• UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine
UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery

UCLA Neurosurgery
  • About Us
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Neurosurgery Faculty
    • Our History
    • Clinical Quality Program
    • Innovation and Technology
    • Giving
    • eNewsletters
    • In the News
    • Webcasts
    • Webinars
    • Resources and Links
    • Global Neuro Health
    • Golden Portal Awards
    • Visionary Ball
    • Lab Party
    • UCLA Neurosurgery App
    • Spotlights
    • Chair's Welcome
    • Neurosurgery Faculty
    • Our History
    • Clinical Quality Program
    • eNewsletters
    • Innovation and Technology
    • In the News
    • Webcasts
    • Webinars
    • Giving
    • Global Neuro Health
    • Lab Party
    • Spotlights
  • Conditions Treated
    • Alphabetical Conditions
    • Brain Conditions
    • Brain Tumor
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Spine Conditions
    • Acoustic Neuroma
    • Adult Tethered Cord
    • Acromegaly
    • Acute Subdural Hematomas
    • Anaplastic Astrocytoma (AA)
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Aqueductal Stenosis
    • Arachnoid Cysts
    • Arnold Chiari Malformation
    • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Astrocytoma
    • Ballism
    • Basilar Invagination
    • Brachial Plexus Injury
    • Brain Aneurysm
    • Brain Attack (Stroke)
    • Brain AVM
    • Brain Conditions
    • Brain Metastases
    • Brainstem Glioma
    • Carotid Dissection
    • Carotid Stenosis
    • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    • Causalgia
    • Cavernous Angioma
    • Cerebral Aneurysms
    • Cerebral Contusion and Intracerebral Hematoma
    • Chordomas
    • Chorea
    • Chronic Subdural Hematomas
    • Colloid Cyst
    • Coma
    • Concussion
    • Congenital Dermal Sinus
    • Cranial GunShot Wounds
    • Craniopharyngioma
    • Craniosynostosis
    • Cushing's Disease
    • Cyst Epidermoid Tumor
    • Dandy Walker Syndrome
    • Degenerative Disc Disease
    • Dermoid Tumor
    • Disc Herniation
    • Dural Arteriovenous Malformations
    • Dystonia
    • Ependymoma
    • Epidermoid Tumor (Cyst)
    • Epidural Hematomas
    • Epilepsy
    • Essential Tremor
    • Extratemporal Lobe Epilepsies
    • Facet Joint Syndrome
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Frontal Lobe Epilepsy
    • Ganglioglioma
    • Glioblastoma
    • Germinoma
    • Glioma
    • Glomus Jugulare Tumor
    • Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
    • Hemangioblastomas
    • Hemi-Facial Spasm
    • Hydrocephalus
    • Hyperhidrosis
    • Intracerebral Hemorrhage
    • Intracranial Hypotension
    • JPA
    • Low-Grade Astrocytoma
    • Lymphocytic Hypophysitis
    • Lymphoma
    • Malignant Nerve Sheath Tumors
    • Medulloblastoma
    • Meningioma Brain Tumor
    • Meralgia Paresthetica
    • Metastatic Brain Tumors
    • Moyamoya Disease
    • Myelomeningocele
    • Myelopathy
    • Nelson's Syndrome
    • Neurocysticercosis
    • Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Schwannomatosis
    • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
    • Oligodendroglioma
    • Optic Nerve Glioma
    • Osteoarthritis of the Peripheral Joint
    • Osteoarthritis of the Spine
    • Osteomyelitis
    • Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
    • Parkinsons Syndrome
    • Pediatric Conditions
    • Pediatric Hydrocephalus
    • Peripheral Nerve Injury
    • Phantom Limb Pain
    • Pineal Tumor
    • Pineoblastoma
    • Pineocytoma
    • Platybasia
    • Postherpetic Neuralgia
    • Post-Traumatic Seizures
    • Primary CNS Lymphoma
    • Pseudotumor Cerebri
    • Radiculopathy—Cervical & Lumbar (Pinched Nerve)
    • Recurrent Adenomas
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Schwannomas
    • Scoliosis
    • Seizure
    • Skull Fracture
    • Slit Ventricle Syndrome
    • Spasticity
    • Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)
    • Spinal Compression Fractures
    • Spine Conditions
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Spinal Cord Lipomas & Lipomyelomeningoceles
    • Spinal Cord Tumors
    • Stenosis
    • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    • Syringomyelia
    • Tethered Cord Syndrome
    • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
    • Thyrotroph (TSH) Secreting Adenomas
    • Torticollis
    • Traumatic Hematomas
    • Trigeminal Neuralgia
    • Trochanteric Bursitis
    • Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
  • Clinical Programs
    • Brain Tumor Center
    • Cerebrovascular
    • Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery
    • Neurotrauma & Neuro Critical Care
    • Pediatric Neurosurgery
    • Peripheral Nerve
    • Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
    • Spine Center
    • Brain Tumor Center
    • Cerebrovascular
    • Epilepsy and Functional Neurosurgery
    • Neurotrauma & Neuro Critical Care
    • Pediatric Neurosurgery
    • Peripheral Nerve
    • Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery
    • Spine Center
  • For Patients
    • Appointment Request
    • Telemedicine and Remote Second Opinion
    • Contact Us
    • Maps and Directions
    • myUCLAhealth
    • UCLA Neurosurgery app
    • Preparing for Neurosurgery
    • Peer Support Program
    • Going Home After Surgery
    • Billing Information
    • Suspect a Brain Injury?
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient and Family Advisory Council
    • Resources and Links
    • Appointment Request
    • Telemedicine and Remote Second Opinion
    • Contact Us
    • myUCLAhealth
    • UCLA Neurosurgery App
    • Preparing for Neurosurgery
    • Peer Support Program
    • Going Home After Surgery
    • Billing Information
    • Suspect a Brain Injury?
    • Patient Stories
    • Patient and Family Advisory Council
    • Resources and Links
  • Research Innovation
    • Research Scientists
    • Brain Injury Research Center (BIRC)
    • Brain Tumor SPORE
    • Clinical Trials
    • Research Grant Funding
    • Surgical Neurology International
    • Publications
  • Education
    • Residency Training
    • Fellowship Programs
    • Visiting Scholars
    • Calendar
    • Events
    • Conferences and Courses
    • 100 Subjects in Neurosurgery
    • Submit Anonymous Feedback
  • For Healthcare Professionals
    • How to Refer a Patient
    • Clinical Updates
  • Find a Doctor
  • UCLA Health
  • myUCLAhealth
  • School of Medicine

