EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY

KEN CORDAY

Kenneth Robert Corday was born on June 16, 1950 in New York. His parents, Ted and Betty, created "Days of Our Lives" in 1965. His father, Ted, died in July 1966 and mother Betty assumed control of the show. Corday graduated from the University of California in 1977, with a master's degree in music composition. He had planned on teaching music composition when Linda Line, then the "Days" music coordinator, asked him to write some music cues (instrumental background music) for the show. He wrote his first music cue for the character of Maggie, and ended up staying with the show ever since. He worked as a production assistant from 1977-1978, fetching coffee for the staff and answering fan mail. In 1979, he was named assistant producer and also took over as music composer for the series, a title he still holds. In 1981, Corday was promoted to producer, and also was named Chief Executive Officer of Corday Productions Inc. In May 1986, his mother Betty decided to semi-retire, and he was named executive producer, taking over day-to-day operations of the show. Betty held the title of executive producer along with her son until her death on November 17, 1987, at which point Ken assumed full control of the show. Corday has been nominated for a "Days"-record 41 Daytime Emmys. He has won nine Daytime Emmys. He married Sherry Williams on May 3, 1986. They have three children: Amanda Elizabeth (born 9/17/88), Kimberly Jane (born 3/27/92) and John Theodore (born 5/20/00).

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY




JANET SPELLMAN-DRUCKER

Janet Spellman-Drucker first joined "Days" in March 1984 as a production associate. The next year, in 1985, she started splitting her roles, as both a Production Associate and Associate Director. She was promoted to an Assistant to the Producers in August 1988. Spellman-Drucker was named an Associate Producer in December 1989. She was promoted to Coordinating Producer in October 1993. She then became the show's Senior Coordinating Producer from November 1997 until August 2015, when she was named Producer. Spellman-Drucker was again promoted, this time to Senior Producer, in September 2020, the role she held until being named Co-Executive Producer on August 4, 2023. She directed her first episode of "Days" on June 27, 2022. She has been nominated for 16 Daytime Emmys for "Days", winning three times. Janet Ellen Spellman-Drucker was born September 3, 1960. She married Dave Drucker in 2011. She becomes just the fourth woman in the history of "Days of Our Lives" to be an Executive Producer, joining Betty Corday (1966-1987), Shelley Curtis (1989) and Lisa De Cazotte (2012-2015). In a 2015 interview, she stated that "Days became such a wonderful place, it became my family. I've grown up here." Tenure: March 1984-Present. 

HEAD WRITER BIOGRAPHY




RON CARLIVATI

Ron Carlivati began his daytime career with "One Life to Live" as a writers' assistant in 1996. He worked his way up to head writer in 2007, a position he held until the show ended its ABC run in 2012. From 2012-2015, he was the head writer of "General Hospital." Carlivati has won 2 Daytime Emmy awards for his work on "Days." Ronald David Carlivati was born November 25, 1968 in Rochester, New York. Tenure: July 19, 2017-Present.


STORY CONSULTANT BIOGRAPHY



RYAN QUAN


Ryan Shigeru Quan graduated from UCLA in 1999 and started off his soap career by winning Procter & Gamble's writing contest for college students. Quan was the writers' assistant for "Passions" from 1999-2005 and served as the show's website coordinator from 2005-2007. He joined "Days of Our Lives" on April 3, 2007 as the show's writers' assistant. He started doing double duty as a dialogue writer from September 2008-November 2008 and September 2009-March 2011. Quan did double duty as both a breakdown writer and writers' assistant from September 2011-September 2016, when he was promoted to head writer. On July 19, 2017, he began his current stint as Story Consultant. He won his first (of 3) Daytime Emmy Awards in 2012 and has been nominated a total of 8 times. Quan was born on September 9, 1977 in Los Angeles, California. Tenure: April 3, 2007-Present.

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES

SONIA BLANGIARDO GOINS

 
Sonia Blangiardo has previously directed at "As the World Turns" (2005-2010), "General Hospital" (2012-2013), "All My Children" (2013) and the web series "Winterthorne" (2015), and also was a producer on "All My Children", "As the World Turns", "One Life to Live" and the web series "Tainted Dreams."  She has been nominated for 4 Daytime Emmys, winning two (2002 for "One Life to Live" and 2007 for "As the World Turns.") Blangiardo was born April 18, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York. She married actor Brandon Goins on April 6, 2018, and her first credit as Sonia Blangiardo Goins aired on May 1, 2018. Tenure: October 14, 2015-Present

NOEL MAXAM

Noel Roger Maxam has returned to "Days" as a director. He was previously with "Days" as a director from 2007-2011 and also worked as a Producer from 2007-2009, Supervising Producer from 2009-2011, and Co-Executive Producer from 2011-2012. Maxam also has been a director and producer at "The Young and the Restless" from 1997-2007 and 2011-2012. He has been nominated 6 times for Daytime Emmys for his work on "Days." Maxam was born on September 26, 1967. Tenure: September 10, 2007-January 27, 2012; September 10, 2015-January 18, 2017; June 24, 2019-Present.

