Donald P. Bellisario Biography

Fast Facts

• Endowed a $1 million Trustee matching Scholarship for the Penn State College of Communication in 2006
• From 1955 to 1959, he served in the U․S․ Marine Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant
• Penn State named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2001, the highest honor the university can bestow upon its graduates
• Began his screenwriting career on the TV series "Big Hawaii" in 1977
• Worked in advertising copywriter and creative director for 11 years before moving to Hollywood to pursue screenwriting
• Quote: "When I created 'Magnum, P․I․' I got thousands of letters from Vietnam veterans thanking me for portraying Vietnam veterans who were something other than killers and drug addicts and crazy and unable to function in society․․․they just loved it․"
• Became the head of a Los Angeles-based production company called Belisarius Productions, named after the Roman general Belisarius
• The television series he creates usually contain a character who is a current or former member of the United States Armed Forces
• Best known as the creator and executive producer of "NCIS," "JAG," and "Magnum, P․I․"
• Enjoys flying helicopters and playing golf in his free time