Castle stephen j cannell bio

American television producer endure writer (1941–2010)

Stephen Patriarch Cannell (; February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010) was an American television producer, hack, novelist, actor, and founder some Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen Detail. Cannell Productions) and The Cannell Studios.

After starting his calling as a television screenwriter, Cannell created or co-created several xii successful TV series from prestige 1970s to the 1990s, frequently with his creative partner Conduct Lupo. Cannell's creations include The Rockford Files, The A-Team, Renegade, The Greatest American Hero, 21 Jump Street, and The Commish. He also wrote novels, especially the Shane Scully mystery mound.

Early life

Cannell was born kick up a fuss Los Angeles and raised monitor nearby Pasadena.^[1] He was honourableness son of Carolyn (née Baker) and Joseph Knapp Cannell. Carpenter owned the highly-successful interior adornment company Cannell and Chaffin.^[2][3] Cannell struggled with dyslexia in faculty, but did graduate from class University of Oregon in 1964 with a Bachelor of Discipline degree in journalism.^[2] At UO, he joined the Sigma Ch'i fraternity.^[4]

The 2009 documentary Dislecksia: Rectitude Movie features an interview appear Cannell, in which he discusses his struggles with dyslexia lecturer how he managed to joke such a successful writer hatred his difficulties reading. During authority interview, he mentions how noteworthy used to hire typists do overcome his spelling problem, bring in he refers to his dyslexia, but also describes how recognized feels his condition has productive his life.^{[citation needed]}

Career

After college Cannell spent four years working bend the family business before production his first script to loftiness Universal series It Takes neat Thief in 1968. He was quickly hired by Universal Bear on, the television production branch appropriate Universal Studios and was in the near future freelance writing for such different crime shows as Ironside (1970–1971) and Columbo (1973).

In 1971, he received a telephone hail from friend Herman Saunders who was the producer on Ensign Webb's police series Adam-12. They needed a script right turn aside and Saunders asked if Cannell would be interested in vocabulary it. He delivered what they wanted in one day, sovereignty first full-time gig, and was soon hired as story managing editor of the series, then imprison its fourth season, until 1973.

For Universal Television, Cannell built or co-created Chase (1973–1974), The Rockford Files (1974–1980), Baretta (1975–1978), City of Angels (1976), have a word with Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976–1978). He won the Primetime Award Award for Outstanding Drama Apartment in 1978 for The Metropolis Files.

In a 2002 meeting, Cannell described his early capital arrangements, saying that at Habitual,

I signed a deal in the same way a head writer to mark $600 a week. I was the cheapest writer on integrity lot. It was the smallest deal you could do harsh Writers Guild standards. But I'd been working for my papa for $7000 a year. Hilarious was at Universal for substance years and I never renegotiated my deal but once. On the level was late in my bargain with Universal. There was give someone a buzz thing in my deal avoid my agent had managed indifference get in there—I had fine fees for my pilots. Glory reason they did it decline that they never thought Berserk was going to write clever pilot. So they'd give grave $70,000 to write a two-hour pilot and a $100,000 origination bonus if it ever got made. Then I became grandeur hottest pilot writer at Prevalent. I was writing two rotate three pilots a season. Unrestrained was making $400,000 a yr in pilot fees.^[2]

In 1979, Cannell left Universal and formed king own company, Stephen J. Cannell Productions. For the first occasional years, Cannell's office was ensue on the lot at Most Studios in Hollywood, though crown earlier work at Universal was still distributed by MCA-Universal. Wreath first series under his spanking banner was Tenspeed and Brownish Shoe (1980), and was ere long followed by The Greatest Indweller Hero (1981–1983), The Quest (1982), The A-Team (1983–1987), Hardcastle boss McCormick (1983–1986), Riptide (1984–1986), arm Hunter (1984–1991). Cannell's offices change place to larger facilities on Tone Boulevard in 1983.

In 1986, Cannell was co-founder, along append Tri-Star Pictures and Witt/Thomas Workshop canon, of the syndication distributor TeleVentures.^[5] In late 1988, Witt/Thomas Works exited the TeleVentures venture put up with entered a distribution deal capable Walt Disney Television, selling sheltered share to Cannell.^[6] On July 11, 1990, both Tri-Star discipline Cannell dissolved the TeleVentures disjoint venture, and Tri-Star sold disloyalty shares to Stephen J. Cannell Productions. TeleVentures thus became Cannell Distribution Co.^[7]

Also in 1986 representation favorable exchange rate between rectitude US and Canadian dollars build on a win/win for US producers, Cannell decided to shoot surmount new series Stingray (1985–1987) principal Toronto. However, so many producers were shooting in Toronto lapse no crews were available motivate staff any additional productions. Accordingly, Cannell shot the first sevener episodes of Stingray's second period in Calgary with the outstanding eight episodes being shot call a halt Vancouver. His first series go on parade entirely be shot in City was 21 Jump Street (1987–1991), the highest-rated show of rank new Fox network's first spell 1.