SCOTT McKINSEY

 
Daytime Emmy winner Scott McKinsey has joined "Days" as a director. McKinsey has been directing soaps since the 1980's, and has directed "Search for Tomorrow", "Guiding Light", "Port Charles", "As the World Turns" and "General Hospital." Mark Scott McKinsey was born April 16, 1959. He is the son of soap actress Beverlee McKinsey. He has been nominated 4 times for his work on "Days." Tenure: September 1, 2015-Present.

DAVID SHAUGHNESSY

David Shaughnessy is back as a director ar "Days of Our Lives", after first directing a few episodes in February 1990. He is the brother of Charles Shaughnessy (Shane Donovan) as well as the husband of former "Days" head writer Anne Schoettle. Shaughnessy directed a few episodes of "Days" in 1990. He was with the "The Young and the Restless" as a director/producer from 1991-2003 and "The Bold and the Beautiful" as a director from 2004-2016. Shaughnessy is a British born actor, producer and director. He trained for the stage in England at the famed Central School of Speech and Drama, where he was the youngest student ever accepted at age 16. After a stint in repertory companies, he joined the world famous Old Vic Theatre Company where he played many principal roles in classics at the Old Vic Theatre in London and on world tours. After many TV, film appearances and other theatre tours, he made his voice over debut in Jim Henson's cult classic, "Labyrinth," lending voices to Sir Didymus, the Mexican Hat and many other smaller roles. After Jim Henson put him in touch with agents in the US, he came over in 1986 and made California his home. After many appearances in TV shows such as Noble House, War & Remembrance, Newhart and others, he was offered the chance to direct for TV. After training at NBC, he directed episodes of Santa Barbara, Days of Our Lives, The Bold & The Beautiful, Trial by Jury, Tribes and two TV plays for A&E. It was after these that he was picked to produce and direct The Young & The Restless for CBS. Eventually he found himself as Executive Producer of the show and enjoyed a long association with the program. After leaving in 2003 and becoming a freelance director for The Bold & The Beautiful, he turned back to voice overs and theatre directing. More recently he has been back, directing the show he first trained on...Days of Our Lives. He has to date, directed over 600 hours of Network television and produced over 4000 hours, as well as enjoyed a busy voiceover career in animation, commercials, narration and particularly Video Games. Shaughnessy is a four-time Emmy winner. David Shaughnessy was born August 7, 1957. He and Schoettle have three daughters, Amy, Katie & Josie. Tenure: February 1990; November 7, 2017-Present.

ANGELA TESSINARI

Angela Tessinari began her career as an associate director at "Guiding Light" from 1980-1991. She was also an assistant producer for "Search for Tomorrow." She later directed at "The City" (1995-1997), "All My Children" (1997-2011, 2013), "As the World Turns" (2008) and "The Young and the Restless" (2012). She has been nominated for 11 Daytine Emmys, winning once in 2003 for "All My Children." Angela M. Tessinari was born April 1, 1963. Tenure: October 23, 2015-Present.

WRITER BIOGRAPHIES


SONJA ALARR

Sonja Alarr was born in June, 1964. "Days" is her first, and only, soap writing experience. She is married to a former "Days" employee. Tenure: June 25, 2018-July 5, 2018. June 12, 2023-Present.

JOANNA COHEN

Joanna B. Cohen has joined the "Days" writing staff as a script writer. Her first episode aired on February 15, 2018. Cohen spent over a decade as a reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated. An elective screenwriting course in college sparked her interest in writing for television. Cohen was a writer on "All My Children" from 2006-2011 and 2013; "General Hospital" in 2012; and "The Young and the Restless" from 2013-2014. She has three Daytime Emmy nominations for her work on "All My Children." Cohen's debut novel, Sweet Child, stems from her experiences growing up in the 1980's in New York City. Cohen has also written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. As her Amazon bio states, Cohen "believes she is the only person ever to have covered the Yankees in the World Series and written dialogue for daytime legend Susan Lucci." Cohen was born November 6, 1972. She is married to Evan Kanew and has one daughter, Bee (born 2009). Tenure: February 15, 2018-Present. 

CAROLYN CULLITON

Carolyn DeMoney Culliton began her soap career as secretary to soap opera executive Paul Rauch in 1978. Her first writing assignment was at "Texas" in 1982. She has also written for "Guiding Light" (1983-1984, 1995, 2002-2003), "Another World" (1984-1991, 1994-1995, 1998-1999), "All My Children" (1992-1993), "Loving/The City" (1995-1997), "Port Charles" (1997), "General Hospital" (1997), "Sunset Beach" (1999), "As the World Turns" (1999-2002, 2004) and "One Life to Live" (2005-2010). Culliton has been nominated for 22 Daytime Emmys (twice in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022), winning 6 times (2001, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2018 and 2022). Culliton was born on September 14, 1948. She is married to fellow "Days" writer Richard Culliton. They have one daughter, Emily. Tenure: March 3, 2010-Present.

