Melissa Miller Berryis a third-generation Los Angelean who graduated from Immaculate Heart College with a major in English and Theatre, and minors in Music, Art, History, Fear, and Intimidation.
With this background, she proceeded to try education again by doing postgraduate work at New York University's School of Education in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Creative Arts.Still, not enough.
From there, she studied and received a certification from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England.Still not satisfied, she returned to study at Immaculate Heart College and received a Lifetime Teaching Credential in English from the State of California.
As a substitute teacher in Watts, Melissa taught everything but English, which provided some excellent material for her next career as a staff writer for entertainer George Burns.Contributing to his first book, Living It Up or They Still Love Me in Altoona(Putnam '77), and The Third Time Around (Putnam '78), her other work for him included his CBS TV SpecialGeorge Burns 100th Birthday Party, his many TV commercials and films, including coauthor credit on the feature film, Oh God, Book II.
She collaborated with Jake Steinfeld in creating his first celebrity exercise book, Body by Jake (Simon and Schuster '85), Peak Performance:The Scott Madsen Story(Simon and Schuster '88), and Cyd Charisse: Fit and Fabulous.She is currently working on a series of essays about growing up in Los Angeles, entitled On Being Privilege to the Privileged, which she hopes will be read but only by the right people
A book that actually is in the bookstores now is the recently completed memoir entitledClose But No Cigar! (A look back at 30 wonderful years with George Burns), which is a personal album of anecdotes, photos, and memorabilia that she put together for George Burns shortly before his death in 1996.
Currently, Melissa just completed her 17th year as the Literature teacher at St. Brendan School in Hancock Park, where she taught three sections every morning, is recovering from teaching 11th grade American Literature every afternoon at the Bais Yaakov Yeshiva for Girls while continuing her private practice as a Grammar and Composition consultant for professionals, a gardening column for a local newspaper, and contemplating the book proposal she wrotefor Baba Dez Nichols, a Dakini in the Healing Arts of Yoga, entitled The Power and Joy of Sacred Sex.To take a breather from all this, she’s currently pursuing her second Master’s Degree in Humanities at Mt. St. Mary’s College -– story to follow. Pax Vobiscum!
