Martha Williamson
Encyclopedia
Martha Williamson is the host and voice of A Touch of Encouragement on Beliefnet.com. She is best known as the head writer and Executive Producer of the long-running hit CBS television series Touched by an Angel
She was named in 2007 by her publisher as one of the "12 Most Powerful Christians in Hollywood." She became the first woman to solely produce two network television dramas simultaneously.
Touched by an Angel was nominated for nine Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio Hall of Fame. It has been translated into more than sixty languages and continues to be broadcast around the world.
Martha began her career in television working on musical variety programs for Carol Burnett
, Walt Disney Television
, and others. She wrote and produced for half-hour comedies such as the long-running The Facts of Life
and The Family Man with Gregory Harrison
. She made the transition to one-hour drama as producer of Jack's Place
for ABC Television
and Co-Executive Producer of the CBS series Under One Roof, which starred James Earl Jones
. And in 1994 she became the Executive Producer of the Touched By An Angel.
Her numerous awards include the Freedom Works Award from the U.S. Congress, the Edward R. Murrow Responsibility in Television Award, the Producers Guild Nova Award, the Templeton Prize
, as well as honors from the Anti-Defamation League
, the NAACP, the Salvation Army
, Catholics in Media.
She was appointed to the President's White House Council on Service and Civic Participation.
A popular speaker, Martha frequently addresses organizations and companies, using humor and behind-the-scenes show business anecdotes to illustrate the power of positive storytelling and the importance of incorporating ethics and values into business management. Most recently, she has appeared onstage on both coasts performing her musical one-woman show "Martha At Risk" with Tony-Award-winning composer Larry Grossman
.
A native of Colorado, Martha lives in Southern California with her husband and their two children. She is a graduate of Williams College
.
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
She was named in 2007 by her publisher as one of the "12 Most Powerful Christians in Hollywood." She became the first woman to solely produce two network television dramas simultaneously.
Touched by an Angel was nominated for nine Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Museum of Television and Radio Hall of Fame. It has been translated into more than sixty languages and continues to be broadcast around the world.
Martha began her career in television working on musical variety programs for Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut...
, Walt Disney Television
Walt Disney Television
Walt Disney Television was the former name of the television production division of The Walt Disney Company.-History:It was formed in 1983, as the Walt Disney Pictures Television Division, the name was later shortened to Walt Disney Television in the mid-1980s...
, and others. She wrote and produced for half-hour comedies such as the long-running The Facts of Life
The Facts of Life (TV series)
The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious...
and The Family Man with Gregory Harrison
Gregory Harrison
Gregory Neale Harrison is an American actor. He is probably best known for his role as Chandler in the 1987 cult favorite North Shore and as Trapper John MacIntyre's young surgeon, Dr. George Alonzo 'Gonzo' Gates, on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D....
. She made the transition to one-hour drama as producer of Jack's Place
Jack's Place
Jack's Place is a US TV series that aired from May 26, 1992 to July 13, 1993 on ABC. The series was about a retired jazz musician named Jack Evans who runs a restaurant where romances tend to start...
for ABC Television
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
and Co-Executive Producer of the CBS series Under One Roof, which starred James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones is an American actor. He is well-known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership...
. And in 1994 she became the Executive Producer of the Touched By An Angel.
Her numerous awards include the Freedom Works Award from the U.S. Congress, the Edward R. Murrow Responsibility in Television Award, the Producers Guild Nova Award, the Templeton Prize
Templeton Prize
The Templeton Prize is an annual award presented by the Templeton Foundation. Established in 1972, it is awarded to a living person who, in the estimation of the judges, "has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical...
, as well as honors from the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
, the NAACP, the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Catholics in Media.
She was appointed to the President's White House Council on Service and Civic Participation.
A popular speaker, Martha frequently addresses organizations and companies, using humor and behind-the-scenes show business anecdotes to illustrate the power of positive storytelling and the importance of incorporating ethics and values into business management. Most recently, she has appeared onstage on both coasts performing her musical one-woman show "Martha At Risk" with Tony-Award-winning composer Larry Grossman
Larry Grossman (composer)
Larry Grossman is a composer of Broadway musicals, as well as scores for film and television, notably the The Muppet Show.-Career:...
.
A native of Colorado, Martha lives in Southern California with her husband and their two children. She is a graduate of Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
.
