Beth Sullivan

Beth Sullivan (born August 29, 1949 in Burbank, California) is an American film and television writer and producer, best known as the creator of the long-running CBS series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."

Sullivan's great uncle Jack Sullivan won an Academy Award in 1937 for his work on "The Charge of the Light Brigade". The entertainment business then skipped a generation until Sullivan pursued a career in the television industry. She was formerly married to Jim Knobeloch and now lives with their children, Tess and Jack, in northern California.

Sullivan most recently created, wrote and executive produced "Ponderosa," a ION Television-NBC one-hour dramatic series prequel to the classic TV series "Bonanza." "Ponderosa" completed filming its first season two-hour pilot and 18 one-hour episodes in Melbourne in March 2002.

In May of that year, about to begin production on the second season, Sullivan was a passenger in an auto accident and suffered catastrophic injuries that required extensive hospital care and long-term recovery. She was able to return to the U.S. in 2007 and resume her writing career, completing a movie for Lifetime Television before the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.

Sullivan created and served as executive producer of "Dr. Quinn" (a co-production of The Sullivan Company and CBS Entertainment Productions). In doing so, she was the first woman to succeed in a singular capacity in the traditionally male arena of one-hour drama "showrunners." The series received numerous Emmy and People’s Choice Award nominations, as well as winning several Emmys and a Golden Globe Award. In addition, the show attained widespread community acknowledgment, receiving the Heroes Memorial Foundation of the United States of America Founder’s Award for honorable recognition of Native Americans, the Genesis Award for spotlighting animal issues, the Family Film Award for promoting family values, the Environmental Media Award for raising environmental awareness, as well as a citation from the Library of Congress for the promotion of literacy.

Prior to "Doctor Quinn," Sullivan created and served as co-executive producer of the Emmy- and Golden Globe Award-winning one-hour drama series "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill."

Sullivan has brought her interest in drama to prime time made-for-television movies, as well. In the 1989-90 season, two of Sullivan’s telefilms, which dealt with timely social issues, aired on both NBC and CBS. Most notably, "" dramatized the landmark federal lawsuit that resulted in legislation to strengthen police responsibility toward battered wives. It earned both critical acclaim and the highest movie rating of the season. In addition, it received a special commendation from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for its use as a training instrument for law enforcement officers. Sullivan was also honored for her efforts on behalf of the Los Angeles County Domestic Violence Council.

Sullivan is a past member of the Writers Guild of America - West Board of Directors and a former Trustee of the Guild Foundation. She is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television and a former development and production executive in the television division of 20th Century Fox Studio. Ms. Sullivan has lectured in the UCLA Writers Program and at the American Film Institute.

For her contributions to the television industry, Sullivan received its highest award for a woman, the Life Achievement Award from the American Women in Radio and Television organization. As well, she has received top honors from the Women’s American Medical Association, the National Organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the YWCA USA, Catholics In the Media, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and an Emmy citation from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for her contributions to the medium.