Person
Rita Lakin
Writing · USA
Biography
Rita Lakin is an American screenwriter, with 474 produced television scripts spanning 30 productions. She is also a novelist and author of "The Only Woman In The Room," a memoire of her life as one of the first female show runners and one of the first women in television (released October 2015, Applause publishing). In fiction, Lakin created the Gladdy Gold Mystery seven-book series (published by Bantam Books), including Getting Old Is Murder, Getting Old Is The Best Revenge, and Getting Old Can Kill You. Lakin began writing regularly during the early 1960s for such television shows as The Doctors, Dr. Kildare and Peyton Place. In 1968, she began working as story editor and head writer of The Mod Squad. In 1972, she created The Rookies. In 1977, she served as executive producer of the CBS TV adaptation of the 1954 film Executive Suite. She wrote numerous "Movies of the Week" including Women in Chains, and such miniseries as Strong Medicine and Voices of the Heart. In 1981, she developed the TV series adaptation and served as show-runner of Flamingo Road. In 1989, she co-created the medical drama Nightingales. She also wrote or co-authored two original theatrical plays, No Language But a Cry and Saturday Night at Grossinger's.
Known for

Daniel Boone
Writer

Dynasty
Writer

The Virginian
Writer

Family Affair
Writer

The Invaders
Writer

The Rookies
Creator

The Mod Squad
Writer

Flamingo Road
Creator

Nightingales
Creator

Peyton Place
Writer
Filmography
- 1989Voice of the HeartWriter
- 1989NightingalesCreator
- 1988NightingalesCreator
- 1986Strong MedicineWriter
- 1986Strong MedicineWriter
- 1985Peyton Place: The Next GenerationScreenplay
- 1981DynastyWriter
- 1981Flamingo RoadCreator
- 1980Flamingo RoadWriter
- 1979Torn Between Two LoversStory
- 1977A Sensitive, Passionate ManWriter
- 1975Hey, I'm AliveWriter
- 1973Message to My DaughterWriter
- 1973A Summer Without BoysWriter
- 1972The RookiesCreator
- 1972The RookiesStory
- 1972Women in ChainsWriter
- 1971Death Takes a HolidayWriter
- 1970The 48-Hour MileWriter
- 1968The Mod SquadWriter
- 1967The InvadersWriter
- 1966Family AffairWriter
- 1964Daniel BooneWriter
- 1964Peyton PlaceWriter
- 1962The VirginianWriter
Follow their work on Vescene
Rate films and shows on two axes — quality and fun — and share taste with friends.