Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes was born on January 13, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois. She is the youngest of six children born to Vera and Ilee Rhimes Jr. Her mother earned a Ph.D. while raising six children, and her father holds an MBA. Rhimes grew up in a family that valued education and hard work.

She attended Marian Catholic High School before enrolling at Dartmouth College, where she majored in English and minored in film studies. During her time at Dartmouth, she wrote for the school newspaper, joined the Black Underground Theater Association, and both directed and performed in student productions, actively nurturing her storytelling and creative talents.