Leah Laiman
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Leah Laiman is an American soap opera writer and romance novelist.
[edit] Background
This Emmy Award winning writer got her start on daytime during an early 1980s writers strike on General Hospital, when, along with Thom Racina, she wrote that show's famous "Ice Princess" storyline. She then went with Racina to Days of Our Lives to work with Sheri Anderson where the three wrote Bo and Hope's marriage in England and co-created the character of Steve "Patch" Johnson and introduced John Black to the show.
In 1986, Laiman became head writer and created the character of Jack Deveraux and developed the popular romance of Patch Johnson and Dr. Kayla Brady. After Days of Our Lives, Laiman moved to One Life to Live, where she stayed as staff writer from 1990 through 1997 and served as head writer from 1990 to 1991 and then again from 1996 to 1997. In 1998, she took a job at the ailing NBC soap Another World. She and executive producer Christopher Goutman were credited by some with improving the show, but ultimately the show was cancelled in June 1999.
Her next job was at As the World Turns. Behind the scenes conditions quickly deteriorated when Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, Executive In Charge Of Production for As the World Turns, pressured Laiman to write many storylines that she didn't want to write. In 2000, Laiman left As the World Turns and turned to writing novels for 5 years. Laiman was rehired on As the World Turns in 2005 as co-head writer.
[edit] Positions Held
- Co-Head Writer (1998 - June 25, 1999)
- Associate Head Writer (1998; March 3, 2005 - Early 2006)
- Head Writer (August 1999 - August 2000)
- Co-Head Writer (Early 2006- Present)
- Breakdown Writer (1991)
- Head Writer (1988-1989)
- Co-Head Writer (1986-1988)
- Writer (1981-1984)
- Breakdown Writer (1993)
- Co-Head Writer (1996-1998)
[edit] Awards & Nominations
- NOMINATION (2000 & 2006; Best Writing; As the World Turns)
- WIN (2001; Best Writing; As the World Turns)
- NOMINATION (1990; Best Writing; One Life to Live)
- NOMINATION (1984, 1985, 1987; Best Writing; Days of Our Lives)
- NOMINATION (1983 & 1984; Best Writing; General Hospital)
Writers Guild of America Award NOMINATIONS
- (1998 & 2005 Season; As the World Turns)
- (1994 Season; Guiding Light)
- (1987 & 1991 Season; Days of Our Lives)
| Preceded by: Sheri Anderson Thom Racina |
Head Writer of Days of Our Lives October 1986 - March 28, 1989 |
Succeeded by: Anne Howard Bailey |
| Preceded by: Richard Culliton and Jean Passanante |
Head Writer of Another World July 1998 - June 1999 |
Succeeded by: none |
| Preceded by: Lorraine Broderick |
Head Writer of As the World Turns August 1999 - August 2000 |
Succeeded by: Hogan Sheffer |
