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Jonathan Murray Biography

Birth Name:Jonathan Murray

Birth Place:Gulfport, Mississippi, United States

Profession Producer, Writer, Director, Actor

Fast Facts

Is credited with being one of the leaders of the reality television genre, having first pitched the idea for "The Real World" in 1991
Was nominated for three Producers Guild of America Awards for outstanding producer of competition television for "Project Runway" in 2011, 2012 and 2013
Graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism
Started out in local television doing news documentaries and station management at WLUK-TV, WXIA-TV and WKYC-TV
Quote: "I always say that reality cast members are perishable like fruits and vegetables and they only have a certain shelf life․ You've got to get them at the right moment․"
Quote: "[on "Bad Girls Club"] "I think it's fun watching people who aren't afraid to live their lives sort of loudly․ I think most of us constrain ourselves to follow what society dictates but these women are unapologetically themselves․""
Founded the production company Bunim/Murray Productions with Mary Ellis Bunim in 1991
Best known as the creator and executive producer of such pioneering reality series as "The Real World" and "Road Rules․"
Launched the film company BMP Films in 2007, which has produced "Autism: The Musical," "Shadow Billionaire" and "Pedro․"

Awards

2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Special Class): nominated
2005Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Series: winner
2006Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Series: nominated
2007Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Special Class Series: nominated
2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Nonfiction Special: winner
2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality - Competition Program: nominated
2011PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Competition Television: nominated
2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality - Competition Program: nominated
2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: nominated
2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Outstanding Coverage of a Continuing News Story - Long Form: nominated
2014Emmy-Best Documentary: nominated
2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2016PGA George Sunga Award-: winner
2016PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Competition Television: nominated
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: winner
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality Competition Program: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality Competition Program: nominated
2018Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Culinary Program: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Reality-Competition Program: nominated
2019Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Culinary Program: winner
2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated