Photo: Andwhatsnext, aka Nancy J Price - http://andwhatsnext.com/ / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Donald P. Bellisario, born on August 8, 1935 in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, United States, is a screenwriter, television producer and film director. That puts Donald P. Bellisario at 91 years old in 2026. Schooling on record includes Pennsylvania State University. Recorded honors include Edgar Awards (1981) and star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (2004). Notable works include Magnum, P.I., Tales of the Gold Monkey and Airwolf.
My Take
Donald P. Bellisario is one of those names casual viewers never learn but whose fingerprints are everywhere. Look at the run: Magnum, P.I., Airwolf, Quantum Leap, JAG, and NCIS. That is decades of American television, and several of those shows defined whole eras of primetime. What strikes me is the consistency of his sensibility, a blend of action, procedure, and likable leads that clearly worked across very different formats. The 1981 Edgar Award and a Hollywood Walk of Fame star confirm the industry knew it too. A Penn State graduate from Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, born in 1935, he feels like a true architect of network TV rather than just a writer.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Donald P. Bellisario
- Name (Japanese)
- ドナルド・P・ベリサリオ
- Reading
- どなるど・P・べりさりお
- Born
- August 8, 1935 (age 91)
- Origin
- Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- screenwriter / television producer / film director / film producer
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Boar
2. Background
- University
- Pennsylvania State University
Awards & achievements
- 1981 Edgar Awards
- 2004 star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Magnum, P.I. |
| Notable work | Tales of the Gold Monkey |
| Notable work | Airwolf |
| Notable work | Quantum Leap |
| Notable work | JAG |
| Notable work | NCIS |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Donald P. Bellisario born?
Donald P. Bellisario was born on August 8, 1935 and is 91 years old.
Where is Donald P. Bellisario from?
Donald P. Bellisario is from Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
What does Donald P. Bellisario do?
Donald P. Bellisario works as screenwriter, television producer, film director, film producer.
Where did Donald P. Bellisario study?
Donald P. Bellisario attended Pennsylvania State University.
What is Donald P. Bellisario known for?
Donald P. Bellisario's notable works include Magnum, P.I., Tales of the Gold Monkey, Airwolf.
Screenwriter — see all → · Television producer — see all → · More people from the United States → · More people born on August 8 →