Television series
| Series/Title Name | Title | Network | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... |
Executive Producer (203 Episodes) | CBS/CBSP | 1994–2003 |
| "The Southbound Bus" (Pilot Episode) | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1994 |
| "Fallen Angela" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1994 |
| "An Unexpected Snow" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1994 |
| "There, But For The Grace Of God" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1995 |
| "In the Name of God" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1995 |
| "Interview With An Angel" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1995 |
| "Operation Smile" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1995 |
| "Unidentified Female" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1995 |
| "Til We Meet Again" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | |
| "Jacob's Ladder" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1996 |
| "Random Acts" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1996 |
| "The Homecoming, Part 1" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1996 |
| "Amazing Grace, Part 1" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1997 |
| "My Dinner With Andrew" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1997 |
| "The Spirit of Liberty Moon" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1998 |
| "What Are Friends For" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1998 |
| "Beautiful Dreamer" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1998 |
| "Psalm 151" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1998 |
| "Family Business" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1999 |
| "Black Like Monica" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | |
| "Such a Time as This" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1999 |
| "The Compass" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1999 |
| "Millennium" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2000 |
| "Mother’s Day" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2000 |
| "The Face on the Bar Room Floor" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2000 |
| "The Empty Chair" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2000 |
| "The Sign of the Dove" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "Netherlands" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "Shallow Water, Part 1" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "Shallow Water, Part 2" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "Holy of Holies" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "The Last Chapter" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2002 |
| "A Winter Carol" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2001 |
| "For All the Tea in China" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2002 |
| "A Rock and a Hard Place" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2002 |
| "As It is in Heaven" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2003 |
| "At the End of the Aisle" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | |
| "I Will Walk with You, Part 1" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2003 |
| "I Will Walk with You, Part 2" | Writer | CBS/CBSP | 2003 |
| Promised Land | Creator/Executive Producer | CBS/Paramount | 1996–1999 |
| Pilot Episode | Writer | CBS/Paramount | |
| "Leap of Faith, Part 2" | Writer | CBS/Paramount | |
| "Amazing Grace" | Writer | CBS/Paramount | |
| Under One Roof | Co-Executive Producer | CBS | 1994 |
| Jack's Place Jack's Place Jack's Place is a US TV series that aired from May 26, 1992 to July 13, 1993 on ABC. The series was about a retired jazz musician named Jack Evans who runs a restaurant where romances tend to start... |
Supervising Producer | ABC/ABCP | 1992–1993 |
| "An Affair to Vaguely Remember" | Writer | ABC/ABCP | 1993 |
| "Play It Again, Jack" | Writer | ABC/ABCP | 1993 |
| "The Pipes Are Calling" | Writer | ABC/ABCP | 1993 |
| "The Hands of Time" | Writer | ABC/ABCP | 1993 |
| Secret Adventures:Snap | Writer | Taweel-Loos | 1993 |
| McGee and Me! | Writer | Taweel-Loos | 1991–1992 |
| "In the Nick of Time" | Writer | Taweel-Loos | |
| Fish Police Fish Police (1992 TV series) Fish Police is an animated television series from Hanna-Barbera based on the comic book series that first aired on CBS in 1992, lasting only six episodes over one season. In February of that year, three episodes of the series aired, but the show was promptly axed after failing in the television... |
Supervising Producer | CBS | 1991 |
| The Family Man | Supervising Producer | CBS | 1990–1991 |
| "Making Babies" | Writer | CBS | 1990 |
| "My Little Runaway" | Writer | CBS | 1991 |
| "Jack and Jill, Part 1" | Writer | CBS | 1991 |
| Living Dolls Living Dolls Living Dolls is an American situation comedy featured on the fall 1989 schedule of ABC. It was a spin-off created by a writer from Who's the Boss? and featuring characters introduced during an episode of that show. The show is notable as the acting debut of Halle Berry... |
Supervising Producer | ABC | 1989–1990 |
| "The Flash is Always Greener" | Writer | ABC | |
