Awards

The Media School Distinguished Alumni Award - 2018

About John Rappaport

John Rappaport was born in Chicago and raised in Highland Park, Illinois. In 1958 he enrolled at IU as a business major. Midway through his second year, after joining the IMU Radio Club and hosting a Sunday evening jazz show on WTTS-AM, he changed his major to radio and television. After his graduation in 1963, he moved back to Chicago and began working as a DJ. In search of a warmer climate, he moved to California where he worked as a radio station promotion manager and syndicated radio comedy writer. In 1969, his spec material opened the door to a staff writing assignment on the the TV show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. He remained with the show until it was cancelled in 1973.

His script-writing assignments include: All in the Family, Maude, The Odd Couple and M*A*S*H. Rappaport's career achievements include eight prime time Emmy nominations, four People's Choice Awards, five Writer's Guild Best Script award nomination, three Humanitas Prizes, and a Golden Globe. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America hall of fame.