Pat Falken Smith
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Patricia "Pat" Falken Smith (January 21, 1926 – May 19, 2001) was a television writer, most famous for her stints as head writer of several soap operas, including General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.
Smith was the head writer for Days of Our Lives from 1973-77. Smith became the head writer at General Hospital from 1979-82, where she was credited for returning the soap to the top of the ratings.
She was lured from General Hospital to Guiding Light, where she served as head writer for less than 13 weeks.[1]
Smith went on to serve as head writer of Ryan's Hope and again at Days of Our Lives.
Smith won the "Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series" Daytime Emmy for Days of Our Lives in 1976 and 1977.
Smith is credited with taking General Hospital to the top of the soap ratings during her stint as head writer, which included the highest rated episode in soaps history, the wedding of Luke and Laura, November 16, 1981 (with more than 30 million viewers).
Smith was reported to be the highest paid writer in broadcasting when she left General Hospital in soap opera writer in history in 1982, at $1 million per year."[2]
| Preceded by: William J. Bell |
Head Writer of Days of Our Lives 1973-77 |
Succeeded by: Ann Marcus |
| Preceded by: Douglas Marland |
Head Writer of General Hospital 1979-82 |
Succeeded by: Robert S. Shaw |
| Preceded by: Gary Tomlin Michele Poteet-Lisanti |
Head Writer of Days of Our Lives 1981-1982 |
Succeeded by: Margaret DePriest Sheri Anderson |
| Preceded by: Douglas Marland |
Head Writer of Guiding Light 1982-83 |
Succeeded by: L. Virginia Brown |
| Preceded by: Claire Labine Paul Avila Mayer |
Head Writer of Ryan's Hope 1983-85 |
Succeeded by: Millee Taggert Tom King |
[edit] External links
- Patricia Falken Smith at the Internet Movie Database
- [1] Obituary for Pat Falken Smith on SoapCentral
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Allen, Robert C. (1985). Speaking of Soap Operas, p.53, UNC Press, ISBN 0-8078-4129-3
- ^ Allen, Robert C. (1985). Speaking of Soap Operas, p.49, UNC Press, ISBN 0-8078-4129-3