| "Guess Who’s Not Coming To Dinner" | Writer | ABC | |
| Raising Miranda Raising Miranda Raising Miranda was a television series aired on CBS in 1988 as part of its fall lineup.Raising Miranda was the story of Donald Marshack , a Racine, Wisconsin contractor who suddenly found himself a single parent when his wife Bonnie had abandoned him and their 15 year old daughter, Miranda , in... |
Producer | CBS/GTG | 1988–1989 |
| The Facts of Life The Facts of Life (TV series) The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious... |
Story Editor | NBC/Columbia | 1985–1988 |
| "Concentration" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1986 |
| "Another Room" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1986 |
| "Off-Broadway Baby" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1986 |
| "A Star Is Torn" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1987 |
| "This is Only A Test" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1987 |
| "Down And Out In Malibu, Part 1" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1987 |
| "Less Than Perfect" | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1988 |
| "Big Apple Blues" (pilot spin-off) | Writer | NBC/Columbia | 1988 |
Television specials
| Name | Title | Network | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Stories from Touched By An Angel | Executive Producer | CBS | 1998 |
| More True Stories Touched By An Angel | Executive Producer | CBS | 1998 |
| Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Special | Writer | NBC/Disney | 1985 |
| The Homemade Comedy Special | Writer | NBC | 1985 |
Television pilots
| Name | Title | Network | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untitled Martha Williamson Project | Executive Producer, Writer | CBS/Paramount | 2006–2007 |
| Untitled Hawaii Project | Executive Producer, Writer | CBS/Paramount | 2003–2004 |
| Just Desserts | Executive Producer, Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1994 |
| The Promised Land/The 'Hood | Executive Producer, Writer | CBS/CBSP | 1993 |
Books
| Title | Publisher | Date Published |
|---|---|---|
| In the Words of Angels | Fireside Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins... |
2000 |
| Inviting God to Your Wedding | Harmony Harmony Books Harmony Books is an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, itself part of publisher Random House. It focusses on topics such as religion, the occult, the paranormal and other pseudoscientific material... |
2000 |
| When Angels Speak | Fireside | 1997 |
| True Stories of Touched By An Angel | Zondervan Zondervan Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association .- History :... |
1997 |
| Raging Hormones | Doubleday | 1990 |
Soundtracks
| Soundtrack Title | Title | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touched by an Angel: The Album Touched by an Angel: The Album -Chart performance:... |
Executive Producer | Sony Music | 1998 |
| Touched by an Angel: Christmas Album | Executive Producer | Sony Music | 1999 |
Awards
| Award | Date |
|---|---|
| President's Council on Service and Civic Participation | 2003 |
| Steve Allen Award for Entertainment Excellence | 2001 |
| NAACP Image Award | 2000 |
| Salvation Army Awards | 1999 |
| Good Samaritan Institute Award | 1999 |
| Governor’s Award of Excellence | 1999 |
| Family Program Award | 1999 |
| Imagen Awards | 1999 |
| Golden Globes – 2 nominations | 1999 |
| Gabriel Award | 1998 |
| Voices of Hope Award from Herbert G. Birch | 1998 |
| Hollywood Impact Award | 1998 |
| Induction of Touched by an Angel into Museum of TV and Radio | 1998 |
| Gabriel Award | 1998 |
| Epiphany Prize (The Templeton Foundation) | 1997 |
| Christopher Award | 1997 |
| Edward R. Murrow Responsibility in Television | 1997 |
| H.E.L.P Group Spirit of Hope Award | 1997 |
| Freedom Works Award from United States Congress | 1997 |
| Emmy Awards (A.T.A.S) – 5 nominations | 1997 |
| Johnson & Johnson Safe Kids Award | 1997 |
| Daughters of the American Revolution Award | 1997 |
| Producers’ Guild of America Nova Award | 1997 |
| Gabriel Award | 1996 |
| Catholics in Media Associates Award | 1996 |
| Anti Defamation League’s Deborah Award | 1996 |
| Covenant Awards | 1996 |
| Excellence in Media Awards | 1995 |
| Swiss American Faith and Values Award | 1995 |
Appearances as herself
| Show | Date |
|---|---|
| 60 Minutes 60 Minutes 60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation.... |
1997 |
| Larry King Live Larry King Live Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly.... (multiple) |
2006 |
| The Oprah Winfrey Show The Oprah Winfrey Show The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history.... |
1997 |
| CBS Today Show | 2000 |
| The 700 Club The 700 Club The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any... |
2000 |
| FOX News Fox News Channel Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation... |
1999 |
| The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder | 2000 |
| Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer... and Access Hollywood Access Hollywood Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently directed by Robert Silverstein. In previous years, Doug Dougherty and... |
Multiple appearances between 1996–2003 |