R.I.P.: Stephen J. Cannell
THR reports:
’21 Jump Street’ producer Stephen J. Cannell died Thursday night at his home. He was 69.
The Emmy winner, who was also behind “The A-Team” and “The Rockford Files,” “passed away at his home in Pasadena on Thursday evening due to complications associated with melanoma. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones,” his family told Entertainment Tonight in a statement.
“Aside from being a legendary television producer and prolific writer, Stephen was also a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend. Mr. Cannell is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Marcia, their three children, Tawnia, Chelsea and Cody and three grandchildren. Stephen was the pillar of strength within his family and he touched everyone he met. He will be most deeply missed,” the statement continued.
Instead of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the the American Cancer Society or The International Dyslexia Association, which he served as a spokesperson for after beating the learning disability.
Cannell also wrote 16 novels throughout the course of his career.
Cannell had an amazingly prolific writing and producing career with hundreds of TV episodes to his credit.
Cannell’s Wikipedia page here.
IMDB page here.
Godspeed, Stephen J. Cannell.
UPDATE: From GITS reader DA:
Here’s a montage of all of Cannell’s end titles, a fantastic encapsulation of his prolific career.
I don’t mean this facetiously, with all the typing and paper tearing. Look closely at how his environment evolves, with what looks to be an ever-growing array of accolades, awards, and such on his walls. And Stephen is still there, hard at work, typing away.
Truly a power of example.