Michael J. O’Hara is an American author, screenwriter and producer.

Early life

O’Hara was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and raised in the Inwood section of Northern Manhattan. He graduated with a B.A. in English and Government from

Manhattan College Manhattan College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts university in the Bronx, New York City. Originally established in 1853 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Christian Brothers) as an academy for day students, it was la ...

Career

After college, O’Hara worked as a political reporter for two

Gannett Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

in the late 1970s and ended up working in the press department at

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

, becoming NBC’s V.P. of West Coast Publicity and, later, an executive producer and screenwriter. His first novel, ''Dos Angeles'', was published in the fall of 2015.

Filmography

Writer

Television series

Chicago Story ''Chicago Story'' is an American crime drama television series that aired for 13 episodes on NBC from March 6 to June 11, 1982, following a 2-hour television film pilot that was broadcast earlier on March 15, 1981. Synopsis The series followed ...

: Not Quite Paradise: Part 1 - 1982 # Chicago Story: Not Quite Paradise: Part 2 - 1982 #

Murder in the Heartland ''Murder in the Heartland'' is a television miniseries that aired on ABC in 1993. It was based on the 1957–58 murder spree carried out by 19-year-old Charles Starkweather throughout Nebraska and Wyoming. Starkweather is played by Tim Roth. The ...

(Mini-Series) - 1993

Television Movies

# Those She Left Behind - 1989 # She Said No - 1990 # Switched at Birth - 1991 # She Woke Up Pregnant - 1996 #

One Hot Summer Night ''One Hot Summer Night'' is a 1998 television movie with Erika Eleniak, Brian Wimmer, Tobin Bell, and Barry Bostwick. The film was directed by James A. Contner. Plot Art Brooks and Kelly Moore are a couple who get married. But Kelly realizes th ...

- 1998 # In His Life: The John Lennon Story - 2000 # 1st to Die - 2003

Executive producer

Television series

# Murder in the Heartland - 1993

Television Movies

# She Said No - 1990 # Switched at Birth - 1991 # Bloodlines: Murder in the Family - 1993 # Moment of Truth: Stalking Back - 1993 # Moment of Truth: To Walk Again - 1994 # Moment of Truth: Broken Pledges - 1994 # Moment of Truth: Cradle of Conspiracy - 1994 # Heart of a Child - 1994 # Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics - 1994 # Moment of Truth: Caught in the Crossfire - 1994 # Moment of Truth: Cult Rescue - 1994 # The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1995 # Deceived by Trust: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1995 #

Eye of the Stalker ''Eye of the Stalker'' (a.k.a. ''Moment of Truth: Eye of the Stalker'' and ''Eye of the Stalker: A Moment of Truth Story'') is a 1995 American made-for-television thriller film directed by Reza Badiyi. Based on a true story, the film is an origi ...

- 1995 # Justice for Annie: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1996 # A Secret Between Friends: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1996 # She Woke Up Pregnant - 1996 # Abduction of Innocence - 1996 # Badge of Betrayal - 1997 #

A Child's Wish ''A Child's Wish'' is a 1997 American made-for-television drama film based on actual events. John Ritter stars as a father of a terminally ill 16-year-old girl portrayed by Anna Chlumsky. Plot Ritter portrays Ed Chandler, a father who is fired fr ...

- 1997 # Moment of Truth: Into the Arms of Danger - 1997 # The Accident: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1997 # Shattered Hearts: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1998 # I Know What You Did - 1998 # Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1998 # One Hot Summer Night - 1998 # Nobody Lives Forever - 1998 # Broken Silence: A Moment of Truth Movie - 1998 # Someone to Love Me - 1998 # In His Life: The John Lennon Story - 2000 # 1st to Die - 2003

Awards

Besides an

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

nomination ("Switched at Birth"), other honors include: a

Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organization ...

(“A Child’s Wish”); a

Prism Award The Entertainment Industries Council is a United States non-profit organization founded in 1983 that promotes the depiction of accurate health and social issues in film, television, music, and comic books. The Council provides guidelines on the depi ...

(“The Accident”); and the Media Award from The National Council on Problem Gambling (“Playing to Win.”)

Personal life

O’Hara and his wife Doris live in Malibu, California. They have two children, Mariah and John.

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:OHara, Michael American male writers American male screenwriters Television producers from New York City Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Screenwriters from New York City Manhattan College alumni American television writers American male television writers