Visual History with Mary Lou Belli

Raised in a musical family, Mary Lou Belli and her siblings were encouraged by their mother to pursue the arts through dance, piano and voice lessons. Attending Pennsylvania State University for business administration to appease her father, she graduated within three years so she could head to New York to pursue theater. Once there, she found employment as an actor in musical theater and soap operas. Although she intended to stay in New York, she made the move to Los Angeles to pursue work in television. Within four days of her arrival, she landed a job as a stand in on the sitcom Domestic Life, where actor Jack Riley first planted the seed that she should be a director. She explored this in theater, producing and directing more than 75 productions. Belli made her television directorial debut on Charles in Charge in 1988.

Mary Lou Belli has been directing episodic television for over 30 years, including programs such as Sister, Sister, The Hughleys, Eve, One on One, Girlfriends, Monk, The Game, Hart of Dixie, Reed Between the Lines, Devious Maids, Station 19, American Woman, Legacies, Bull, Secrets of Sulphur Springs, Black Lightning, NCIS: New Orleans, Sweet Magnolias, The Ms. Pat Show, and Elsbeth among others. She has also directed an award winning short, Straight Eye for the Gay Guy (2015), as well as a micro short, titled America (2017).

Belli has served three terms on the Western Directors Council, as well as two terms as the Women’s Steering Committee co-chair, where she is currently serving as the committee category representative. She has also served three terms on the BA/FLTTA Negotiating Committee. Belli is currently serving her third term as a First Alternate on the National Board.