Deborah Pratt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deborah Pratt
Pratt at the 2023 WonderCon
Born	December 16, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Deborah Pratt-Bellisario, Deborah M. Pratt
Alma mater	Webster University
Occupation	Actress writer producer director
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Donald P. Bellisario ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 1991)​
Children	2, including Troian Bellisario

Deborah M. Pratt is an American director, writer, television producer, and actress. She is known for her work on the TV series Quantum Leap, where she was a co-creator, executive producer, and head writer. She also voiced the computer "Ziggy" in the show. Deborah Pratt has worked on many other TV shows and movies, both in front of and behind the camera.

Early life and education

Deborah Pratt was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Geraldine Marian, was a teacher. Her father, Bertram Roberson Pratt, was a vice president at a bank. He also served in the military during World War II. Deborah has four sisters.

She went to Webster University and earned a degree in Psychology. She also studied Theatre at The Conservatory of Theatre Arts.

Career highlights

Deborah Pratt began her career acting on stage in Chicago. She was discovered during a nationwide search and moved to Los Angeles. There, she sang and danced on The Dean Martin Show with The Golddiggers. She also performed with famous dancers like Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor. She toured with actress Debbie Reynolds.

Pratt acted in many popular TV shows. These include Magnum, P.I., Happy Days, and Airwolf. She also appeared in movies like Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone.

Working on Quantum Leap

Deborah Pratt became a very important part of the TV series Quantum Leap. She was the showrunner, which means she was the co-creator, executive producer, and head writer. The show was created by her husband at the time, Donald P. Bellisario. Pratt also lent her voice to the show as the narrator and the computer character named Ziggy.

Other TV and film work

After Quantum Leap, Pratt continued to work behind the scenes. In 1992, she was an executive producer for Tequila and Bonetti. She also developed and produced The Net for TV in 1998.

In 2000, Deborah Pratt directed her first TV movie, Cora Unashamed. This film was part of Masterpiece Theatre. She also directed an episode of the popular medical drama Grey's Anatomy in 2020.

More recently, Deborah Pratt returned to the world of Quantum Leap. She is an executive producer for the new Quantum Leap series, which started in 2022. She also voiced Ziggy again in this new show and directed an episode called "Family Style" in 2023.

Writing and advocacy

Besides her work in TV and film, Deborah Pratt is also a published author. She has written a science fiction and fantasy book series called The Vision Quest. She also wrote a book called Age of Eve.

Pratt is a strong supporter of women and minority rights in the entertainment industry. She has served on the board of directors for the Writers Guild of America. She is also part of committees at the Directors Guild of America.

Awards and recognition

Deborah Pratt has received many awards for her work. She has been nominated for five Emmy Awards. She also won a Golden Block Award and several festival awards for her short films.

Filmography

Film roles

Television roles and production work

Discography

Images for kids

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  Pratt at the 2023 WonderCon

See also

In Spanish: Deborah Pratt para niños