RICHARD CULLITON

Richard E. Culliton began his writing career at "Texas" in 1981. He has also written for "Guiding Light" (1983-1984, 1988-1990), "Another World" (1984-1986, 1997-1999), "Search For Tomorrow" (1986), "Santa Barbara" (1990-1991), "All My Children" (1991-1993, 2001-2002), "As the World Turns" (1995-1996, 2006-2008), "General Hospital" (1996-1997), "Port Charles" (1997), "Sunset Beach" (1999) and had brief stint at "Days of Our Lives" in both 1987 and 2001. Culliton has been nominated for 18 Daytime Emmys (1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022), winning 4 times (1991, 2012, 2018 and 2022). Culliton was born on March 26, 1949. He is married to fellow "Days" writer Carolyn DeMoney. They have one daughter, Emily. Tenure: February 1987-March 1987, January 2001-August 2001; October 24, 2008-March 9, 2018; April 2, 2019-Present.


KIRK DOERING

Kirk Doering joined "Days" as a writers' assitant in December 2016, a role he still holds today. He joined the writing staff on May 31, 2022. Kirk M. Doering was born July 31, 1984. Tenure: December 26, 2016-Present.

CHRISTOPHER DUNN

Christopher Dunn began his writing career at "General Hospital" in 1983. He has also written for "Santa Barbara" (1991-1993), "Sunset Beach" (1997-1999), "Guiding Light" (2000-2009), "All My Children" (2009-2011) and "The Young and the Restless" (2016-2021). Dunn has been nominated for 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (in 2007 and 2012). Christopher Charles Dunn was born on February 21, 1958. He has been married to soap opera director Catherine Sedwick since 1991. They have a daughter, Emma (born 1998). Tenure: June 14, 2011-September 13, 2016; November 23, 2022-Present.


JEANNE MARIE FORD

Jeanne Marie Grunwell Ford first worked on the "Days" staff from 1994-1996 as a writer's assistant. She became the show's continuity coordinator in 1999 and became a full time staff writer in 2000, leaving in May 2007. While away from "Days", Ford wrote for "As the World Turns" and "One Life to Live." She returned to the show as a breakdown writer in 2008, and has worked as both that and a dialogue writer. She has been nominated twice for Daytime Emmy Awards (2011, 2012), winning once (2012). Ford was born on April 26, 1971 in California. She is married to James Ford and now uses her married name professionally. Tenure: February 1994-February 1996; March 1999-April 27, 2007; October 24, 2008-Present.

JAMEY GIDDENS

Jamey Giddens started his soap writing career at "The Rich and the Ruthless" in 2017. He then created the 2018 OWN series "Ambitions." He joined the "Days" writing staff in November 2021. Giddens was born June 1, 1977 in Georgia. Tenure: November 8, 2021-Present.

DAVID KREIZMAN


David Kreizman has joined the writing staff of "Days of Our Lives" as a script writer. Kreizman began his daytime career as an associate producer for "Guiding Light" from 1996-1998. He has previously written for "Guiding Light" (2000-2009), "As the World Turns" (2009-2010), "All My Children" (2010-2011) and "General Hospital" (2011-2012). From 2012-2013, he was the head writer for WWE wrestling. For the past several years, he has been a writer for AMC's website. He won a Daytime Emmy in 2007 for his work on "Guiding Light." Kreizman was born on July 11, 1974. Tenure: November 17, 2016-Present.

 

FRAN MYERS

Script editor Frances L. Myers started her career as an actress, playing Peggy Fletcher on "Guiding Light" from 1965-1980. She began her career at "Another World" from 1983-1990. She later wrote for "One Life to Live" in 1992. From 1992-2004, Myers was a staff writer at "Days", returning to "One Life to Live" from 2005-2008, and then back to "Days" from 2008-2011. She has been Emmy-nominated 10 times and has won two Daytime Emmys (for "One Life to Live" in 2008 and for "Days" in 2012). Myers was born on September 15, 1950. She was married to actor/writer Roger Newman until his death in 2010. Her son, John Newman, is a former staff writer for "Days." Her other son, Henry, has also written for "Days." Tenure: April 1992-March 2004; October 13, 2008-August 25, 2011; August 17, 2012-Present.

DAVE RYAN

Breakdown writer David F. Ryan started his daytime career as a writer at "General Hospital" from 2009-2010. He also wrote for "All My Children" in 2011. He received his first Daytime Emmy nomination in 2012. Ryan is a graduate of Wesleyan University. Ryan was born on December 31, 1964. Tenure: August 17, 2012-Present.

KATHERINE SCHOCK


Katherine Schock joined "Days" in March 2018.. Schock began her daytime career with "One Life to Live" as a writers' assistant in 1998. She was with OLTL from 1998-2003 and 2008-2012. From 2012-2017, Schock was a writer on "General Hospital." Katherine Dorothy Schock was born August 1, 1974. Tenure: March 23, 2018-Present.