Mary-Ellis Bunim

Mary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 - January 29, 2004) was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules. A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of Search for Tomorrow (1974-1981), As the World Turns (1981-1984), Santa Barbara (1984-1987) and Loving (1989-1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment. Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner Jonathan Murray. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted...