Christopher Whitesell is an American television

soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...

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.

Biography

He is the son of Patricia and John Patrick "Jack" Whitesell.The Courier: "Iowa Falls family finds ties to show business" by Jessica Miller
Mar 12, 2001 His brothers are the late film and television actor

Sean Whitesell Sean Whitesell (March 11, 1963 – December 28, 2015) was an American film and television actor, writer and producer. Early life and education Whitesell was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa,Patrick Whitesell Patrick Whitesell (born February 4, 1965) is an American businessman and executive chairman of Endeavor, an entertainment and media agency. He joined the Endeavor Talent Agency as a partner in February 2001, where he was a member of the company ...

, college basketball coach James Whitesell, and director

John Whitesell John Patrick Whitesell is an American television and film director. He has directed numerous films such as '' Calendar Girl'', '' Big Momma's House 2'' and '' Holidate''. He started his career as a film director in 1993. Early life and education ...

.Deadline: "Sean Whitesell Dies: Television Writer-Producer And Brother Of WME’s Patrick Whitesell Was 52" by Ross A. Lincoln
December 31, 2015The Wrap: "Sean Whitesell, TV Writer and Brother of WME’s Patrick Whitesell, Dead at 52" by Jeff Sneider
December 31, 2015

Positions held

'' Another World'' *Associate head writer: 1988–1991, 1995–1996 ''

As the World Turns ''As the World Turns'' (often abbreviated as ''ATWT'') is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS for 54 years from April 2, 1956, to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created ''As the World Turns'' as a sister show to her other so ...

'' *Breakdown writer: 1987–1988 (hired by

Douglas Marland Douglas Marland (born Marland Messner; May 5, 1934 – March 6, 1993) was an American writer, known for his work as the head writer of several soap operas. Career Marland began his career as an actor, appearing on the Irna Phillips series ''The B ...

), 2003–2005 (hired by

Hogan Sheffer Hogan Sheffer (June 12, 1958 – September 28, 2019) was an American screenwriter. Personal life Sheffer was born in York, Pennsylvania. His full birth name was Mark Wayne Sheffer; his nickname of Hogan came from younger brother Craig, who thoug ...

) * Co-head writer: May 25, 2005 – October 17, 2007 (with

Jean Passanante Jean Passanante (born June 26, 1953) is an American television screenwriter, best known for her work in daytime soap operas. Passanante got her start as an actress doing bit parts in the 1980s, including the John Sayles' films '' Return of the S ...

& Leah Laiman) ''

Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that aired on the network NBC from November 8, 1965, to September 9, 2022; the soap has streamed n ...

'' *Associate head writer: 2000–2001 *Co-head writer: October 13, 2008 – June 13, 2011 (with

Dena Higley Dena Higley (born September 26, 1958) is an American writer, speaker and author. Early life and career Higley grew up in East County, San Diego and was the first of three children. She moved to Los Angeles as a teenager eventually graduating from ...

, (hired by

Gary Tomlin Gary Tomlin is an American soap opera actor, writer, producer and director. Career Tomlin's career on daytime serials began in 1973 when he was cast on CBS's ''Search for Tomorrow'' as Bruce Carson. He also made a guest appearance on "The Nightwal ...

) *Co-headwriter: August 17, 2012 – August 18, 2015 (with

, (hired by

Ken Corday Kenneth Robert Corday (born June 16, 1950) is an American television soap opera producer and music composer. He is the son of Ted Corday and Betty Corday, the co-creators of ''Days of Our Lives''. His production company, Corday Productions, ...

) ''

General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera created by Frank and Doris Hursley which has been broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC since April 1, 1963. Originally a half-hour seria ...

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

Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. ''Guiding Light'' aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio ...

'' *Associate head writer: 1984–1986 ''

One Life to Live ''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...

'' *Co-head writer: 2001 – January 31, 2003 *Associate head writer: 1993–1995 (hired by

Michael Malone Michael Malone (born September 15, 1971) is an American professional basketball coach who most recently served as the head coach for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently an analyst for ESPN. He had a ...

) '' 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 ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...

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

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

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 The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. Eligibility Th ...

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

References

External links

*
CBS: ATWTProcter & Gamble
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitesell, Christopher Living people American soap opera writers People from Iowa Falls, Iowa Year of birth missing (living people) Whitesell family