TV Writer and Playwright Mary Hanes Passes Away at 59

According to Variety, TV writer and playwright Mary Hanes, who co-executive produced the ABC Family series "Make It or Break It", died on August 7, 2012. She was 59.

Hanes co-executive produced the ABC Family series with her husband Ken Hanes. The couple also created and produced the pilot "Eden" for USA in 2011. Mary Hanes also wrote and produced the WB's "Dead Last," developed and exec produced "Hope Island," and wrote episodes of "'Til Death Do Us Part," "Doc" and "Hack."

Hanes' first play The Crimson Thread was originally produced for National Public Radio. It has since played regional stages in Waterbury, Conn., Pasadena and Seattle. Another of her plays, Doin' Time at the Alamo, won the New Voice in American Theatre Award from the William Inge Theatre Festival and the Mildred & Albert Panowski Playwriting Award. She also penned "The New Rotics" sketch comedy show, named best comedy of the year by Los Angeles Weekly.

Hanes is survived by her husband, her parents, two sisters and a brother. She went through a long battle with ovarian cancer before she passed away. Donations may be made to the Women's Cancer Program at Cedar-Sinai in Los Angeles. A date for the memorial service will be announced soon.

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