Richard Culliton is an American television writer known for his work on soap operas. He has won three Writers Guild of America awards -- including one as a headwriter -- and one Daytime Emmy award. He is an alumnus of Northwestern University. His wife, Carolyn Culliton, is also a veteran writer for American soap operas. The first TIME cover devoted to soap operas: Dated January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of our Lives are featured with the headline Soap Operas: Sex and suffering in the afternoon. A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of fiction, usually broadcast on television... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries in the United States. ... Northwestern University (NU) is a selective private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university with campuses located in Evanston, Illinois and downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... This article, image, template or category should belong in one or more categories. ...

Early career

Culliton began his television career in the early 1980s writing for the soap Texas and then co-head-writing, in 1983, the CBS soap Guiding Light (incidentally, the longest running drama in the history of American radio and television broadcasting, having started on radio in 1937). This writing for Guiding Light, with Pam Long as headwriter, included the early period of the friendship between the "Four Musketeers" characters (Phillip, Beth, Rick, and Mindy). The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ...

After this, he served as head writer of Another World from 1984 - 1985. The characters of Marley and Wallingford were created during his tenure. In the late 1980s, Culliton returned to the writing staff of Guiding Light for a while. A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... Another World was an NBC soap opera that ran from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. ... This article is about the year. ... This article is about the year. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ...

Then he served in the writing staff of the soap Santa Barbara; he was a script writer and editor when the writing team won a Daytime Emmy in 1991. After this he served in the writing staff of the ABC soap All My Children from 1991-1993 under the leadership of Megan McTavish and Felicia Minei Behr. All My Children (AMC) is a popular American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Megan McTavish (born April 30, 1949 in Pembroke, New Hampshire) is an American soap opera writer, most known for her head writing stints on All My Children. ... Felicia Minei Behr is an American TV producer who has worked on 3 daytime serials. ...

Mid to late 1990s

He kept very busy in the late 1990's. He was one of the headwriters for As The World Turns in 1995, and received a Daytime Emmy nomination for it. A major storyline of his at that show was a medical malpractice storyline wherein the character Lisa blamed the character Dr. John Dixon for her husband Eduardo Grimaldi's death. The storyline received considerable critical acclaim, and is regarded by fans as one of the best storylines of the post-Marland period. Many also believe the show's quality deteriorated alarmingly after his departure. As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Douglas Marland (born Marland Messner, May 5, 1935 - March 6, 1993) was an American writer of soap operas. ...

He moved on to head-write General Hospital from the summer of 1996 up to May or June 1997. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his headwriting of this series as well. In 1997, he created the General Hospital spin-off soap Port Charles along with his wife Carolyn, and co-head-wrote it with her for a few months, before being fired. For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... Port Charles was a soap opera which aired on ABC from June 1, 1997 to October 3, 2003. ...

Then from late 1997 to early July 1998, he was headwriter again (as he had been in 1984-1985) for Another World. This was a period of turmoil for the show, with the NBC network demanding significant cast firings. However, Culliton still successfully returned longtime character Cass Winthrop to the frontburner, and brought back the character Marley Love. Culliton stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1999, but from summer 1998 onwards was only a breakdown writer rather than headwriter.

Then he served in the writing staff of Sunset Beach for a few months. Then after taking a short break he briefly joined the writing team of Days of our Lives as a dialogue writer. Sunset Beach was an American soap opera that aired on NBC from January 6, 1997 to December 31, 1999. ... Days of our Lives is an American soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965[2] on the NBC network in the United States, and has since been syndicated to many countries around the world. ...

2000 and beyond

In the summer of 2001 All My Children head writer Jean Passanante was fired and headed to CBS' As the World Turns after creating many unpopular stories on AMC. All My Children needed a new head writer, and Culliton was chosen to take on this job. After a drug pushing storyline (which was actually started by Passanante) dragged on too long, some fans became frustrated at the show's slow pace. One of his more popular decisions was bringing back the character Kendall Hart (originated by Sarah Michelle Gellar, and currently played by Alicia Minshew) in early 2002. He was fired, however, as head writer in late 2002, with his last work airing in December 2002, and two members of his writing staff took on writing duties for a few months until Megan McTavish took over later in 2003. Despite this, he was nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards in 2002 & 2003. All My Children (AMC) is a popular American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970. ... Jean Passanante is an American television writer best known for her work in daytime soap operas. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... All My Children (AMC) is a popular American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970. ... Sarah Michelle Gellar (born April 14, 1977) is an American actress. ... Alicia Minshew, in a still from an opening sequence of All My Children. ... Megan McTavish (born April 30, 1949 in Pembroke, New Hampshire) is an American soap opera writer, most known for her head writing stints on All My Children. ...

In the summer of 2006, Culliton rejoined the writing staff of As The World Turns, as a dialogue writer. As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ...

Writers Guild Awards

Culliton won the Writers Guild of America Award for Daytime Serials in 1998 for General Hospital, where he been headwriter the previous year. Previously, he had also won this award in 1992 when part of the writing staff of Santa Barbara the previous year. In 2007, he won the award again, as part of the writing staff of As The World Turns the previous year; indeed, he didn't just happen to be on the staff, but had been the credited scriptwriter for one of the three scripts submitted by As The World Turns to be judged for the award. He was also nominated for this award in 1989 as part of the writing staff of Guiding Light the previous year, in 1994 as part of the writing staff of All My Children the previous year, and in 2002 as part of the writing staff of Days of Our Lives the previous year. Annual awards given out by the Writers Guild of America for outstanding achievements in film, TV, or radio writing. ... For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ... All My Children (AMC) is a popular American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970. ... Days of our Lives is an American soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965[2] on the NBC network in the United States, and has since been syndicated to many countries around the world. ...

Positions held

All My Children All My Children (AMC) is a popular American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970. ...

• Head Writer (September 6, 2001 - December 10, 2002)
• Associate Head Writer (1991 - 1993)

Another World A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... Another World was an NBC soap opera that ran from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. ...

• Head Writer (March 1984-June 1984, December 1997-May 1998)
• Co-Head Writer (July 1984-January 1985, May 1998-July 1998)
• Associate Head Writer (1985, July 1998-June 25th 1999)
• Script Writer (1986)

As The World Turns A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... As the World Turns (ATWT) is the second longest-running American television soap opera (the first being Guiding Light),[1] airing each weekday on CBS. Set in the fictional town of Oakdale, Illinois, the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956[2] at 1:30pm. ...

• Script Writer (August 11, 2006 - Present)
• Head Writer (1994-1996)

Days of our Lives A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... Days of our Lives is an American soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965[2] on the NBC network in the United States, and has since been syndicated to many countries around the world. ...

• Script Writer (2001)

General Hospital For other uses, see General Hospital (disambiguation). ...

• Head Writer (1996-1997)

Guiding Light A head writer is a person who is in charge of a television/radio series writing team. ... Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975, GL) is an American television program credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television history. ...

• Script Writer (1987-1990)
• Co-Head Writer (1983-1984)

Port Charles Port Charles was a soap opera which aired on ABC from June 1, 1997 to October 3, 2003. ...

• Co-Head Writer (June 1, 1997 - late 1997)

Santa Barbara Santa Barbara was an American soap opera which ran on NBC for 213 episodes from July 30, 1984 to January 15, 1993. ...

• Script Editor/Writer (1990-1991)

Sunset Beach Sunset Beach was an American soap opera that aired on NBC from January 6, 1997 to December 31, 1999. ...

• Script Writer (1999)

Texas Texas (sometimes called Another World in Texas and, later, Texas: The New Generation) was a soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. ...

• Writer