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Anita W. Addison
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<h2 id="biography">Biography</h2> <p>Born in <a href="/facts/Greensboro%2c_North_Carolina/FcWCY6PC">Greensboro, North Carolina</a>, her parents were educators and civil rights activists.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Her father, Donald Addison, was a sociology professor at <a href="/facts/North_Carolina_A%2526T_State_University/j6jlW1bK">North Carolina A&T</a>. Her mother was Ruth Wharton Addison.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> Addison graduated from high school in Wisconsin.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>Addison graduated from <a href="/facts/Vassar_College/SB9TlRWc">Vassar College</a>, where she studied political science,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> in 1974. She then went to <a href="/facts/Columbia_University/Hlf1gw53">Columbia University</a>, where she received a master's degree in journalism.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Addison began working as a journalist at <a href="/facts/People_(magazine)/oMofkIN9">People</a>, <a href="/facts/Money_(magazine)/tWXUD3EJ">Money</a>, <a href="/facts/Fortune_(magazine)/QGWvHpxP">Fortune</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> and as a researcher for Time magazine,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> before embarking on a directing and producing career. She took classes at New York University's school of film. She then worked as an analyst of <a href="/facts/Nielsen_ratings/PJ1HH4H8">Nielsen ratings</a> for a small, independent TV station in <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles/pyXpYEX9">Los Angeles</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p>Addison produced, wrote and directed a short film called "<i>Savannah</i>"<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> which was nominated for an <a href="/facts/Academy_Awards/CwTxYuNQ">Academy Award</a> for best director in 1989.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>In the late 1980s, she worked as a senior vice president of drama development at <a href="/facts/Lorimar_Productions/mHVVR4Ad">Lorimar</a> before working as a producer at <a href="/facts/Warner_Bros._Television/xTakESlf">Warner Bros. Television</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>In 1990 she earned a master's degree in fine arts from UCLA and began her career in TV and film.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p><p>From 1995 to 1998, Addison was VP of drama development at <a href="/facts/CBS/BhMsVoej">CBS</a>. After leaving CBS, she worked on numerous television series including <i><a href="/facts/Family_Law_(American_TV_series)/dIJyVSKR">Family Law</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/EZ_Streets/U7dffs3p">EZ Streets</a></i> with director and writer <a href="/facts/Paul_Haggis/1hrkkGk5">Paul Haggis</a>. In 1999, she directed the television movie <i><a href="/facts/Deep_in_My_Heart_(1999_film)/qHobF70f">Deep in My Heart</a></i>. Addison died on January 24, 2004, in New York City. When she died she was a producer at Paramount Television and had just finished directing the pilot for "<a href="/facts/Manhattan_Valley/UCakwH9N">Manhattan Valley</a>."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> Haggis dedicated his Oscar-winning film <i><a href="/facts/Crash_(2004_film)/MMBdFoxp">Crash</a></i> to Addison.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p><p>She was seriously involved in the <a href="/facts/L.A._Rebellion/DLEhQbmy">L.A Rebellion</a>, an African-American film movement that took place at UCLA.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="personal-life">Personal life</h2> <p>Addison had an younger brother, Donald Addison, and a younger sister, Alveta Addison.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> She also had a partner for 8 years, David Byrd.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="death">Death</h2> <p>Addison was in New York City working on a television series when she became ill in mid-January. She was admitted to New York-Presbyterian hospital, and died a week later.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> There was no funeral or memorial held at the time she died. Her body was donated to science, and people were encouraged to make donations in her memory to their favorite causes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> The cause of death was breast cancer. <a href="/facts/Paul_Haggis/1hrkkGk5">Paul Haggis</a> made a tribute to her in his movie <a href="/facts/Crash/yJMlcVTV">Crash (2004 film)</a>. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="selected-filmography">Selected filmography</h2> <h3>Director</h3> <ul><li><i>Eva's Man</i> (1976)</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)/uv4oAWoQ">Quantum Leap</a> (1989-93)</i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Freddy%2527s_Nightmares/rNnRWeUd">Freddy's Nightmares</a></i> (1 episode, 1990)</li> <li><i>Deep In My Heart</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Knots_Landing/kAh9VFW1">Knots Landing</a></i> (1 episode, 1991)</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Sisters_(U.S._TV_series)/t5lP5Lg1">Sisters</a></i> (1 episode, 1991)</li> <li><i>There Are No Children Here</i> (1993)</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/ER_(TV_series)/CJa39EBx">ER</a></i> (1 episode, 1995)</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/EZ_Streets/U7dffs3p">EZ Streets</a></i> (1 episode, 1997)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Judging_Amy/lGxe6UsG">Judging Amy</a></i> (1 episode, 2000)</li></ul> <h3>Producer</h3> <ul><li><i>Sisters</i> (7 episodes, 1991)</li> <li><i>It Had to Be You</i> (1993)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/That%2527s_Life_(2000_TV_series)/IhQ9R5xs">That's Life</a></i> (Executive producer)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> (22 episodes, 2001–02)</li> <li><i>Copshop</i> (2004)</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0011697/">Anita W. Addison</a> at <a href="/facts/IMDb_(identifier)/uWrqVYVy">IMDb</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Variety Staff; Staff, Variety (January 28, 2004). "Anita Addison". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Variety Staff; Staff, Variety (January 28, 2004). "Anita Addison". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Profile: Anita W. Addison (1952-2004)". Black Art Story. September 14, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/" target="_blank">https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Variety Staff; Staff, Variety (January 28, 2004). "Anita Addison". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Profile: Anita W. Addison (1952-2004)". Black Art Story. September 14, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/" target="_blank">https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Variety Staff; Staff, Variety (January 28, 2004). "Anita Addison". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/anita-addison-1117899112/</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Writer, Tom Steadman Staff (June 23, 2005). "Woman left impression on director". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html" target="_blank">https://greensboro.com/news/general_assignment/woman-left-impression-on-director/article_c9516f2a-0932-5466-b6db-68b57083cd51.html</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>"Profile: Anita W. Addison (1952-2004)". Black Art Story. September 14, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/" target="_blank">https://blackartstory.org/2020/09/14/profile-anita-w-addison-1952-2004/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Rourke, Mary (January 30, 2004). "Anita Addison, 51; Pioneering TV Network Producer, Director". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021. <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html" target="_blank">https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-30-me-addison30-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>