Irna Phillips (July 1, 1901 – December 23, 1973) was an American actress and writer who created and scripted many of the first American soap operas.Phillips created (and co-created) radio and TV soap operas including:Painted Dreams (radio 1930–1932)Guiding Light (radio 1937–1956, television 1952–2009)The Road of Life (radio 1937–1959, television 1954)Young Dr. Malone (radio 1939–1960, television 1958–1963)The Brighter Day (radio 1948–1956, television 1954–1962)These Are My Children (1949)As the World Turns (1956–2010) a sister show to Guiding Light (character crossovers)Another World (1964–1999) a sister show to As the World Turns (character crossovers)Our Private World (1965) a spinoff of As The World TurnsLove Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)Phillips also was a creative consultant on Peyton Place (1964–1969), and was an unofficial consultant on A World Apart, which was created by her adopted daughter Katherine. Irna Phillips was also a story editor on Days of our Lives.She was also the mentor to Agnes Nixon, the creator of All My Children and One Life to Live, and William J. Bell, the creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.
She was the youngest of ten children. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois in 1923.
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She began her teaching career as a junior college speech and drama instructor in Fulton, Missouri in 1924. She was a teacher in Dayton, Ohio from 1924 until 1929. She was hired by WGN Radio Station in Chicago, Illinois as a writer.
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She adopted two children in her forties. A son, Thomas Dirk Phillips, and a daughter, Katherine Louise Phillips.
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She lived in Chicago, Illinois and commuted by telephone to New York City regarding her shows. She also dictated her writing to her secretaries and assistants.
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Was a member of Phi Sigma Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Days of Our Lives
TV Series story editor - 289 episodes, 1965 - 1966 co-creator - 3 episodes, 1965 - 2006
Another World
TV Series 51 episodes, 1964 creator - 343 episodes, 1964 - 1985
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
1967
TV Series creator / head writer
As the World Turns
TV Series creator - 305 episodes, 1956 - 1957 written by - 305 episodes, 1956 - 1957 head writer - 1 episode, 1966
Our Private World
1965
TV Series creator / co-head writer
Peyton Place
1964
TV Series co-creator
Young Dr. Malone
1958
TV Series creator
The Brighter Day
1954
TV Series creator / head writer - 1950 - 1952, 1958
$600,000
