Peter S. Fischer, the prolific television writer behind “Murder, She Wrote” and “Columbo,” passed away on Monday, his grandson Jake McElrath told TheWrap. He was 88.
“We are very lucky to have so much of his work still accessible, like pieces of him left behind,” McElrath said in a statement to TheWrap. “He was an amazing presence to have in our lives, our Pa. We are all going to miss him.”
Fischer, who was nominated for three Emmy Awards across the duration of his career, is also known for his work on “Ellery Queen” and “The Eddie Capra Mysteries.” No further details about Fischer’s death are known at this time.
Born in 1935, Fischer’s longstanding career in Hollywood stretches back to writing 1971 TV movie “The Last Child,” before writing several TV episodes on “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” “Griff,” “Kojak” and “Baretta.”
The TV writer went...
“We are very lucky to have so much of his work still accessible, like pieces of him left behind,” McElrath said in a statement to TheWrap. “He was an amazing presence to have in our lives, our Pa. We are all going to miss him.”
Fischer, who was nominated for three Emmy Awards across the duration of his career, is also known for his work on “Ellery Queen” and “The Eddie Capra Mysteries.” No further details about Fischer’s death are known at this time.
Born in 1935, Fischer’s longstanding career in Hollywood stretches back to writing 1971 TV movie “The Last Child,” before writing several TV episodes on “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law,” “Griff,” “Kojak” and “Baretta.”
The TV writer went...
- 11/2/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Peter S. Fischer, the late-blooming TV writer and producer who co-created Murder, She Wrote after serving on such other crime-solving series as Columbo, Baretta and Ellery Queen, has died. He was 88.
Fischer died Monday at a care facility in Pacific Grove, California, his grandson Jake McElrath announced.
He became a prolific novelist after he exited Hollywood, writing murder mysteries, of course.
Fischer, who had worked with Columbo co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link on the iconic Peter Falk series as well as on the Jim Hutton-starring Ellery Queen, accompanied the pair to a meeting with CBS executives in 1984, he recalled in a 2011 interview.
“CBS wanted to do a murder mystery and they called Dick, who was our ringleader. He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring the boys,'” Fischer said. “We went over there and pitched a premise called Blacke’s Magic, about a retired magician who solves mysteries. It became...
Fischer died Monday at a care facility in Pacific Grove, California, his grandson Jake McElrath announced.
He became a prolific novelist after he exited Hollywood, writing murder mysteries, of course.
Fischer, who had worked with Columbo co-creators Richard Levinson and William Link on the iconic Peter Falk series as well as on the Jim Hutton-starring Ellery Queen, accompanied the pair to a meeting with CBS executives in 1984, he recalled in a 2011 interview.
“CBS wanted to do a murder mystery and they called Dick, who was our ringleader. He said, ‘Ok, I’ll bring the boys,'” Fischer said. “We went over there and pitched a premise called Blacke’s Magic, about a retired magician who solves mysteries. It became...
- 11/2/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In rural New Zealand, Hoaggie (Erik Thomson) rides in the passenger seat. His wife, Jill (Miriama McDowell), is driving and their sons Maika (Billy Paratene) and Jordan (Frankie Paratene) are in the back. It’s the middle of nowhere in New Zealand: scenic, sure, but totally isolated. It’s a good place for a family picnic too, and it fits the bill for a few minutes. That’s when a greasy dude named Mandrake (Daniel Gillies) and his mute lackey, Tubs (Matthias Luafutu), show up. Mandrake seems to know that Hoaggie is a teacher, and he seems a little too laid back as he attacks the family with pure, unhinged sadism. The fact that he goes on to take the family for an all-night joyride from hell is just a way to salt the wounds.
For a while, Coming Home in the Dark works because it doesn’t just lean into the brutality.
For a while, Coming Home in the Dark works because it doesn’t just lean into the brutality.
- 1/31/2021
- by Matt Cipolla
- The Film Stage
Col. Steve Austin, astronaut, survived the catastrophic crash of a test vehicle, and even went up against Bigfoot without breaking a sweat. But now — at this moment in time — he actually looks nervous. And it’s not a nervousness born out of another mission that, given his bionically-enhanced arm, legs and eye, only he can pull off to save the world from destruction. These are the nerves of the actor who played him, Lee Majors, The Six Million Dollar Man himself, who is getting ready for his first appearance at a comic/media convention. “I’ve never done one before,” he admits to me not long before appearing at the the Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con in New York back in October of 2010. “I just hope they all like me… I don’t want the crazies.” He lets out a short laugh at that, but isn’t entirely convincing.
