Brenda Hampton

After growing up in Atlanta and studying journalism at the University of Georgia, Brenda Hampton began working as a technical writer for the U.S. Navy. In the 1980s, however, she moved west to Los Angeles, where she was hired as a writer for the sitcom "Sister Kate." Through the early 1990s, she continued to work on various television programs, including "Blossom" and "Mad About You." But in 1996 she scored a huge success when she created, wrote, and produced the long-running show "7th Heaven." During the show's 11-season run, she also created, wrote, and produced "Fat Actress," starring Kirstie Alley. In 2008, Hampton created yet another show, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," which quickly became a hit for its network, ABC Family.