Mary-Ellis Bunim

Birth Name:

Mary-Ellis Paxton

Birth Place:

Northampton, Massachusetts, United States

Profession

Producer, Writer

Was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame along with Jonathan Murray in 2012
Began her television career in soap operas as the executive producer of "As the World Turns" and "Santa Barbara․"
Quote: "(On her reality TV imitators): "Producers don't necessarily recognize why they put people together․ They don't understand it's for the purpose of conflict․""
Is credited with helping to launch the reality TV genre with her production partner Jonathan Murray, with whom she founded the production company Bunim/Murray Productions
Best known as the creator and executive producer of "The Real World" and "Road Rules․"
Other reality television creation credits include "Making the Band," "Love Cruise," and "The Simple Life․"
Wrote for an episode of the reality series "Big Brother" in 2000

Fast Facts