- 3/9/2018
- by Ed Gross
- Closer Weekly
Two groovy new additions have been made to the Season 2 cast of Ash vs Evil Dead, as Starz has announced that Lee Majors will play Brock Williams, the father of Ash, while Ted Raimi—who appeared in the first three Evil Dead movies—will play Chet Kaminski, Ash's best friend from childhood.
Press Release: Beverly Hills, Calif., February 10, 2016 - Starz has announced today that Lee Majors (Do You Believe) will play the role of Brock Williams, Ash’s father, and Ted Raimi (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Spider-Man) will play the role of Ash’s childhood best friend, Chet Kaminski, in the Starz Original series “Ash vs Evil Dead.” The series was previously renewed for a second season and will return in 2016.
Majors started his television career in “The Big Valley,” going on to “The Men from Shiloh,” to “Owen Marshall Counselor at Law,” to “The Six Million Dollar Man,” to “The Fall Guy,...
Press Release: Beverly Hills, Calif., February 10, 2016 - Starz has announced today that Lee Majors (Do You Believe) will play the role of Brock Williams, Ash’s father, and Ted Raimi (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Spider-Man) will play the role of Ash’s childhood best friend, Chet Kaminski, in the Starz Original series “Ash vs Evil Dead.” The series was previously renewed for a second season and will return in 2016.
Majors started his television career in “The Big Valley,” going on to “The Men from Shiloh,” to “Owen Marshall Counselor at Law,” to “The Six Million Dollar Man,” to “The Fall Guy,...
- 2/10/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Starz has announced today that Lee Majors (Do You Believe) will play the role of Brock Williams, Ash’s father, and Ted Raimi (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Spider-Man) will play the role of Ash’s childhood best friend, Chet Kaminski, in the Starz Original series Ash vs Evil Dead. The series was previously renewed for a second season and will return in 2016.
Majors started his television career in “The Big Valley,” going on to “The Men from Shiloh,” to “Owen Marshall Counselor at Law,” to “The Six Million Dollar Man,” to “The Fall Guy,” to “Tour of Duty,” to “Raven” and countless television appearances on many series, specials, award shows and movies. He began his film career with Will Penny and Charlton Heston. Majors recently completed filming two movies Almosting It and Do You Believe. Majors will start filming on two feature films this summer, plus he has a lineup of...
Majors started his television career in “The Big Valley,” going on to “The Men from Shiloh,” to “Owen Marshall Counselor at Law,” to “The Six Million Dollar Man,” to “The Fall Guy,” to “Tour of Duty,” to “Raven” and countless television appearances on many series, specials, award shows and movies. He began his film career with Will Penny and Charlton Heston. Majors recently completed filming two movies Almosting It and Do You Believe. Majors will start filming on two feature films this summer, plus he has a lineup of...
- 2/10/2016
- by Kellvin Chavez
- LRMonline.com
Steven Awalt – author interviewed by Todd Garbarini
“Well, it’s about time, Charlie!”
Dennis Weaver utters these words in my favorite Steven Spielberg film, Duel, a production that was originally commissioned by Universal Pictures as an Mow, industry shorthand for “movie of the week”, which aired on Saturday, November 13, 1971. The reviews were glowing; the film’s admirers greatly outweighed its detractors and it put Mr. Spielberg, arguably the most phenomenally successful director in the history of the medium, on a path to a career that would make any contemporary director green with envy. Followed by a spate of contractually obligated television outings, Duel would prove to be the springboard that would catapult Mr. Spielberg into the realm that he was shooting for since his youth: that of feature film directing. Duel would also land him in the court of Hollywood producers David Brown and Richard Zanuck and get him his...
“Well, it’s about time, Charlie!”
Dennis Weaver utters these words in my favorite Steven Spielberg film, Duel, a production that was originally commissioned by Universal Pictures as an Mow, industry shorthand for “movie of the week”, which aired on Saturday, November 13, 1971. The reviews were glowing; the film’s admirers greatly outweighed its detractors and it put Mr. Spielberg, arguably the most phenomenally successful director in the history of the medium, on a path to a career that would make any contemporary director green with envy. Followed by a spate of contractually obligated television outings, Duel would prove to be the springboard that would catapult Mr. Spielberg into the realm that he was shooting for since his youth: that of feature film directing. Duel would also land him in the court of Hollywood producers David Brown and Richard Zanuck and get him his...
- 10/16/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.