Author Profile:  Mary Lou Belli

MARY LOU BELLI is the co-author of “The Sitcom Career Book” and “Acting for Young Actors.”  An Emmy® Award winner producer, writer, and director, she is currently directing her 6th consecutive season of Girlfriends on the new CW network.  Last season she directed Living With Fran starring Fran Drescher, Misconceptions starring Jane Leeves, and Eve starring hip-hop artist Eve.

She began her career directing Charles In Charge, Major Dad, and Sister, Sister.  Mary Lou received BET nominations for directing Girlfriends and One On One as well as a Prism Award for Girlfriends.

After receiving a BA in theatre from Penn State, Mary Lou acted in musical theatre and soaps in New York, followed by a Los Angeles career producing and directing theatre.  She has over 75 play productions to her credit, mostly world or west coast premieres, including Cecile Callan’s controversial Angels Twice Descending optioned as a television movie by Fox, Wil Calhoun’s The Balcony Scene co-produced Off Broadway with her partner Ian Praiser at NY’s Circle Rep starring Cynthia Nixon, and then placed in development as a feature at TRISTAR.

Known for her work in children’s programming, Mary Lou coached on NBC’s Saturday morning hit Saved By The Bell:  The New Class and went on to direct USA High, One World, Amber, Amber and Fox’s teenage soap Tribes.

Among the awards she holds the dearest is her citation from the late Mayor Tom Bradley for her work with abused children.  She lectures frequently throughout the United States including many universities such as AFI, NYU, Northwestern, and University of Connecticut.

Mary Lou is currently developing No Daughter Of Mine for Lifetime Television.