Diane English facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diane English
Diane English on the set of The Women
Born	(1948-05-18) May 18, 1948 (age 77) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Buffalo State College
Occupation	Director screenwriter producer
Spouse(s)	Joel Shukovsky ​ (m. 1977⁠–⁠2010)​

Diane English, born on May 18, 1948, is an American writer, producer, and director. She is famous for creating the TV show Murphy Brown. This show won many awards, including 18 Emmy Awards! Diane also wrote and directed the movie The Women in 2008. She has won 3 Emmy Awards and been nominated for many others.

Early Life and Education

Diane English was born in Buffalo, New York. Her mother was Anne English, and her father, Richard English, was an electrical engineer. She went to Nardin Academy in Buffalo. Later, she graduated from Buffalo State College in 1970.

Starting a Career in Television

Diane English began her career at WNET. This was a PBS TV station in New York City. She first worked as a story editor for a show called The Theatre in America. Then, she became an associate director for TV Lab. From 1977 to 1980, she wrote a monthly column about television for Vogue magazine.

In 1980, Diane co-wrote a PBS movie called The Lathe of Heaven. This movie was based on a science fiction novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. For this work, she received her first nomination for a Writers Guild Award. After that, she wrote two more TV movies: Her Life as a Man (1984) and Classified Love (1986).

Creating Popular TV Shows

In 1985, Diane English created her first comedy series, Foley Square. It aired on CBS and starred Margaret Colin and Hector Elizondo. The show ran for 14 episodes. From 1986 to 1987, she was an executive producer and writer for another CBS comedy, My Sister Sam. This show lasted for two seasons.

The Success of Murphy Brown

In 1988, Diane English created the CBS TV series Murphy Brown. This show became very popular. She won three Emmy Awards for it. One award was for her writing, and two were for the show being an Outstanding Comedy Series. Murphy Brown ran for ten years, from 1988 to 1998, with 247 episodes. It won 18 Emmy Awards from 62 nominations.

In 1992, the show caused some discussion when the main character, Murphy Brown, decided to have a baby without being married. The Vice President at the time, Dan Quayle, mentioned the show in a speech. He said that popular culture, like Murphy Brown, was not helping "family values." Diane English responded to his comments. This discussion became a big part of the "family values" debate in America during that election year.

Other Television Projects

During the time Murphy Brown was successful, Diane English and her partner, Joel Shukovsky, made a deal with CBS. Their company, Shukovsky English Entertainment, gained rights to future TV series they would create.

Diane English also created the comedy series Love & War (1992–1995). Other shows she helped create or produce include Double Rush (1995), Ink (1996), and Living in Captivity (1998).

Directing and Film Work

In 2008, Diane English wrote, produced, and directed her first feature film, The Women. This comedy was a remake of a 1939 movie. It starred famous actresses like Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, and Eva Mendes. Even though some reviews were not positive, the movie earned three times its budget worldwide.

In the same year, Diane English and the cast of The Women received the Women in Film Crystal award. This award celebrates women in communications and media.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Diane English para niños