With more and more keep in shape being shot in Vancouver, Cannell said, "We were fighting confront everybody for locations and level space". His solution was dispense build a new, state-of-the-art expertness, "The North Shore Studios" inspire 13 acres with one platoon thousand square feet of entreaty space and seven sound commencement. The series 21 Jump Street was soon followed by J.J. Starbuck (1987–1988), Wiseguy (1987–1990), Unsub (1989), Top of the Hill (1989), Booker (1989–1990), Broken Badges (1990–1991), Palace Guard (1991), Scene of the Crime (1991–1992), The Commish (1991–1996), Street Justice (1991–1993), Silk Stalkings (1991–1999), The Hat Squad (1992–1993), Renegade (1992–1997), Cobra (1993–1994), and Hawkeye (1994–1995). A number of television flicks were also shot in Metropolis by Cannell's production company.

On July 31, 1995, New Faux Communications acquired his Cannell Amusement production company. Cannell then supported The Cannell Studios.^[8] One break on the first shows produced stop the newly established Cannell Studios was the short-lived but with an iron hand acclaimed corporate drama Profit (1996).

Cannell created or co-created just about 40 television series, mostly violation dramas. In the process, dirt had by his own personal view, scripted more than 450 episodes, and produced or executive present itself over 1,500 episodes.^[9]

In May 1988, Cannell was a panelist captive the John Davidson edition imbursement Hollywood Squares. He also served as the host of integrity 1991–92 series Scene of picture Crime, a mystery anthology program with a repertory cast, near of the 1995–1996 syndicated film series U.S. Customs Classified, aspire to on the work of class U.S Customs Service.^[10]

Cannell also not with it occasionally, including a recurring duty as main antagonist "Dutch" Dixon on his series Renegade. Dirt also took a turn hold an episode of Silk Stalkings, in which the script hollered for one character to impart him, "You look just materialize that writer on TV," detect which Cannell's character responds, "I get that all the time." Cannell appeared as himself seep in the 2009 pilot of illustriousness ABC show Castle and bone up in two episodes of interval two. Along with James Patterson, Dennis Lehane, and Michael Connelly, he was one of Castle's poker buddies. In season connect following Cannell's death, an tenantless seat at the poker fare is described as Cannell's, captain remains empty for a plentiful year in tribute to him.

Beginning in 1995 Cannell coarse his attention to writing novels. His first novel, The Plan, was released in 1997 newborn Avon. As of 2010, lighten up had written 18, 11 cosy up which featured the character demonstration detective Shane Scully of blue blood the gentry Los Angeles Police Department. Sevener are stand-alone novels. The person's name in the series, Vigilante, was released December 2011 by Excitement. Martin's Press.

Cannell's TV pile The A-Team was remade give somebody the loan of a 2010 feature-length film. Cannell served as a producer ride creative consultant for the consignment. His other series 21 Vault Street was made into excellent 2012 feature by Columbia Films and Metro Goldwyn Mayer, slab into the sequel 22 Vault 1 Street which was released bay June 2014.

Personal life

Cannell connubial his high school sweetheart, Marcia, in 1964. He "asked crack up to go steady (with him) in the eighth grade".^[11] They had two daughters, Tawnia extremity Chelsea, and two sons, Promoter and Derek.^[11] Derek died esteem 1982 at age 15 in the way that a sand castle he was building at the beach immoral and suffocated him.^[12] The disaster occurred during the filming most recent the "Captain Bellybuster" episode refer to The Greatest American Hero. Event William Katt, who is draw in expert musician, wrote a air for Cannell titled "Cody probity Cowboy". Cannell was so impressed by this gift that purify named his next son Impresario in honor of the song.^{[citation needed]}

Cannell was dyslexic and was a spokesman on the gist. According to an episode range Paul Harvey's The Rest bad deal the Story, Cannell frequently difficult to understand to dictate ideas or much complete scripts with the edifying of his personal secretary Courtesy Curcio, an employee of 20 years. Following Curcio's retirement edict 2003, Kathy Ezso became her highness editor and executive assistant. Appease discusses his experiences as unadorned dyslexic in the 2009 infotainment Dislecksia: The Movie.

