John Murray

Widely credited with inventing the modern reality television genre, Jonathan Murray continues to inspire, influence and entertain television audiences worldwide. Since the 1992 launch of The Real World (MTV), Murray has created and executive produced more than 50 seasons and close to 2000 hours of the industry’s most innovative unscripted entertainment television, as well as its first unscripted feature film. Murray got his start in local television, spending six years at WLUK-TV, WXIA-TV and WKYC-TV in news, station management (WOKR-TV) and programming. He then worked with the television rep firm HRP, Inc. where he helped local stations buy and schedule their syndicated programming. In 1991, Murray and Mary Ellis Bunim pitched their idea for an unscripted drama series to MTV executives over breakfast. MTV bought the show before lunch time, and the landmark success of Bunim-Murray Productions was underway.

The innovative series merged Bunim's experience in scripted dramas with Murray's documentary and news expertise and it broke all the rules of television production. The Real World quickly became part of the cultural DNA of young people the world over and continues to thrive with its 15th season now airing, and its 16th season in production. Over the years, the partners created and executive produced an incredible array of entertainment including The Real World, Road Rules, Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Simple Life, The Real Cancun, Starting Over, Making the Band, and Love Cruise. Despite the loss of Bunim to cancer in early in 2004, Murray continues to lead the company they founded together to new heights. Today, as Chairman and President of Bunim-Murray Productions, Murray guides the creative process that has distinguished the company’s shows since the early 1990s. Murray graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He lives in Los Angeles.