Irna Phillips (July 1, 1901 – December 22, 1973) was an American actress and most notably writer who created and scripted many of the first American soap operas. She is considered by many to be the "mother" of the genre.
Phillips is best known for creating radio and TV soap operas. She created or co-created the following soap operas:
Phillips also was a creative consultant on Peyton Place (1964-1969), and was an unofficial consultant on A World A...
more
Irna Phillips (July 1, 1901 – December 22, 1973) was an American actress and most notably writer who created and scripted many of the first American soap operas. She is considered by many to be the "mother" of the genre.
Phillips is best known for creating radio and TV soap operas. She created or co-created the following soap operas:
Phillips also was a creative consultant on Peyton Place (1964-1969), and was an unofficial consultant on A World Apart, which was created by her adopted daughter Katherine (some of the story elements were reportedly based on Phillips' own life).
She is recognized as one of the most important pioneers in television history, and as the originator of the daytime TV drama (i.e. television soap opera). She was also the mentor to Agnes Nixon, the creator of All My Children and One Life to Live, and William J. Bell, the creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Phillips was one of ten children born to a German Jewish family in Chicago...
less
