Christopher Whitesell

Christopher Whitesell
Christopher Whitesell
Born	Iowa Falls, Iowa, U.S.
Occupation	Television writer
Family	Sean Whitesell (brother); Patrick Whitesell (brother); John Whitesell (brother); Jim Whitesell (brother); Maria Quiban (sister-in-law)

Christopher Whitesell is an American television soap opera writer. He has served as either co-head writer, associate head writer, or a breakdown writer on the shows he has worked. In April 2012, he was named co-head writer of Days of Our Lives with Gary Tomlin, replacing Marlene Clark McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas who had been let go.^[1]

Biography

He is the son of Patricia and John Patrick "Jack" Whitesell.^[2]^[3] His brothers are the late film and television actor Sean Whitesell, Thomas Whitesell, talent agent Patrick Whitesell, college basketball coach James Whitesell, and director John Whitesell.^[4]^[5]^[3]

Positions held

Another World

Associate head writer: 1988–1991, 1995–1996

As the World Turns

Breakdown writer: 1987–1988 (hired by Douglas Marland), 2003–2005 (hired by Hogan Sheffer)
Co-head writer: May 25, 2005 – October 17, 2007 (with Jean Passanante & Leah Laiman)

Days of Our Lives

Associate head writer: 2000–2001
Co-head writer: October 13, 2008 – June 13, 2011 (with Dena Higley, (hired by Gary Tomlin)
Co-headwriter: August 17, 2012 – August 18, 2015 (with Gary Tomlin, (hired by Ken Corday)

General Hospital

Co-head writer: May – December 5, 1997
Associate head writer: 1997
Breakdown writer: November 20, 2015 – December 1, 2017

Guiding Light

Associate head writer: 1984–1986

One Life to Live

Co-head writer: 2001 – January 31, 2003
Associate head writer: 1993–1995 (hired by Michael Malone)

Sunset Beach

Co-head writer: January 8, 1998 – December 31, 1999 (with Meg Bennett: till October 8, 1998; then Margaret DePriest)

The Young and the Restless

Breakdown writer: June 21, 2011 – June 11, 2012

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards

NOMINATIONS

(2006; Best Writing; As the World Turns)
(1995 & 2002; Best Writing; One Life to Live)
(1989; Best Writing; Another World)
(1985; Best Writing; Guiding Light)

WINS

(2004–2005; Best Writing; As the World Turns)
(1994; Best Writing; One Life to Live)
(1986; Best Writing; Guiding Light)

Writers Guild of America Award

NOMINATIONS

2005 season; As the World Turns
2001 season; Days of Our Lives
1997 & 1998 season; General Hospital
1997 season; Another World
1994 season; One Life to Live
1984 & 1985 season; Guiding Light

HW history

Preceded by Richard Culliton (no HW listed before they joined)	*Head writer of General Hospital* (with Janet Iacobuzio)** June 16–December 5, 1997	Succeeded by Robert Guza Jr.
Preceded by Meg Bennett	Head writer of Sunset Beach (with Meg Bennett: January 8, 1998 - October 5, 1998) (with Margaret DePriest: October 9, 1998 – December 31, 1999) January 8, 1998 – December 31, 1999	Succeeded by Show Canceled
Preceded by Megan McTavish	*Head writer of One Life to Live* (with Lorraine Broderick)** May 7, 2001 – December 13, 2002	Succeeded by Lorraine Broderick
Preceded by Hogan Sheffer Jean Passanante	*Head writer of As the World Turns* (with Jean Passanante and Leah Laiman)** May 25, 2005 – October 17, 2007	Succeeded by Jean Passanante Leah Laiman
Preceded by Dena Higley Rick Draughon	*Head writer of Days of Our Lives* (with Dena Higley)** October 13, 2008 – June 13, 2011	Succeeded by Dena Higley
Preceded by Marlene Clark Poulter Darrell Ray Thomas Jr.	*Head writer of Days of Our Lives* (with Gary Tomlin)** August 17, 2012 – August 18, 2015	Succeeded by Josh Griffith Dena Higley

References

^ As the writing room turns Archived 2012-04-07 at the Wayback Machine, Daytime Confidential, April 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
^ Chicago Sun-Times: "Celebrity Status: Like Rest of Family, Whitesell at Home on Stage -- Only His Is Gentile Center" by Toni Ginnetti January 30, 2006
^ ^a ^b The Courier: "Iowa Falls family finds ties to show business" by Jessica Miller Mar 12, 2001
^ Deadline: "Sean Whitesell Dies: Television Writer-Producer And Brother Of WME’s Patrick Whitesell Was 52" by Ross A. Lincoln December 31, 2015
^ The Wrap: "Sean Whitesell, TV Writer and Brother of WME’s Patrick Whitesell, Dead at 52" by Jeff Sneider December 31, 2015

External links

[1] As the writing room turns Archived 2012-04-07 at the Wayback Machine, Daytime Confidential, April 4, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-31.

[2] Chicago Sun-Times: "Celebrity Status: Like Rest of Family, Whitesell at Home on Stage -- Only His Is Gentile Center" by Toni Ginnetti January 30, 2006

[CourierShow-3] The Courier: "Iowa Falls family finds ties to show business" by Jessica Miller Mar 12, 2001

[Deadline-4] Deadline: "Sean Whitesell Dies: Television Writer-Producer And Brother Of WME’s Patrick Whitesell Was 52" by Ross A. Lincoln December 31, 2015

[5] The Wrap: "Sean Whitesell, TV Writer and Brother of WME’s Patrick Whitesell, Dead at 52" by Jeff Sneider December 31, 2015

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]