Janis Hirsch was born in Trenton, New Jersey and grew up three blocks from her friend Mitchell Gold. She received her BA in Theater Arts at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and directly after graduation went to work at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. After that, she worked for the world's oldest stripper, Ann Corio, the self-proclaimed Queen of Burlesque and then it was on to New York and the National Lampoon.

Currently living just above the smog line in Los Angeles, Janis is a writer/producer of television comedy, including such shows as Will & Grace, Frasier, Murphy Brown, It's Garry Shandling's Show and Square Pegs. Her first television job was on Love, Sidney, a comedy about a gay man although the network never allowed us to say it. A photo of "Martin" on the piano was supposed to be "gay enough" in 1982.

Having contracted polio as an infant, Janis has long championed equality for all people with disabilities. She mounted the first-ever fundraising campaign for Post Polio Syndrome research. An emeritus board member of the illustrious Deaf West Theater, she has won several Media Access Awards acknowledging her work on behalf of the disabled community. She will be donating her time to the writing of the Night at Sardi's Alzheimer's fundraiser. The late, great Wendie Jo Sperber credited an episode of Murphy Brown written by Janis as helping her out of the "breast cancer closet." Wendie Jo went on to start WeSpark, a national outreach organization for cancer survivors and their families.

Janis has never, until now, been active beyond financially supportive of gay and lesbian causes. She has no idea what took her so long but she's grateful to Mitchell for showing her the way in.

Janis and her husband Larry Shulman are the proud parents of a 13 year boy, Charlie.