLINN