Bill Prady


William Scott Prady is an American television writer and producer known for co-creating and producing The Big Bang Theory and The Muppets. He also served as an executive producer on Dharma & Greg, Good Morning, Miami, and Gilmore Girls.

Early life

Prady was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and attended Wayne State University. He dropped out of the university, and moved to New York City where he worked at a RadioShack. During this time, he was involved in the creation of the filePro software for the TRS-80 microcomputer.

Career

In 1983, Prady was a production assistant for The Jim Henson Company on a proposed television special centering on the world of technology. When the project failed to come to fruition, he stayed with the company and worked in the merchandising department. With the encouragement of Jim Henson, he began writing on projects including Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series and The Jim Henson Hour. In 1991, he received an Emmy-award nomination for co-writing The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. He wrote the Disney theme park attractions Muppet*Vision 3D and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience.
In 1995, Prady joined the writing staff of the HBO series Dream On. In 1997, he joined the writing staff of Dharma & Greg, rising to executive producer and taking over as showrunner in 2001. He also served as a writer and producer on Good Morning, Miami, Caroline in the City, Related, Platypus Man and Gilmore Girls.
In 2007, Prady co-created the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, on which he served as executive producer for the show's twelve-season run.
In 2012, Prady joined the University of Southern California as an adjunct faculty member in its cinematic arts school. In April 2015, it was announced that ABC had picked up Prady's pilot presentation for a new version of The Muppet Show with Bob Kushell attached as showrunner.
In January 2020, Prady signed a first-look deal with Netflix to develop scripted series for the streamer. In 2022, he entered a similar agreement with Warner Bros. Television to develop scripted programming under his production company Pine Tree Entertainment.

Personal life

Prady is Jewish and is on the autism spectrum.
Prady was one of 135 candidates who ran for Governor of California in the 2003 recall election, receiving 474 votes, tying him for 111th place.
In 2010, Prady was given honorary membership in the Royal Canadian Institute for the Advancement of Science. In 2013, Prady was awarded NASA's Exceptional Public Achievement Medal. He has served as a trustee of the Humanitas Prize "New Voices" program. In 2022, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa by Wayne State University.
In 2020, Prady made a cameo appearance in Bill & Ted Face the Music.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryProgramResult
1989WGA AwardOutstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special EventMiss Piggy's HollywoodWon
1990WGA AwardOutstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special EventThe Earth Day SpecialWon
1991CableACE AwardOutstanding Achievement in Children's ProgrammingThe Presidential Inaugural Celebration for Children Won
1991WGA AwardOutstanding Achievement: Variety, Musical, Award, Tribute or Special EventThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson Won
1991Emmy AwardOutstanding Writing in a Variety or Music ProgramThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson Nomitated
1996The People's Choice AwardsFavorite New Television Comedy SeriesCaroline in the CityWon
1998The People's Choice AwardsFavorite New Television Comedy SeriesDharma & GregWon
1998Golden Globe AwardBest Series: Musical or ComedyDharma & GregNomitated
1999Golden Globe AwardBest Series: Musical or ComedyDharma & GregNomitated
1999WGA AwardOutstanding Achievement: Comedy SeriesDharma & GregNomitated
2009TCA AwardOutstanding Achievement in ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2009Satellite AwardBest Television Series: Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2010Golden Globe AwardBest Series: Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2010The People's Choice AwardsFavorite Television Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2010TCA AwardOutstanding Achievement in ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2011Emmy AwardOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2011The People's Choice AwardsFavorite Television Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2011Producers Guild of America AwardOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2011Critics' Choice Television AwardBest Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Satellite AwardBest Television Series: Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2012TCA AwardOutstanding Achievement in ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Monte-Carlo Television FestivalOutstanding International ProducerThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Emmy AwardOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Producers Guild of America AwardOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Critics' Choice Television AwardBest Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2012Golden Globe AwardBest Series: Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryNomitated
2013The People's Choice AwardsFavorite Television Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2013Critics' Choice Television AwardBest Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2013TCA AwardOutstanding Achievement in ComedyThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2013Teen Choice AwardsChoice Award: Best ComedyThe Big Bang Theory
2013Monte-Carlo Television FestivalInternational TV Audience AwardThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2013Emmy AwardOutstanding Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang Theory
2013Golden Globe AwardBest Series: Musical or ComedyThe Big Bang Theory
2014The People's Choice AwardsFavorite Television Comedy SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryWon
2022Drama League AwardOutstanding Production of a PlayDana H.