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 16 Daytime Emmys, eight as a producer, and eight as a music composer. He has won two Daytime Emmys for music, in 1990 and 1997. He married Sherry Williams in 1987. 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 BIOGRAPHIES


LISA De CAZOTTE

Lisa De Cazotte was the Executive Producer of "Passions" for its entire run from 1999-2008. De Cazotte (then known as Lisa Hesser) began her daytime career as an intern at "One Life to Live" in the early 1980's. By the time she left OLTL in 1991, she was a Coordinating Producer. From 1991-1993, she was a Producer at "Santa Barbara." De Cazotte later worked as a Coordinating Producer and Supervising Producer at "All My Children" from 1993-1996, and as Producer and Supervising Producer at "Sunset Beach" from 1997-1999. After "Passions" ended its run in 2008, she became the Executive Producer of the brief nighttime series "General Hospital: Night Shift." De Cazotte then returned to "All My Children" as a Producer from 2009-2010. She is a graduate of Fordham University and won a Daytime Emmy in 1994 for her work on "All My Children." Lisa M. Smith Hesser De Cazotte was born on November 15, 1961. She is married to French documentarian Antoine De Cazotte. Tenure: January 30, 2012-Present.



GREG MENG


Gregory D. Meng graduated as a music major from Oklahoma City University in 1979 and moved straight to Hollywood, California. Originally he had plans to become a piano teacher, but, in 1980, things changed and he began his career as a page for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" at NBC in Burbank, California (where "Days" tapes), and later became manager of Television Business Affairs before joining Corday Productions in 1992. He was promoted to Senior Vice President & Executive in Charge of Production in 1998, a title he still holds today. He also was the author of the 45th anniversary "Days" photograph book. He became co-executive producer on September 6, 2011. Meng was born on November 15, 1955 in Hooker, Oklahoma. Tenure: January 1992-Present.


HEAD WRITER BIOGRAPHIES

MARLENE McPHERSON

Marlene McPherson (formerly known as Marlene Clark Poulter) began her career at "General Hospital" from 1987-1991, where she worked her way up from an assistant to the producers, then to script continuity coordinator, and finally as a script writer. From August 1991-July 1999, she was a breakdown writer for "Days." From 1999-2008, McPherson was a breakdown writer for the entire run of "Passions." In 2009, she co-created the "Swiss Family Robinson" pilot for ABC Family. She has been nominated for 7 Daytime Emmy Awards. Marlene L. Clark McPherson was born on August 20, 1962 in Napa County, California. Tenure: August 1991-July 1999; August 26, 2011-Present.

DARRELL RAY THOMAS, JR.

Darrell Ray Thomas Jr. began his career as a writers' assistant for "Days of Our Lives" in January 1997. He was promoted to continuity coordinator, a role he performedf from June 1997-March 1999. He also had his first chance at writing a few dialogue scripts for the show in February 1999. He then joined Marlene McPherson as one of "Passions" breakdown writers for the series' entire run from 1999-2008. He has been nominated for 3 Daytime Emmy Awards. He was born on September 26, 1964. Tenure: January 1997-March 1999; August 26, 2011-Present.

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHY

ALBERT ALARR

Albert Farrar Alarr has directed primetime episodes of "Home Improvement" and "Homeboys In Outer Space." Alarr has also directed "Port Charles", "General Hospital" and "All My Children." He joined the "Days" staff in March, 2003. He was nominated in 2006 for a Daytime Emmy. Alarr took on double duty as a "Days" producer on September 26, 2011. Alarr was born March 30, 1956. Tenure: March 13, 2003-Present.

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES

GRANT JOHNSON

Grant A. Johnson began his daytime career as a production coordinator on "Capitol." He then became a production assistant and associate director at "Santa Barbara", staying with the show through its finale in 1993. From 1997-1999, he worked on "Sunset Beach" as an editor and associate director, becoming a full-time director in 1998. Johnson then was a director at "Passions" from 2000-2003 and "General Hospital" in 2004. Johnson has been nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (once in 1999 as an editor on "Sunset Beach" and once as a director in 2005 for "General Hospital"). Johnson is married to wife Christine. He was born on March 18, 1961. Tenure: July 26, 2007-Present.

PHIL SOGARD

Phillip Wayne Sogard directed "General Hospital" before joining "Days" as a guest director in 1992. He joined the "Days" staff full-time in mid-1993. He has been nominated for Daytime Emmys six times, in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2006. Sogard was born April 6, 1933, and, at age 79, is the oldest director on staff. Tenure: 1992-Present.

HERB STEIN

Herbert David Stein is the dean of the "Days" directors, having been with the show full-time since 1976 as a stage manager. He was promoted to associate director in 1978 and had his directorial debut with "Days" in 1982. He joined the directing staff full-time in January, 1983. In 1991, he won a Daytime Emmy for writing the "CBS Schoolbreak Special: American Eyes." He's been nominated for 11 Daytime Emmys while with "Days", in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2006. Stein also directs many theater productions in his spare time and is a professor at UCLA in California. He is married to wife Jessica. Tenure: 1976-Present (as director: January 12, 1983-Present).

KAREN WILKENS

Karen Wilkens began her career as a production secretary for "Another World" and "Guiding Light" in the late 1980's. She was later a director at "Passions" for its entire nine-year run from 1999-2008. In recent years, she has directed "The Young and the Restless" and Crystal Chappell's online series "Venice" as well as stage managing at "The Wanda Sykes Show" and NFL Network's "Total Access Live." She has been nominated for two Daytime Emmys. Wilkens has a black belt in karate. Karen Angela Wilkens was born on October 31, 1966. Tenure: January 3, 2012-Present.

