Mary-Ellis Bunim
Born(1946-07-09)July 9, 1946
Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 2004(2004-01-29) (aged 57)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television producer, TV Series co-creator
Children1

Mary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules.

Biography

A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas.[1] She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of Search for Tomorrow (1974–1981), As the World Turns (1981–1984), Santa Barbara (1984–1987) and Loving (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.

Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner Jonathan Murray. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and The Real World was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.

Her company, Bunim/Murray Productions, spearheaded the reality show genre. Among the numerous other reality programs and reality game show programs that Bunim co-created over the years, include: Road Rules; Love Cruise; Making the Band; The Challenge (formerly known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge and spun off from The Real World and Road Rules); the reality feature film, The Real Cancun; the real-life daily syndication, Starting Over; as well as Fox's The Simple Life.[1]

Death

Bunim died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.[2]

She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).[3]

Bunim and Murray were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2012.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, a Producer and Pioneer in Reality TV". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 3, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "'Real World' co-creator dies". CNN. January 31, 2004. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Variety
  4. ^ Flaherty, Mike (January 8, 2018). "Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray: Hall of Fame Tribute". Emmys. Retrieved July 10, 2018.

External links

Preceded byBernie Sofronski Executive producer of Search for Tomorrow January 1974 – October 1981 Succeeded byFred Bartholomew Preceded byFred Bartholomew Executive producer of As the World Turns Fall 1981 – October 1984 Succeeded byRobert Calhoun Preceded byBridget and Jerome DobsonJeffrey Hayden Executive producer of Santa Barbara(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson) October 1984 – November 1987 Succeeded byJill Farren Phelps Preceded byJoseph Hardy Executive producer of Loving December 3, 1989 – April 1990 Succeeded byJacqueline Babbin
The Real World
Road Rules
The Challenge
Television Hall of Fame Class of 2012
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