Samuel D. Ratcliffe
Samuel D. Ratcliffe (1945–December 14, 1995[1]) was an American screenwriter for daytime television. He won an Emmy for his work on Santa Barbara in 1991.[2]
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Winter Haven, Florida, Ratcliffe grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from Birmingham Southern College,[1] where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Alpha Psi Omega.[3]
Acting career
[edit]He moved to New York City in 1968 to pursue a career as an actor. From 1968 until the mid-seventies, he appeared in commercials, films and theatre.[citation needed] He performed in the chorus of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway,[4] was Matt in the long-running off-Broadway play, The Fantasticks[5] and starred in the Broadway musical Hurry Harry.[6]
He also performed at in the Olney Theater in a 1971 production of Whispers on the Wind,[7] and at the Washington Theater Club in a 1972 production of The Comedy of Errors.[8]
Writing career
[edit]In 1976, Ratcliffe began to write for daytime television dramas.[citation needed] He worked as an associate writer on Guiding Light.[9]
He won a Daytime Emmy in 1991 for his work as Head Writer for NBC Daytime's Santa Barbara.[2] He also served as head writer for NBC's Texas[10] and Another World.
Death
[edit]He died in his home in New York City[4] on December 14, 1995 due to complications from AIDS.[1]
Accolades
[edit] |
 | This section relies on a single source. (October 2026) |
WINS
- (1991; Best Writing; Santa Barbara)[2]
NOMINATIONS
- (1985; Best Writing; Guiding Light)
- (1985, 1994 & 1996; Best Writing; Another World)
Writers Guild of America Award
WINS
- (1991 & 1992 seasons; Santa Barbara)
NOMINATIONS
- (1985 season; Guiding Light)
- (1993 season; Santa Barbara)
- (1994, 1995 & 1996 seasons; Another World)
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 New York Times 1995.
- 1 2 3 Moses, Potter & Rowen 1996, p. 804.
- ↑ Hendrickson 1967, p. 205.
- 1 2 Los Angeles Times 1995.
- ↑ Willis 1971.
- ↑ Willis 1974.
- ↑ Guernsey Jr 1972, p. 75.
- ↑ Guernsey Jr 1973, p. 79.
- ↑ Schemering 1987, p. 252.
- ↑ LaGuardia 1983, p. 361.
Sources
[edit]- "Samuel D. Ratcliffe; Emmy-Winning Soap Opera Writer". Los Angeles Times. December 21, 1995. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
- "Samuel D. Ratcliffe, TV Scriptwriter, 50". The New York Times. December 15, 1995. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2026.
- Guernsey Jr, Otis L., ed. (1972). The Best Plays of 1971-1972. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. ISBN 0-396-06698-4. LCCN 20021432 – via Internet Archive.
- Guernsey Jr, Otis L., ed. (1973). The Best Plays of 1972-1973. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. ISBN 0-396-06878-2. LCCN 20021432 – via Internet Archive.
- Hendrickson, Sandra Jo, ed. (1967). Southern Accent. Birmingham: Birmingham–Southern College – via Internet Archive.
- LaGuardia, Robert (1983). Soap World. New York: Arbor House. ISBN 0-87795-482-8. LCCN 83072889 – via Internet Archive.
- Moses, Robert; Potter, Alicia; Rowen, Beth, eds. (1996). 1997 A&E Entertainment Almanac. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 0-395-82855-4 – via Internet Archive.
- Schemering, Christopher (January 1987). Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-33931-2. LCCN 86090810.
- Willis, John, ed. (1971). "The Fantasticks". Theatre World 1969-1970 Season. Vol. 26. p. 152. LCCN 46013321 – via Internet Archive.
- Willis, John, ed. (1974). "Hurry, Harry". Theatre World 1972-1973 Season. Vol. 29. p. 16. LCCN 73082953 – via Internet Archive.
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- American soap opera writers
- American male screenwriters
- 1945 births
- 1995 deaths
- Daytime Emmy Award winners
- Writers Guild of America Award winners
- American male television writers
- American television writers
- 20th-century American male writers
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- AIDS-related deaths in New York (state)
- American television writer stubs
