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



GARY TOMLIN
Head writer Gary Tomlin began his career as an actor on such shows as "Search For Tomorrow", "The Waltons" and "Another World". He switched to writing and was a dialogue writer at "Days" from February-October 1980. He was then the head writer (along with Michelle Poteet Lisanti) at "Days" from October 20, 1980-October 20, 1981. He later wrote for "Texas", "Search For Tomorrow", "Another World" and "Santa Barbara." Tomlin switched to producing in 1995 and had stints at "All My Children", "Sunset Beach" and "One Life to Live." From 2003-2008, Tomlin began the next phase of his career, as a director on "Passions." From September 2008-September 2011, Tomlin was the Co-Executive Producer of "Days." He has been nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (in 1989 and 2002). Gary D. Tomlin, 62, was born March 6, 1950 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gary D. Tomlin was born March 6, 1950 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tenure: February, 1980-October 20, 1981; September 17, 2008-September 2, 2011; August 17, 2012-Present.


 

CHRISTOPHER WHITESELL

Head writer Christopher Whitesell has a long history in daytime, beginning in 1984 with "Guiding Light." He was on the writing staffs of "Guiding Light", "As the World Turns", "Another World" and "One Life to Live" before being named to his first co-head writing position, on "General Hospital", in 1997. From 1998-1999, he was the co-head writer on "Sunset Beach." Whitesell then was a breakdown and dialogue writer at "Days" from March 2000-March 2001. He later was co-head writer on "One Life to Live" from 2001-2003 and "As the World Turns" from 2003-2008. From October 2008-June 2011, Whitesell was the co-head writer at "Days." He wrote for "The Young and the Restless" from 2011-2012. Whitesell has been nominated for 14 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning five times (in 1986 for "Guiding Light"; 1994 for "One Life to Live"; 2004 and 2005 for "As the World Turns"; and 2012 for "Days"). Christopher Joseph Whitesell was born on January 17, 1957 in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Tenure: March 2000-March 2001; October 13, 2008-June 13, 2011; August 17, 2012-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).

STEVEN WILLIFORD

Steven Williford began his directing career in regional theater, and has directed over 40 regional plays. His daytime career began at "Guiding Light" from 2001-2002. He later went on to direct "As the World Turns" (2002-2004) and "All My Children" (2004-2011). He has been nominated for 3 Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on "All My Children." Jerry Steven Williford was born on September 22, 1956 in North Carolina. Tenure: March 2, 2012-Present.

WRITER BIOGRAPHIES

LORRAINE BRODERICK
Breakdown writer Lorraine Broderick Delehanty once taught English as a Second Language. She was also an associate dean and professor at Wesleyan University. She began her daytime career as a writer for "All My Children" from 1979-1991. She has also written for "Guiding Light" (1992-1993), "Another World" (1994-1995), "All My Children" (1995-1997), "As the World Turns" (1998-1999), "Port Charles" (2000-2001), "One Life to Live" (2001-2004), "Guiding Light" (2004-2005), "All My Children" (2010-2012). This is Broderick's second stint with "Days." She was the show's head writer, briefly, for 19 episodes from October 15, 1999-November 10, 1999. Broderick has been nominated for 15 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning six times (1985, 1988, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Broderick was born January 17, 1949 in Andover, Massachusetts and is married to Ronald Delehanty. Tenure: October 15, 1999-November 10, 1999; August 17, 2012-Present.

DAVID CHERRILL

David Cherrill (born Christopher David Colson) begins his second stint with "Days" as a staff writer. He started his career in the 1970s as an actor, most notably as Tom Hughes on "As the World Turns." He has been a writer since 1981, working on "As The World Turns" (1981, 1998-1999), "Search For Tomorrow" (1982-1983), "Another World" (1984-1989) and "One Life to Live" (1995-1997, 2001-2004). Cherrill has been nominated for 7 Daytime Emmys (1985, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2012), winning in 1994 and in 2012. He uses his wife's first name, Cherrill, as his last name. They have two daughters, Katherine and Emily. Cherrill was born on December 23, 1941 in Detroit, Michigan. Tenure: December 26, 2008-June 29, 2011; March 28, 2013-Present.

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 15 Daytime Emmys (twice in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012), winning four times (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2012). 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 11 Daytime Emmys (1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2012), winning twice (1991 and 2012). 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." Draughon returned to "Days" in April 2008. He has been nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards (2011, 2012), winning once (2012). 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 7 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (in 2007 and 2012). 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.

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 a script 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.

JANET IACOBUZIO

Script writer Janet Iacobuzio started her writing career with "Another World" from 1989-1992 (and returned from 1994-1995). She has also written for "All My Children" (1993-1994, 2000-2003), "General Hospital" (1997-1998), "Sunset Beach" (1998-1999), "One Life to Live" (2005-2009) and "As the World Turns" (1996, 2009-2010). She has been nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy Awards, winning twice (for "One Life to Live" in 2008 and for "Days" in 2012). Iacobuzio, 50, was born February 1, 1962 in Port Chester, New York. Tenure: March 25, 2011-February 15, 2012; August 17, 2012-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." Tenure: April 1992-March 2004; October 13, 2008-August 25, 2011; August 17, 2012-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. He has been nominated twice for Daytime Emmy Awards (2011, 2012), winning once (2012). 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.

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, 47, was born on December 31, 1964. Tenure: August 17, 2012-Present.

MELISSA SALMONS
Script writer Melissa Lynne Salmons started her writing career for "Guiding Light" (1987-1991, 2004-2006). She has also written for "Another World" (1999), "The Young and the Restless" (2008-2009) and "One Life to Live" (2009-2012). She has also written for the animated MTV series "Liquid Television." Salmons has received 6 Daytime Emmy nominations, winning twice (1990, 2005). Salmons, 53, was born on October 1, 1958. Tenure: August 17, 2012-Present.