Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television producer, screenwriter, and author. She is best known as the showrunner—creator, head writer, and executive producer—of the television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, its spin-off Private Practice, and the political thriller series Scandal. Rhimes has also served as the executive producer of the ABC television series Off the Map, How to Get Away with Murder, and The Catch.[2] Shonda Rhimes Ms. magazine Cover - Spring 2015.jpg Rhimes on the cover of Ms. in 2015 Born Shonda Lynn Rhimes[1] January 13, 1970 (age 48) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Alma mater Dartmouth College University of Southern California Occupation Television producer, television writer, screenwriter Years active 1995–present Children 3 In 2007, Rhimes was named one of TIME magazine's 100 People Who Help Shape the World.[3] In 2015, she published her first book, a memoir, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person. In 2017 Netflix said that it had entered into a multi-year development deal with Rhimes, by which all of her future productions will be Netflix Original series.[4] They already had purchased streaming rights to back episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal.