Greatest American Hero & A-Team Creator Stephen J. Cannell Dies at 69

Greatest American Hero & A-Team Creator Stephen J. Cannell Dies at 69

It's been reported today that prolific writer/producer Stephen J. Cannell, whose many credits include "The Greatest American Hero" and "The A-Team," died of complications from melanoma.

By EdGross - Oct 01, 2010 12:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Action

Cannell's other credits include "The Rockford Files," the Johnny Depp starter "21 Jump Street" and "Wiseguy." In recent years he became a prolific author and even played himself in episodes of ABC's "Castle."

On a personal note, I was able to get to know Cannell a little through a series of interviews I conducted with him regarding "The A-Team" and, in particular, "Wiseguy," an undercover cop classic from the 1980s. One thing I came away with from those conversations was the sheer passion the man had for his craft. He will be missed.

Check out these credits:

Television
21 Jump Street
Adam-12
The A-Team
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baretta
Booker
Broken Badges
Castle (as himself)
Chase
Cobra
The Commish
The D.A.
Diagnosis Murder (acting)
The Duke
The Greatest American Hero
Hardcastle and McCormick
The Hat Squad
Hawkeye
Hunter
J.J. Starbuck
The Last Precinct
Magnum, P.I. (acting)
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
Pacific Blue (acting)
Palace Guard
Profit
The Quest
Renegade (acting)
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
Riptide
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (acting)
The Rockford Files
The Rousters
Santa Barbara (soap opera) (acting)
Silk Stalkings (acting)
Sonny Spoon
Stingray
Stone
Street Justice
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
Toma
Top of the Hill
Unsub
Wiseguy

Bibliography
Shane Scully series

1.The Tin Collectors (2001)
2.The Viking Funeral (2002)
3.Hollywood Tough (2003)
4.Vertical Coffin (2004)
5.Cold Hit (2005)
6.White Sister (2006)
7.Three Shirt Deal (2007)
8.On the Grind (2009)
9.The Pallbearers (2010)
10.The Prostitute's Ball (2010)

Other novels

The Plan (1996)
Final Victim (1997)
King Con (1998)
Riding the Snake (1999)
The Devil's Workshop (2000)
Runaway Heart (2003)
At First Sight (2008)

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tazmaniak
tazmaniak - 10/1/2010, 12:33 PM
Not a fan of Greatest American Hero, but I liked Wiseguy and Profit.I liked him as Dutch Dixon from Renegade.
SHAZAM171
SHAZAM171 - 10/1/2010, 12:40 PM
R.I.P Stephen. You were one of the greats.
patriautism
patriautism - 10/1/2010, 12:40 PM
RIP


I think it's about time to make a TGAH movie!
rastaZen
rastaZen - 10/1/2010, 12:53 PM
Rest Easy Mr. Cannell , your enormous volume of successful shows and novels ensures that you will never be forgotten.
thanks for all the great entertainment.
EdGross
EdGross - 10/1/2010, 12:58 PM
Personally, I think Wiseguy is one of TV's great shows. One of the first shows I remember that introduced the story arc, spreading a particular story over anywhere from four to 10 hours before starting another story, thus allowing the criminals to be as fully fleshed out as the hero, Vinnie Terranova.
DDD
DDD - 10/1/2010, 1:12 PM
Farewell Steven J. Cannell!

You are one of my writing heroes!

Thank You especially for Renegade,
that show was my all-time favorite!!!

Yep, Ed@ Wiseguy was amazing and a
front runner for shows like the
Sopranos.

R.I.P. Mr. Cannell!
Phinehas
Phinehas - 10/1/2010, 1:35 PM
Sad. Great writer. New shows are far more smutty for the ratings than the stuff he put out there. His stuff was always fresh and relevant and clever in the way of concept!
EphPhaThaINC
EphPhaThaINC - 10/1/2010, 1:38 PM
Cannell actually had a hand with writing the script for A-Team and helped produce it. He was very active in its production throughout. Which I actually liked A-Team, it was a good telling of the story of the show and put it on a grant theatrical scale. They did my childhood proud, and part of that was because of him.

I have said time and again, if a remake of a TV show, movie, comic book adaption, whatever is gonna be successful it has to have its original creator in its center whether in the development of the script, or helping to produce it.

The rare exception to this rule has to be that of one Mr. George "FRICKING" Lucas, he needs to stay more behind the scenes with producing and tidbits of writing and stick to just sitting back and be rich. Quit screwing up his own work.

God rest ye Stephen J. Cannell, you will be missed...sorely.
CaptainPresley
CaptainPresley - 10/1/2010, 1:43 PM
Rest in peace SJK. Thanks for your enormous contribution to television. Prayers go out to his family.
flames809
flames809 - 10/1/2010, 1:49 PM
r.i.p never seen any of these t.v show or read any of those books be4
theangrytroll
theangrytroll - 10/1/2010, 2:16 PM
I've watched most of these shows, and enjoyed quite a few of them. R.I.P. Mr. Cannell.
JustinMSalvato
JustinMSalvato - 10/1/2010, 3:21 PM
<-- I'm a fan. Can't you tell? Take care Stephen. See you when I get there.
LOL
LOL - 10/1/2010, 6:36 PM
"God rest ye Stephen J. Cannell, you will be missed." ...indeed.

heh, I'd like to see a reboot/re-ignition of the TV series "Stingray" that Cannell did for NBC, anyone remember that? Great music, great show.... sadly it was over too soon too.
SKAPEGOAT
SKAPEGOAT - 10/1/2010, 6:52 PM
I loved Renegade and many of the shows he wrote for! Too bad there was never a final Renegade episode. RIP Stephen J. Cannell. I will forever remember the end of each of his shows where he would throw that piece of paper in the air!
Orehrepus
Orehrepus - 10/1/2010, 9:12 PM
He wasn't just a writer. He was a creator. That's even more important and amazing. He created the characters and their uniqueness and their awesome surroundings.

He was definitely one of the best of his generation. I will miss him dearly as I love most of his work. Rest in peace, Stephen. You gave me so many sweet memories.

BubbaDude
BubbaDude - 10/2/2010, 4:46 AM
RIP Stephen. I watched and enjoyed a lot of those shows. You'll be missed
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