Mark Schwahn (born July 5, 1966) is an American former screenwriter, director, and producer. He is best known as the creator of the WB/CW teen drama series One Tree Hill. His career abruptly ended in 2018 due to widespread sexual harassment accusations by the show's female cast and crew members during its production.

Mark Schwahn
Mark Schwahn in 2012
Mark Schwahn in 2012
Born (1966-07-05) July 5, 1966 (age 58)
Pontiac, Illinois
OccupationDirector, producer, screenwriter
Alma materUniversity of Maryland
Years active1996–2018
Notable worksOne Tree Hill

Early life

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Mark Schwahn was born on July 5, 1966 in Pontiac, Illinois. He attended the University of Maryland where he earned a BA in radio, television, and film.

Career

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Schwahn has co-written Coach Carter (2005), The Perfect Score (2004), Whatever It Takes (2000) and 35 Miles from Normal (1997). In addition, he was creator of the TV series One Tree Hill, for which he also wrote and directed.

He served as producer for Whatever It Takes and One Tree Hill. He also directed 35 Miles from Normal, which he filmed in his hometown of Pontiac, Illinois.

His last major project was creating the E! scripted series The Royals.

Melrose Place spinoff

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He emerged as a top candidate to write a planned spin-off of Melrose Place shortly after the network and CBS Paramount Television announced it in late October 2008. Schwahn signed a two-year deal with CPT in early October 2008, but it had not started until June 2009. Until then, he was under a pact with Warner Bros. Television, where he ran One Tree Hill. His agreement with Warner Bros. called for him to continue as executive producer and showrunner on One Tree Hill returning for the ninth and final season in January 2012. The move to tap Schwahn to conceive a contemporary version of Melrose Place resembles The CW and CPT's decision to have Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas pen the original script for 90210.[1] In early 2009, it was announced Schwahn would not be working on the project.[2]

Sexual harassment allegations

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On November 12, 2017, TV writer Audrey Wauchope wrote on Twitter that she and her female writing partner were sexually harassed by Schwahn while working on One Tree Hill.[3][4] Female cast members supported the allegations, and Hilarie Burton and Danneel Harris alleged that they had also been sexually harassed by Schwahn.[5] The male stars of One Tree Hill released their own statements supporting their female co-stars and crew members.[6] Schwahn was also accused by cast members of The Royals.[7] Twenty-five female cast and crew members of the show released their own open letter stating that they, too, had been subjected to sexual harassment by Schwahn throughout the run of the show.[8] In light of the allegations, Schwahn was suspended[5] and ultimately fired from The Royals.[9] Schwahn has no production credits since 2017, and has not publicly addressed any of his past actions since then either.

Filmography

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Crew

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Film
Year Title Credit Notes
1997 35 Miles from Normal Writer and director Independent film
2000 Whatever It Takes Writer and producer
2004 The Perfect Score Writer
2005 Coach Carter Writer
Television
Year Title Credit Notes
2003–2012 One Tree Hill Series creator, writer, director, and executive producer
2010 Spy School for Girls Series co-creator;
Writer and executive producer
Series production canceled
Nashville Co-writer and executive producer Series production canceled; co-produced by Brad Paisley
2012 Shelter Series creator, writer and executive producer Pilot filmed
2015–2018 The Royals Series creator;
Writer, director, and executive producer

Cast

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Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997 Colin Fitz Lives! Venice Beach Fan
2006–2008 One Tree Hill Max 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 14, 2008). "New 'Melrose Place' lands writer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Dos Santos, Kristin (January 15, 2009). "Are One Tree Hill, Supernatural and Smallville Safe?". E! Online. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "'One Tree Hill' & 'The Royals' Creator Mark Schwahn Accused Of Sexual Harassment By 'OTH' Writer, Joined By Cast & Crew". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  4. ^ "'One Tree Hill' creator Mark Schwahn has been suspended from E!'s 'The Royals' after 18 women came together to accuse him of sexual harassment". Business Insider.
  5. ^ a b Holloway, Daniel (November 17, 2017). "'One Tree Hill' Cast, Crew Detail Assault, Harassment Claims Against Mark Schwahn (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  6. ^ "'One Tree Hill's' Male Stars Support Cast, Crew Accusing Creator Mark Schwahn of Sexual Harassment". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra (November 16, 2017). "The Royals Creator Suspended After Sexual Harassment Allegations". CNN. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
  8. ^ Rice, Lynette (16 November 2017). "The Royals cast and crew make sexual misconduct claims against Mark Schwahn", Entertainment Weekly.
  9. ^ Otterson, Joe (December 21, 2017). "Royals Creator Mark Schwahn Fired Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
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