Michael Sullivan
Biography
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The president of entertainment for the UPN, in charge of all series development and programming directions, Michael Sullivan has had a varied career both in the networks war rooms and as a producer of series such as the ABC sitcoms "Growing Pains" and "Just the 10 of Us." Sullivan has been helping to take UPN further than just being the home of the latest "Star Trek" incarnation. Among s...
Biography
The president of entertainment for the UPN, in charge of all series development and programming directions, Michael Sullivan has had a varied career both in the networks war rooms and as a producer of series such as the ABC sitcoms "Growing Pains" and "Just the 10 of Us." Sullivan has been helping to take UPN further than just being the home of the latest "Star Trek" incarnation. Among series choices scheduled for the 1997-98 season were "Ruby," featuring Whoopi Goldberg voicing an outrageous puppet, and "Head Over Heels," a sitcom which has resurrected the acting career of Connie Stevens, as well as shows like "Moesha," "Sparks" and "In the House" geared to a primarily African-American audience.
Sullivan began his career at ABC in 1976 and by the early 80s, after a stint as director of current drama, was named director of comedy development. He left the network in 1983 to become a producer under contract to Warner Bros. TV, where he nurtured and helped develop the comedy "Growing Pains," created by Neal Marlens and featuring Alan Thicke and Joanna Kerns as the parents of three kids. Sullivan was executive producer of the show for its first five seasons (1985-90), during which he also developed and executive produced the spin-off "Just the 10 of Us" (ABC, 1988-1990) which focused on a high school coach and his growing family. In 1993, he formed Michael Sullivan Productions, an independent firm, which he abandoned in 1994 to join UPN. After his tenure at the fledgling network ended in 1997, he returned to the ranks of independent producers.
Sullivan also has served as vice-chair of Paulist Communications, a nonprofit organization which has arms that include the Human Family Institute--which awards the Humanitas Prizes--and a production entity. Among the projects of the latter with which Sullivan has had some involvement was the feature biopic "Romero" (1989).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Smothered
(2016)
Sex/Life in L.A.
(1998)
'68
(1987)
Roosevelt--Ghetto Youth
Madman
(1982)
Cook
Producer (Feature Film)
The Interrupters
(2011)
Executive Producer
Crocodile Tears
(1997)
Associate Producer
Art Director (Feature Film)
The Substitute Wife
(1994)
Art Director
Silent Tongue
(1993)
Art Director
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
(1991)
Art Director
Final Verdict
(1991)
Art Director
Stranger at My Door
(1991)
Art Director
The Hot Spot
(1990)
Art Director
Visual Effects (Feature Film)
White House Down
(2013)
Visual Effects
Joe's Apartment
(1996)
Visual Effects
Friday
(1995)
Effects Assistant
Off His Rockers
(1992)
Visual Effects
House Party
(1990)
Special Effects Coordinator
Can't Stop The Music
(1980)
Special Effects
Animation (Feature Film)
They Came Together
(2014)
Animator
Art Department (Feature Film)
Life as We Know It
(2010)
Scenic Artist
Thicker Than Blood
(1998)
On-Set Dresser
Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life
(1992)
Set Decorator
Pair of Aces
(1990)
Set Decorator
Little Shop of Horrors
(1986)
Graphics
Film Production - Lighting/Electrical (Feature Film)
Instant Karma
(1990)
Electrician
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
The Elizabeth Smart Story
(2003)
Transportation Coordinator
Sex and the Single Mom
(2003)
Transportation Coordinator
K-19: The Widowmaker
(2002)
Transportation Coordinator
Heart of a Stranger
(2002)
Transportation Coordinator
Passion & Prejudice
(2001)
Transportation Coordinator
A Rumor of Angels
(2000)
Transportation Coordinator
Sea People
(1999)
Transportation Coordinator
Two If by Sea
(1996)
Driver
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1996)
Production
Pocahontas
(1994)
Production
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
(1989)
Photography
America
(1986)
Photography
Location Assistant (Feature Film)
Love At Large
(1990)
Location Assistant
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Arctic Blue
(1995)
Special Thanks To
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
The Perfect Wife
(2001)
Office Assistant
Hercules
(1997)
Other
Gunfighter's Moon
(1997)
Other
Margaret's Museum
(1995)
Other
Runaway Brain
(1995)
Other
Cadillac Girls
(1993)
Other
Nightmare Before Christmas
(1993)
Other
Trail Mix-Up
(1993)
Other
Aladdin
(1992)
Other
Beauty and the Beast
(1991)
Other
Dudes
(1987)
Pyrotechnics
Director (Special)
The Kevorkian Verdict
(1996)
Director
Cinematography (Special)
The Bachelor: Where Are They Now?
