Donald Paul Bellisario (born August 8, 1935) is an American television producer and screenwriter best known for creating and writing episodes of the American military TV series, "JAG" and later for creating and also writing various of the JAG spin-off series, "NCIS".
In addition to writing episodes for JAG and NCIS, Bellisario also directed episodes of both shows as well.
He also had a cameo appearance as himself in both JAG and NCIS and even appeared in the JAG Season 3 finale episode, To Russia with Love (episode) as Hugh Blackadder.
In 2007, Bellisario stepped down as the showrunner for NCIS following reports of a feud between himself and Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs).
As such, Bellisario was later replaced by Shane Brennan and following Brennan's departure to oversee the full-time running of NCIS: Los Angeles, Gary Glasberg took over before NCIS writers Frank Cardea and George Schenck became the new showrunners for NCIS following Glasberg's sudden death in September 2016.
Despite no longer been associated with NCIS, Belliasario is still credited as the creator and Executive Producer of NCIS.
JAG Episodes written by Donald P. Bellisario[]
- A New Life (episode)- (writer).
- Shadow (episode)- (writer).
- Desert Son (episode) (teleplay by).
- Pilot Error (episode) (teleplay by).
- The Brotherhood (episode) (writer).
- Smoked (JAG Season 1 episode) (writer).
- Hemlock (episode) (story/teleplay by).
- Survivors (episode) (teleplay by).
- Skeleton Crew (episode) (writer).
- We the People (episode) (writer).
- Ghost Ship (episode) (story/teleplay by).
- Death Watch (episode) (writer).
- To Russia with Love (episode) (writer).
- Gypsy Eyes (episode) (writer).
- Soul Searching (episode) (writer).
- Ghosts of Christmas Past (episode) (story).
- Boomerang (Part 1) (episode) (writer).
- Boomerang (Part 2) (episode) (writer).
- Enemy Below (episode) (story).
- Critical Condition (episode) (story).
- Ice Queen (episode) (writer).
- Meltdown (episode) (writer).
JAG Episodes Directed by Donald P. Bellisario[]
- A New Life (episode) (director).
- Shadow (episode) (director).
- Skeleton Crew (episode) (director).
- Ghost Ship (episode) (director).
- Death Watch (episode) (director).
- Boomerang (Part 1) (episode) (director).
- Boomerang (Part 2) (episode) (director).
- Ice Queen (episode) (director).
NCIS Episodes Written by Donald P. Bellisario[]
- Yankee White (episode) (writer).
- Seadog (episode) (writer).
- The Curse (episode) (writer).
- Minimum Security (episode) (writer).
- Left for Dead (episode) (writer).
- Bête Noire (episode) (writer).
- Reveille (episode) (writer).
- Lt. Jane Doe (episode) (teleplay).
- SWAK (episode) (writer).
- Kill Ari Part 1 (episode) (writer).
- Kill Ari Part 2 (episode) (writer).
- Hiatus Part 1 (episode) (writer).
- Hiatus Part 2 (episode) (writer).
- Shalom (episode) (story).
- Trojan Horse (episode) (writer).
- Angel of Death (episode) (writer).
NCIS Episodes Directed by Donald P. Bellisario[]
- Yankee White (episode) (director).