CSI: NEW YORK

Ann Donahue - Exec Producer / Co Creator

A native of Cleveland, Donahue dropped out of Ohio State University, married, and moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a paralegal in a Century City law firm while she toiled nights, teaching herself to write. After divorcing and coming out, her first big break came when Hollywood’s Cast Theatre produced her play “Home Fires,” which earned a Los Angeles County Cultural Award. She soon segued from theatre to television, beginning with “China Beach” and “21 Jump Street,” as well as the original telefilm “Sharing Richard.”

Donahue moved up the ranks as a writer and producer of “Picket Fences” (which earned her an Emmy) and supervising producer of “Murder One.” In 1996, Donahue was handpicked by Steven Spielberg to write and executive produce his ABC police series “High Incident.” She recounts pitching episode ideas to Spielberg surrounded by dinosaurs on the set of “Jurassic Park II” and receiving script notes by telephone from his director’s chair during “Saving Private Ryan.”

After executive producing and writing for “M.Y.O.B.,” “CSI” came into her life thanks to a call from Carol Mendelsohn, executive producer of the pilot. Donahue and Mendelsohn found they shared the same approach to storytelling, writing, and television production. In addition, Donahue serves as creator and executive producer of “CSI: Miami.”
Ann Donahue resides in Los Angeles.