Biography
Mary Lou Belli is an American television director and author. She attended Penn State University and began her career as an actor in musical theatre and soap operas in New York before moving to Los Angeles, where she produced and directed more than 75 stage productions.
Belli made her television directing debut on an episode of Charles in Charge in 1988. Her credits include Monk (2002), Wizards of Waverly Place (2007), Hart of Dixie (2011), NCIS: New Orleans (2014), Bull (2016), Black Lightning (2018), Station 19 (2018), Legacies (2018), Dynasty (2017) and four episodes of Sweet Magnolias (2020). She has received two Los Angeles Emmy Awards and Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for The Ms. Pat Show.
Belli has co-authored books including The Sitcom Career Book and Directors Tell the Story. She has held leadership roles with the Directors Guild of America and taught directing while mentoring through diversity programmes.
