Patricia Falken Smith (January 21, 1926 – May 19, 2001) was a

television writer A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

, best known for her being

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 ...

of several

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 ...

s, including ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...

'' and ''

Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...

''.

Positions held

'' Where the Heart Is'' * Head Writer: 1970-1972 ''

'' *Head Writer: May 1975 - April 19, 1977, October 21, 1981 - April 16, 1982 *Script Writer: 1966, 1968-1971, 1972-1975 *Story Consultant: 1987-1988 ''

'' *Head Writer: 1979-1981, 1985-1986, 1988-1989 ''

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 ...

'' *Head Writer: 1982-1983 ''

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 ...

'' *Head Writer: 1983-1985

Career

Smith served as the Head Writer for ''Days of our Lives'' from 1975 - 1977, where she earned a salary of $285,000 a year, considered very high for that time, which included $35,000 just for "thinking creatively." She won the "Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series"

Daytime Emmy Award 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 ...

for ''Days of our Lives'' in 1976 and 1977. She returned to ''Days of our Lives'' in 1981 where she introduced the Brady and DiMera families. Smith was hired by

Gloria Monty Gloria Monty (August 12, 1921 – March 30, 2006) was an American television producer working primarily in the field of daytime drama. Education Born Gloria Montemuro in Allenhurst, New Jersey and raised in the West Allenhurst neighborhood of O ...

to head write

ABC Daytime ABC Daytime (sometimes shortened to ABC-D or ABCD) is a division responsible for the daytime programming block on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC Network and syndicated programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game ...

's ''General Hospital'' from 1979 - 1981 and she is credited with taking the show to the top of the soap ratings. Smith was reported to be the highest paid writer in broadcasting history when she left ''

'' in 1981, at $1 million per year. Then Smith went to ''

'' in 1982, where she served as Head Writer for less than 13 weeks.Allen, Robert C. (1985). Speaking of Soap Operas, p.53, UNC Press, She went on to serve as Head Writer of ''

'' before returning as Head Writer of ''

'' two more times in the 1980s. (1985-1986, 1988-1989). She died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, on May 19, 2001, aged 75.

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 *(1976; Best Writing; ''Days of Our Lives'') NOMINATIONS *(1975, 1977 & 1978; Best Writing; ''Days of Our Lives'') *(1981 & 1986; Best Writing; ''General Hospital'')

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 ...

NOMINATIONS *(1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978 seasons; ''Days of Our Lives'')

Notes and references

External links

*
Obituary for Pat Falken Smith on SoapCentral
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Pat Falken American soap opera writers 1926 births 2001 deaths American women television writers Daytime Emmy Award winners Place of birth missing Women soap opera writers 20th-century American screenwriters 20th-century American women writers