UCLA Neurosurgery

Donald P. Bellisario

  1. Home
  2. Donald P. Bellisario

Donald P. Bellisario

Courage Award

Donald P. Bellisario

Donald P. Bellisario - A prolific writer, producer and director, Donald P. Bellisario has been crafting words and stories for a variety of readers and audiences for more than 30 years, and did so long before he gained notoriety as a creator/producer of groundbreaking television series such as "Magnum, P.I.", "Quantum Leap” and “NCIS”.

In 1961, armed with a degree in journalism from Penn State University, he began his writing career at the Centre Daily Times for four years before becoming a copywriter for a small advertising agency in Lancaster, Penn.  He later moved to Dallas to take a prestigious copywriting position at the famous Bloom Agency. After eight years at Bloom, Bellisario had risen to the level of senior vice president, head of film production, creative director, and member of the board of directors.  Yet, at the age of 42, he was still eager to gamble on a new career.

Moving to Hollywood, he became a story editor on the 1976-78 series "Baa Baa Black Sheep," with Robert Conrad.  After just five episodes, he was promoted to producer, a position he held for one year.  He then became supervising producer of "Battlestar Galactica" and, subsequently, began to develop his own series.

Bellisario is best known for his creations "Magnum, P.I.," "Quantum Leap," "JAG," and “NCIS.”  Running from 1980-88, "Magnum, P.I." starred Tom Selleck.  Among other honors, Bellisario's work on the series won him an Edgar Allen Poe writing award.  "Quantum Leap," the 1989-1993 science fiction drama starring Scott Bakula, garnered four Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Drama Series.  Running for ten seasons, from 1995-2005, "JAG" starred David James Elliott.  Running from 2003 to the present, “NCIS” is currently in its eleventh season.

Bellisario's other "created by" credits include "Tales of the Gold Monkey" with Stephen Collins; "Airwolf" with Jan-Michael Vincent; "Tequila and Bonetti" with Jack Scalia; and "First Monday" with James Garner and Joe Mantegna.  He served as executive producer for all eight series, and also in that same capacity on Paramount's 1995 detective telefilm "Crowfoot."

For the big screen, Bellisario wrote, produced and directed the 1987 feature film "Last Rites," starring Tom Berenger.

Bellisario also received the 2001 Producer of the Year award from the Caucus for Producers, Writers and Directors.  In addition to industry awards, Bellisario has been the recipient of numerous other awards including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Penn State University; Marine Corps Scholarship Fund Globe and Anchor Award 2002; Red Cross Spirit Award; an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Washington-Jefferson University; and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Born in Cokeburg, Pennsylvania, Bellisario served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps.  Bellisario and his wife Vivienne live in Montecito, CA and Sydney, Australia.

Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube LinkedIn
UCLA Health hospitals ranked best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report
  • UCLA Health
  • Find a Doctor
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • UCLA Campus
  • Directory
  • Newsroom
  • Subscribe
  • Patient Stories
  • Giving
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • International Services
  • Privacy Practices
  • Nondiscrimination
  • Billing
  • Health Plans
  • Emergency
  • Report Broken Links
  • Terms of Use
  • 1-310-825-2631
  • Maps & Directions
  • Contact Us
  • Your Feedback
  • Report Misconduct
  • Get Social
  • Sitemap