(2003)
Camera Operator
Computers
(2001)
Camera
Halsey's Typhoons: Peril on the Sea
(2000)
Camera
The History of Sex
(1999)
Camera
Fred Gwynne
(1999)
Camera
Doris Day: It's Magic
(1998)
Camera
Writer (Special)
The Kevorkian Verdict
(1996)
Writer
Producer (Special)
Inside the Terror Network
(2002)
Executive Producer
Inside the Teenage Brain
(2002)
Executive Producer
Dot Con
(2002)
Executive Producer
American Porn
(2002)
Executive Producer
An Ordinary Crime
(2002)
Executive Producer
Rollover: The Hidden History of the SUV
(2002)
Segment Producer
Medicating Kids
(2001)
Executive Producer
Saving Elian
(2001)
Executive Producer
Looking for Answers
(2001)
Producer
Hackers
(2001)
Executive Producer
The Clinton Years
(2001)
Executive Producer
Juvenile Justice
(2001)
Executive Producer
Harvest of Fear
(2001)
Executive Producer
The Merchants of Cool
(2001)
Executive Producer
Organ Farm
(2001)
Executive Producer
The Case For Innocence
(2000)
Executive Producer
War in Europe
(2000)
Executive Producer
Jefferson's Blood
(2000)
Executive Producer
Drug Wars
(2000)
Executive Producer
Real Justice
(2000)
Executive Producer
What's Up With the Weather?
(2000)
Executive Producer
The Choice 2000
(2000)
Executive Producer
Return of the Czar
(2000)
Executive Producer ("Frontline")
The Survival of Saddam
(2000)
Executive Producer
Dr. Solomon's Dilemma
(2000)
Executive Producer
Assault on Gay America: The Life and Death of Billy Jack
(2000)
Executive Producer
The Killer at Thurston High
(2000)
Executive Producer
The Future of War
(2000)
Executive Producer
The Battle Over School Choice
(2000)
Executive Producer
Apocalypse!
(1999)
Executive Producer
Justice For Sale
(1999)
Executive Producer
The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela
(1999)
Executive Producer
The Execution
(1999)
Executive Producer
Russian Roulette
(1999)
Executive Producer
Hunting bin Laden
(1999)
Executive Producer
The Lost Children of Rockdale County
(1999)
Executive Producer
Mafia Power Play
(1999)
Executive Producer
Making Babies
(1999)
Executive Producer
Spying on Saddam
(1999)
Executive Producer
Give War a Chance
(1999)
Executive Producer
The Triumph of Evil
(1999)
Executive Producer ("Frontline")
The Crash
(1999)
Executive Producer
Secrets of the SAT
(1999)
Executive Producer
John Paul II: The Millennial Pope
(1999)
Executive Producer
Snitch
(1999)
Executive Producer
The Farmer's Wife
(1998)
Executive Producer
Ambush in Mogadishu
(1998)
Executive Producer
Fat
(1998)
Executive Producer
Washington's Other Scandal
(1998)
Executive Producer
The Two Nations of Black America
(1998)
Executive Producer
The Child Terror
(1998)
Executive Producer
Busted: America's War on Marijuana
(1998)
Executive Producer
The High Price of Health
(1998)
Executive Producer
Plague War
(1998)
Executive Producer
Secrets of an Independent Counsel
(1998)
Executive Producer
Silent Spring Revisited
(1998)
Executive Producer
Inside the Tobacco Deal
(1998)
Executive Producer
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians
(1998)
Executive Producer
Last Battle of the Gulf War
(1998)
Executive Producer
The World's Most Wanted Man
(1998)
Executive Producer
My Retirement Dreams
(1998)
Executive Producer
Behind the Mask: The IRA and Sinn Fein
(1997)
Executive Producer
What Jennifer Saw
(1997)
Executive Producer
Murder, Money, and Mexico
(1997)
Executive Producer
Dreams of Tibet
(1997)
Executive Producer
The Opium Kings
(1997)
Executive Producer
Betting on the Market
(1997)
Executive Producer
The Princess and the Press
(1997)
Executive Producer
A Whale of a Business
(1997)
Executive Producer
The Fixers
(1997)
Executive Producer
Nuclear Reaction
(1997)
Executive Producer
Little Criminals
(1997)
Executive Producer ("Frontline")
The Lost American
(1997)
Executive Producer
Easy Money
(1997)
Executive Producer ("Frontline")
Nazi Gold
(1997)
Executive Producer
Valentina's Nightmare
(1997)
Executive Producer ("Frontline")
Hot Guns
(1997)
Executive Producer
Once Upon a Time in Arkansas
(1997)
Executive Producer
Innocence Lost: The Plea
(1997)
Executive Producer
Why America Hates the Press
(1996)
Executive Producer
Secret Daughter
(1996)
Executive Producer
The Kevorkian Verdict
(1996)
Producer; Senior Producer ("Frontline")
Angel on Death Row
(1996)
Producer
The Navy Blues
(1996)
Executive Producer
Loose Nukes
(1996)
Executive Producer
The Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson
(1996)
Producer
So You Want to Buy a President?
