Arnold Shapiro

Arnold Shapiro has been a television producer and writer for 52 years, having sold his first show to CBS in Los Angeles at age 22. Since then, Arnold has produced over 90 nationally-televised documentary series and specials for every broadcast network and 14 cable channels from MTV to HBO including the Oscar and Emmy Award-winning film, "Scared Straight!" (1978) which he wrote, directed and produced; and "Scared Silent: Exposing & Ending Child Abuse," hosted by Oprah Winfrey (1992) which aired as a simulcast on CBS, NBC, ABC and PBS. Among Arnold's 29 series are CBS's "Rescue 911" (1989-1996); seasons 2-7 of CBS's summer series, "Big Brother"; the seven-part "Teen Files" documentaries (1998-2000); and A&E's "Beyond Scared Straight" (2011-2015). Among Arnold's 150+ awards are 16 Emmys, an Academy Award, the People's Choice Award, the Peabody Award, and the International Documentary Association's Lifetime Career Achievement Award. Arnold Shapiro Productions' mission statement was to help young people reach adulthood without getting killed, incarcerated, addicted, pregnant, or becoming a dropout, violent or suicidal. Arnold Shapiro retired in 2015.