Mary Ryan Munisteri was an American television

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

writer. She was head writer of ''

Ryan's Hope ''Ryan's Hope'' is an American soap opera created by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer, airing for 13 years on ABC from July 7, 1975, to January 13, 1989. It revolves around the trials and tribulations within a large Irish-American family in th ...

'' (1982–83), ''

Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the third longest-running drama in television in American history. ''Guiding Light'' a ...

'' (1986), and '' Loving'' (1991). She wrote ''Mandy's Grandmother'', a children special, which aired in 1981. She has three children, Matt Munisteri (musician), Ben Munisteri (choreographer), and Adele Munisteri (yoga teacher). She died on January 29, 2022.

Positions held

'' * Head writer: May 1986-October 1986 '' Loving'' *

Head writer A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits. In fictional comedy o ...

: August 1991-December 1991 ''

'' * Head writer: August 1982 - January 1983 * Associate head writer: August 1975 - July 1982, January 1983– May 1984

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences ...

Wins *(1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983 & 1984; Best Writing; ''Ryan's Hope'') *(1981; Best Writing; ''Mandy's Grandmother'')

Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. Eligibility Th ...

Wins *(1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984 seasons; ''Ryan's Hope'') Nominations *(1980 season; ''Ryan's Hope'')

Connection to Ryan's Hope

Mary Ryan Munisteri was friends with Claire Labine and the inspirational namesake for the character of "Mary Ryan" from Ryan's Hope.

Head Writer A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits. In fictional comedy o ...
Tenure

References

External links