Paris Qualles (pronounced kwal'-less) is an American screenwriter and television producer. Qualles was born in Harlem in New York City and raised in Long Branch, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers College where he majored in English literature and minored in Photography. He then went to UCLA for graduate school. His primary interest was theatre direction but he turned to writing when an agent offered to represent him in that field. His first professional credit was Amen, a situation comedy starring Sherman Hemsley, where he worked as a researcher before writing scripts.Qualles has written episodes for several television series, including Seaquest DSV, The Cape, M.A.N.T.I.S., Law & Order, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Quantum Leap, and China Beach. His television movies include A Raisin in the Sun, The Rosa Parks Story, The Color of Friendship, A House Divided, and The Tuskegee Airmen.Qualles won the Humanitas Prize and the Writers Guild of America Award for The Color of Friendship and the Black Reel Award for Best Network/Cable Screenplay for The Rosa Parks Story. He was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Miniseries or a Special for The Tuskegree Airman. In 2008, Qualles received the Humanitas Prize for his Sundance Feature Film ''A Raisin in the Sun.Qualles was inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2001 and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Rutgers College that same year. In 2004 Qualles was inducted into the Long Branch High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Children's Script
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama, Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Long Form – Adapted
Movies
A Raisin in the Sun, The Rosa Parks Story, A House Divided, The Color of Friendship, The Tuskegee Airmen, The Inkwell
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Raisin in the Sun
2008
TV Movie teleplay
Profoundly Normal
2003
TV Movie written by
The Rosa Parks Story
2002
TV Movie written by
A House Divided
2000
TV Movie screenplay
The Color of Friendship
2000
TV Movie written by
The Cape
TV Series developed by - 1 episode, 1997 writer - 1 episode, 1996
The Ditchdigger's Daughters
1997
TV Movie written by
The Tuskegee Airmen
1995
TV Movie teleplay
M.A.N.T.I.S.
TV Series 1 episode, 1995 writer - 2 episodes, 1994 written by - 1 episode, 1995
Law & Order
1994
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Inkwell
1994
written by
Blood Brothers
1993
teleplay
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
1993
TV Series written by - 1 episode
The Heights
1992
TV Series
Quantum Leap
1991-1992
TV Series written by - 2 episodes
Equal Justice
1991
TV Series writer - 1 episode
China Beach
TV Series written by - 1 episode, 1990 teleplay - 1 episode, 1990
Amen
TV Series written by - 5 episodes, 1990 story - 1 episode, 1989
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Ditchdigger's Daughters
1997
TV Movie executive producer
The Cape
1996
TV Series executive producer - 1 episode
M.A.N.T.I.S.
1994-1995
TV Series producer - 22 episodes
The Heights
1992
TV Series co-producer
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Quantum Leap
1991-1992
TV Series story editor - 10 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dreams Worth While: The Journey of 'A Raisin in the Sun'
2008
Video short
Himself
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Christopher Award
Christopher Awards
Television & Cable
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
2008
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
Sundance Film Category
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
2008
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
2003
Black Reel
Black Reel Awards
Network/Cable - Best Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
The Rosa Parks Story (2002)
2003
Christopher Award
Christopher Awards
Television & Cable
The Rosa Parks Story (2002)
2001
WGA Award (TV)
Writers Guild of America, USA
Children's Script
The Color of Friendship (2000)
2000
Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
Children's Live-Action Category
The Color of Friendship (2000)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2009
Image Award
Image Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Theatrical or Television)