Mary Ryan Munisteri, legendary soap opera head writer, died on January 29th, 2022 according to the New York Times. Munisteri was 82.
Mary was born in 1939 and completed her undergrad at Trinity College before going on to receive an M.A.T. degree from Yale. She moved to Brooklynn, NY and became a soap opera writer on Ryan’s Hope. Her best friend, and creator and head writer for Ryan’s Hope, Claire Labine, named the lead character Mary Ryan, in tribute to her.
She went on to become head writer for Ryan’s Hope, Guiding Light, and Loving. She also wrote for General Hospital and As The World Turns. As well as writing, she also directed episodes of General Hospital and One Life To Live.
During her career she won 14 Daytime Emmy’s for writing and directing as well as 10 Writer’s Guild awards and 2 Director’s Guild awards. Mary also won a best writing Emmy for the short film Mandy’s Grandmother, which was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film.
She retired in Brooklynn, NY in 2005 until she died peacefully at home. She is survived by her children and grandchildren.
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