(1996)
Producer
Breast Implants on Trial
(1996)
Producer
Smoke in the Eye
(1996)
Producer
Shtetl
(1996)
Producer
Murder on "Abortion Row"
(1996)
Producer
The Long March of Newt Gingrich
(1996)
Producer
The Gulf War
(1996)
Producer
The Choice '96
(1996)
Executive Producer
The Search For Satan
(1995)
Producer
Currents of Fear
(1995)
Senior Producer
High Stakes in Cyberspace
(1995)
Producer
Rush Limbaugh's America
(1995)
Producer
The Godfather of Cocaine
(1995)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
Does TV Kill?
(1995)
Producer
Who's Afraid of Rupert Murdoch?
(1995)
Producer
Waco -- The Inside Story
(1995)
Producer
What Happened to Bill Clinton?
(1995)
Producer
When the Bough Breaks
(1995)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
The Confessions of RosaLee
(1995)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
The Vanishing Father
(1995)
Producer
The Trouble with Evan
(1994)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
Is This Any Way to Run a Government?
(1994)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
The Kevorkian File
(1994)
Producer
Hot Money
(1994)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
L.A. Is Burning: Five Reports From a Divided City
(1993)
Producer
The Trouble With Baseball
(1993)
Producer
Who Was Lee Harvey Oswald?
(1993)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
The Secret File on J. Edgar Hoover
(1993)
Producer
Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill: Public Hearing, Private Pain
(1992)
Producer
Coming From Japan
(1992)
Producer
China After Tiananmen
(1992)
Senior Producer
Saddam's Killing Fields
(1992)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
Who Is David Duke?
(1992)
Producer
The Choice '92
(1992)
Producer
Don King, Unauthorized
(1991)
Senior Producer ("Frontline")
Who Killed Adam Mann?
(1991)
Producer
To the Brink of War
(1991)
Producer
Innocence Lost
(1991)
Producer
The Arming of Iraq -- A Frontline Special Report
(1990)
Producer
Animation (Special)
Free to Laugh: A Comedy and Music Special For Amnesty International
(1992)
Animator
Film Production - Main (Special)
Avril Lavigne: Anything But Ordinary
(2003)
Photography
Superstitions
(2000)
Production Assistant
The True Story of Robin Hood
(2000)
Production Assistant
Hunt For Jack the Ripper
(2000)
Production Assistant
The 1989 Miss Universe Pageant
(1989)
Production Assistant (Location Segments)
Special Thanks (Special)
The Kevorkian Verdict
(1996)
Writer
Misc. Crew (Special)
Inside the Terror Network
(2002)
Other
Dot Con
(2002)
Other
Inside the Teenage Brain
(2002)
Other
American Porn
(2002)
Other
An Ordinary Crime
(2002)
Other
Time to Choose: A PBS/NPR Voter's Guide
(2000)
Advisor
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
The Seekers
(1979)
Producer (TV Mini-Series)
Ghosts of Rwanda
(2004)
Executive Producer
Art Director (TV Mini-Series)
Buffalo Girls
(1995)
Art Director
Son of the Morning Star
(1991)
Art Director
Art Department (TV Mini-Series)
Son of the Morning Star
(1991)
Set Decorator
Lonesome Dove
(1989)
Set Decorator
Film Production - Main (TV Mini-Series)
Peter Pan Starring Cathy Rigby
(2000)
Production Assistant
This Matter of Marriage
(1998)
Transportation Coordinator
Misc. Crew (TV Mini-Series)
Harlequin's Loving Evangeline
(1998)
Other
Life Events
1976
Was programming executive at ABC Entertainment
1994
Named president, entertainment, at the newly-formed network UPN
1997
Left UPN at the end of his contract to become an independent producer
