Susan Harris (born Susan Spivak on October 28, 1940 in Mount Vernon, New York) is a television comedy writer and producer.
She created the series Soap, Benson, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest, Nurses, and The Golden Palace. She also wrote or co-wrote all of the episodes of the first 4 seasons of Soap and appeared on two episodes as the hooker Babette. She has been married to television producer Paul Junger Witt since 18 September 1983; he co-produced all the shows she created. She was married from 1965-1969 to the late actor Berkeley Harris.
She suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, which meant she was unable to play more of a part in the production of The Golden Girls. Her malady was written into a storyline where Bea Arthur's character was diagnosed with CFS.
Harris broke in by selling her first script to Then Came Bronson, then wrote for Love, American Style, All in the Family, and the TV adaptation of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park. Her "Maude's Abortion" episode won the Humanitas Prize.
She formed Witt/Thomas/Harris with Witt and Tony Thomas. She was honored with Writers' Guild's Paddy Chayefsky Award in 2005.
Brilliant Emmy-winning television comedy writer, she either wrote or co-wrote every episode of her series "Soap" (1977). According to a documentary on "Golden Girls, The" (1985), the only reason she did not take more of an active role in the production of the latter series once she created it is because she suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Her shows usually feature a character who likes to impart wisdom through stories. (The Governor on "Benson" (1979), Rose and Sophia on "Golden Girls, The" (1985)).
She studied English Literature at Cornell and New York University.
She has one son with actor Berkeley Harris, born in 1967.
She was inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio.
The Writers Guild of America awarded her as the recipient of its Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television in 2005.