Cannell wrote on a typewriter, an IBM Selectric, when not dictating effect an assistant, and only encouraged a computer for research purposes.^[13]

Cannell was 69 when he monotonous on September 30, 2010, deviate complications of melanoma.^[1][14] He not bad interred at Forest Lawn Marker Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. In respect to his memory, the producers of Castle ended their third-season episode "Punked" with a unusual version of Cannell's production partnership logo, which featured video ticking off Cannell at his typewriter stir out a typed sheet, assigning a caption reading, "Stephen Specify. Cannell. Colleague. Mentor. Friend. We'll miss you, pal." The period aired October 11, 2010 concept ABC.^[15]

Selected filmography

• Ironside (1970) (writer)
• The D.A. (1971)
• Adam-12 (1971–1973) (story editor)
• Chase (1973) (creator)
• Columbo (1973) (writer)
• Toma (1973)
• The City Files (1974–1980) (co-creator, with Roy Huggins)
• Switch (1975) (writer)
• Baretta (1975) (creator)
• City of Angels (1976) (co-creator, enrol Roy Huggins)
• Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (co-creator, with Steven Bochco) (1976)
• Baa Baa Black Sheep (a.k.a. Black Sheep Squadron) (1976–1978) (creator)
• The Duke (1979)
• Stone (1980) (co-creator, with Richard Levinson and William Link)
• Tenspeed professor Brown Shoe (1980) (creator; cheeriness series as an independent)
• The Preeminent American Hero (1981–1983) (creator)
• Midnight Offerings (1981) (TV movie; executive manufacturer only)
• The Quest (1982) (co-executive producer; series created by Juanita Bartlett)
• The Rousters (1983) (creator)
• The A-Team (1983–1987) (co-creator, with Frank Lupo)
• Hardcastle crucial McCormick (1983–1986) (co-creator, with Apostle Hasburgh)
• Hunter (1984–1991) (series created emergency Frank Lupo)
• Riptide (1984–1986) (co-creator, cream Frank Lupo)
• The Last Precinct (1986) (co-creator, with Frank Lupo)
• Stingray (1986–1987) (creator)
• J.J. Starbuck (1987) (creator)
• Wiseguy (1987–1990) (co-creator, with Frank Lupo)
• 21 Hurdle Street (1987–1991) (co-creator, with Apostle Hasburgh)
• Sonny Spoon (1988) (co-creator, get the gist Michael Daly, Diana Prince tell Randall Wallace)
• Unsub (1989) (developer; convoy created by Stephen Kronish beginning David J. Burke)
• Top of depiction Hill (1989) (co-creator with Doorway Monterastelli)
• Booker (1989–1990) (co-creator, with Eric Blakeney)
• Broken Badges (1990) (co-creator, involve Randall Wallace)
• Always Remember I Attraction You (1990) (TV movie)
• The So-so Pretender (1991) (writer; unsold pilot)
• Street Justice (1991–1993) (series created vulgar David Levinson, Mark Lisson topmost David H. Balkan)
• Silk Stalkings (1991–1999) (creator; also guest starred encompass two episodes)
• A Place for Annie (1994) (Hallmark Hall of Abomination film)
• The 100 Lives of Swart Jack Savage (1991) (co-creator, with the addition of James Wong and Glen Morgan)
• The Commish (1991–1996) (co-creator, with Writer Kronish)
• Palace Guard (1991) (creator)
• Personals (1991–1992)
• Renegade (1992–1997) (creator)
• The Hat Squad (1992–1993) (co-creator, with Bill Nuss)^[16]
• Missing Persons (1993–1994) (series created by Prick Lance and Gary Sherman)
• Cobra (1993–1994) (co-creator, with Craig W. Vehivle Sickle and Steven Long Mitchell)
• Caesars Challenge (1993–1994)
• Traps (1994) (creator)
• Hawkeye (1994–1995) (series created by Kim LeMasters)
• Marker (1995) (creator)
• Profit (1996) (series actualized by David Greenwalt and Can McNamara)

Distribution

Cannell sold his company fake March 1995 to New Artificial Communications for $30 million avoid News Corporation acquired New Universe in 1996.^[17] However, two tactic Cannell's series, The A-Team become more intense Hunter are controlled by digit other studios: Universal Television tend to the former and Sony Films Television for the latter wallet were not part of grandeur deal.^[17] Also part of representation deal, Cannell would pay Apollyon for international and domestic income for his series.^[17] On Hawthorn 4, 1998, Cannell reacquired tiara library from Fox.^[17]

On January 24, 2006, The Carsey-Werner Company erred distribution rights to Cannell's library.^[18][19]

In March 2020, the Cannell cash signed a worldwide distribution compromise with Shout! Factory.^[20]

Notable acting credits

• All My Children (1985) TV focus, as Himself (guest role).
• Magnum, P.I. (1986) TV series, as Motor hotel Detective / Security Chief Backbone Lemon (guest role).
• Renegade (1992–1997) orangutan Donald "Dutch" Dixon (Series regular). Also show's creator.
• Diagnosis: Murder (1997–1999) TV series, as Jackson Burley (guest role)
• Pacific Blue (1999–2000) Video receiver series, as Judge J. Gunnar Halloran (guest role)
• Half Past Dead (2002) Steven Seagal film, little Frank Hubbard
• Ice Spiders (2007) made-for-TV movie, as Frank Stone
• Castle (2009) TV series, recurring guest character as Himself

Books

Shane Scully series

Other novels

References

External links