WRITER BIOGRAPHIES

CAROLYN CULLITON

Carolyn DeMoney Culliton began her soap career as secretary to soap opera executive Paul Rauch in 1983. Her first writing assignment was at "Guiding Light" from 1983-1984. She has also written for "Another World" (1984-1991, 1994-1995, 1998-1999), "All My Children" (1992-1993), "Guiding Light" (1995, 2002-2003), "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 thirteen Daytime Emmys (twice in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009), winning three times (2001, 2002 and 2008). 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 ten Daytime Emmys (1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003), winning once in 1991. 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-Present.

RICK DRAUGHON

Richard Lamar Draughon began his career as the assistant to the executive producers of "Party of Five" from 1994-1997. During this time, he began writing several scripts for "Loving" in 1994 and "Another World" in 1996. Draughon then went on to write for "Sunset Beach" from 1997-1999. From 2000-2001, he was the "Days" website producer, in charge of all the web content on the official site. Draughon was on the "Days" writing staff from 2002-2006, as the story continuity supervisor and a breakdown writer. He wrote briefly for "The Young and the Restless" in late 2006. In 2007, he created and wrote the Internet soap "Coastal Dreams." He returned to "Days" in April 2008. Draughon was born July 14, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. Tenure: May 2000-November 16, 2006; April 30, 2008-Present.

CHRISTOPHER DUNN


Christopher Dunn has been named a breakdown writer at "Days of Our Lives." 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) and "All My Children" (2009-2011). Dunn has been nominated for 6 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning once in 2007 for his work on "Guiding Light." Christopher Charles Dunn, 53, was born on February 21, 1958. He has been married to soap opera director Catherine Sedwick since 1991. They have a 14-year old daughter, Emma. Tenure: June 14, 2011-Present.

LACEY DYER

Lacey Dyer first worked at "Days" as a writer's assistant from March 2, 2010-June 13, 2011. She is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. Lacey J. Dyer, 25, was born on September 15, 1986 in Presque Isle, Maine. Tenure: October 20, 2011-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 is currently the show's script editor. 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.

VICTOR GIALANELLA

Victor L. Gialanella's first claim to fame was his Broadway play "Frankenstein", which ended up opening and closing on the same day in 1981. He wrote for "Guiding Light" from 1983-1987 and first joined the "Days" staff as a dialogue writer in 1994, staying for over 10 years until June 2006. Gialanella wrote for "One Life to Live" from 2006-2007. He was the co-head writer of "Days" for brief periods in 2003 and 2008. He has been nominated for four Daytime Emmys (three nominations while at "Days" in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and winning once in 1986 for "Guiding Light"). Gialanella was born on October 29, 1949 in New Jersey. He is married to Cynthia and they have two daughters: Alicia (born 1996) and Rebecca (born 1999). Tenure: October 1994-June 19, 2006; April 23, 2008-October 10, 2008; February 9, 2012-Present.

DAVID A. LEVINSON

David A. Levinson began his daytime career as an office production assistant at "Sunset Beach" in 1997. He was promoted to assistant to the executive producer in 1998, and to research & continuity supervisor in 1999. Levinson began his writing career at "One Life to Live" from 2001-2002. He later for "All My Children" from 2003-2004 and "As the World Turns" from 2006-2010. Levinson has been nominated for 3 Daytime Emmys (2002, 2004 and 2010). He was born on July 29, 1974 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Tenure: September 6, 2011-Present.

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" as the writers' assistant in 2007 and wrote his first trial script for the show in September 2008. He did double duty as both the writers' assistant and trial script writer from September 2009-December 2009, and later joined the writing staff full time from December 28, 2009-March 17, 2011, all the while continuing to also be the writers' assistant. In September 2011, he became a breakdown writer. Quan was born on September 9, 1977 in California. Tenure: Writers' Assistant: April 3, 2007-Present. Staff Writer: December 28, 2009-March 17, 2011; September 1, 2011-Present.

PETER T. RICH

Peter Thompson Rich begin his daytime writing career at "Guiding Light" from 1984-1993. He then briefly wrote for "Santa Barbara" and "Days" in 1993, followed by "All My Children" (1994-1996), "Guiding Light" (1997-1999) and "Passions" (1999-2008). He has been nominated for 12 Daytime Emmys, including one in the music category as a composer for a "Passions" song. He has won 3 Daytime Emmys (1986, 1990, 1993). Rich was born on January 3, 1955. Tenure: October 4, 2011-Present.

ROGER SCHROEDER

Roger Michael Schroeder made his daytime writing debut with "Days of Our Lives" when he joined the staff on October 27, 2011. Schroeder was born on June 11, 1956 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tenure: October 27, 2011-Present.

ELIZABETH SNYDER

Elizabeth F. Snyder began her writing career at "General Hospital" from 1989-1993. She later wrote for "Another World" from 1995-1996, "Sunset Beach" from 1997-1999, "Port Charles" in 2000, and "The Bold and the Beautiful" from 2003-2010. She also briefly wrote for "Days" in 2003. Snyder has been nominated for 6 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning her first Emmy in 2010 for her work on "The Bold and the Beautiful." Tenure: July 2003-August 2003; September 1, 2011-Present.

NANCY WILLIAMS WATT

Nancy Williams Watt began her daytime career as a secretary to the writing staff on "All My Children" frim 1979-1981. Her first writing assignment was at "Search for Tomorrow" from 1983-1985. Williams Watt then moved to "Guiding Light" from 1986-1999 and "Passions" from 1999-2007. She has been nominated for 8 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice, both for "Guiding Light", in 1990 and 1993. Nancy D. Williams Watt was born on June 9, 1948. She is married to Stephen Watt. Tenure: September 13, 2011-Present.