Chris Van Etten

Chris Van Etten is an American television soap opera writer from Rochester, New York. Chris resides in New York, New York with his husband.

On July 29, 2017, Van Etten was promoted to co-head writer on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, replacing Jean Passanante.^[1]

He has also created with writing partners are David Ozanich and David Levithan; they collaborated on the young adult novel series Likely Story for Random House.^[2]

On July 30, 2019, in the wake of Shelly Altman’s retirement, Dan O’Connor was promoted to join Van Etten as co-head writer. ^[3]

On January 22, 2024, it was announced Van Etten and O'Connor had been dismissed from their positions as co-head writers;^[4][5] former associate head writer Patrick Mulcahey and present script editor Elizabeth Korte were named as their replacements.^[6] In May 2024, Chris returned to General Hospital as co-head writer with Elizabeth Korte following the departure of Patrick Mulcahey.

Positions held

General Hospital

• Breakdown Writer (May 10, 2012 – October 6, 2017; May 14, 2024 – August 6, 2024)
• Co-Head Writer (October 9, 2017 – March 14, 2024; August 7, 2024 – present)

One Life to Live

• Breakdown Writer (November 8, 2006 - February 22, 2008; May 2, 2008 - January 13, 2012)
• Occasional Associate Head Writer (August 15, 2005 - November 2006)
• Continuity Supervisor (2004)
• Writers' Associate (2003)
• Assistant to the Executive Producer (January 2001 - 2003)

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Award

• Nomination, 2009, Best Writing, One Life to Live

Daytime Emmy Award

• Win, 2008, Best Writing, One Life to Live
• Nomination, 2006, Best Writing, One Life to Live

Writers Guild of America Award

• Nomination, 2005, Best Writing, One Life to Live

Works

• Likely Story, co-written with David Levithan and David Ozanich (2010)^[2]
• All That Glitters, co-written with David Levithan and David Ozanich (2008)
• Red Carpet Riot, co-written with David Levithan and David Ozanich (2009)

Head writer history

Preceded by Jean Passanante Shelly Altman	Head writer of General Hospital (with Shelly Altman: 10/9/17–10/28/19) (with Dan O'Connor: 10/29/19 – 7/24/23) October 9, 2017 – July 24, 2023	Succeeded by WGA Strike
Preceded by WGA Strike	Head writer of General Hospital (with Dan O'Connor) December 18, 2023 – March 14, 2024	Succeeded by Elizabeth Korte Patrick Mulcahey
Preceded by Elizabeth Korte Patrick Mulcahey	Head writer of General Hospital (with Elizabeth Korte) August 7, 2024 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent