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Stephen J. Cannell

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Biography

Stephen J. Cannell is one of TV's most prolific writers and producers. Over his long career, he has created, written or produced more than…more

Born

2/5/1941, Los Angeles, California, USA

Died

9/30/2010

Birth Name

Gender

Male

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Credits

Star (2)

Role
- Scene of the Crime
  The Host
  - S 2: Ep 12 Death in room #6556
    1/13/02
  - S 2: Ep 11 Monkey's Uncle
    3/4/92
  - S 2: Ep 8 The Courier
    2/12/92
  - S 2: Ep 10 Feeding Frenzy
    2/5/92
  - S 2: Ep 9 Christmas Eve Gang
    11/27/91
  - + 20 More Credits
- Renegade
  Donald "Dutch" Dixon
  - S 5: Ep 1 No Balls, Two Strikes
    9/13/96
  - S 4: Ep 22 The Road Not Taken
    4/28/96
  - S 4: Ep 21 Hog Calls
    4/22/96
  - S 4: Ep 20 The Dollhouse
    4/15/96
  - S 4: Ep 19 Hard Evidence
    2/19/96
  - + 64 More Credits
Recurring Role (1)

Role
- Renegade
  Donald "Dutch" Dixon
  - S 5: Ep 22 The Bad Seed
    4/4/97
  - S 5: Ep 21 The Maltese Indian
    3/28/97
  - S 5: Ep 16 Knock Out
    2/7/97
  - S 5: Ep 14 Top Ten With a Bullet
    1/24/97
  - S 5: Ep 13 Hard Rain
    1/13/97
  - + 10 More Credits
Guest Star (15)

Role
- Imus in the Morning
  Himself
  - S 2008: Ep 143 July 24, 2008
    7/24/08
  - S 2008: Ep 27 January 17, 2008
    1/17/08
- Army Wives
  Jack Faraday
  - S 2: Ep 6 Thicker Than Water
    7/13/08
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
  Himself
  - S 2: Ep 201 Fred Willard/Rachel Blanchard/Stephen J. Cannell
    8/22/06
- V.I.P.
  Himself
  - S 3: Ep 9 Get Vallery
    1/13/01
- Pacific Blue
  Judge J. Gunnar Halloran
  - S 5: Ep 18 Disrobed
    3/5/00
  - S 5: Ep 1 Reckoning (2)
    7/18/99
- Diagnosis Murder
  Jackson Burley
  - S 6: Ep 20 Trash TV (2)
    4/29/99
  - S 6: Ep 19 Trash TV (1)
    4/29/99
  - S 5: Ep 9 Must Kill TV
    11/6/97
- E! True Hollywood Story
  himself
  - S 3: Ep 6 Mr. T
    2/7/99
- Silk Stalkings
  BMW Salesman
  - S 6: Ep 6 Loyalty
    11/3/96
- Renegade
  Swede Mason
  - S 4: Ep 16 Rio Reno
    1/27/96
- Renegade
  Marshal 'Dutch' Dixon
  - S 4: Ep 15 Stationary Target
    1/20/96
  - S 4: Ep 11 Sins of the Father
    11/27/95
- Silk Stalkings
  Roy Conroy
  - S 1: Ep 14 The Sock Drawer
    2/13/92
- Santa Barbara
  Limo Driver
  - S 7: Ep 251 Episode 1763
    7/26/91
- The Pat Sajak Show
  Himself
  - S 1: Ep 71 April 19, 1989
    4/19/89
- Magnum, P.I.
  Ray Lemon
  - S 7: Ep 5 A.A.P.I.
    10/22/86
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
  Stephen J. Cannell
  - S 1: Ep 11 This One's Gonna Kill Ya
    6/6/80
Special Guest Star (1)

Role
- Castle
  Himself
  - S 2: Ep 24 A Deadly Game
    5/17/10
  - S 2: Ep 1 Deep in Death
    9/21/09
  - S 1: Ep 1 Flowers for Your Grave
    3/9/09
Writer (27)

Role
- Silk Stalkings
  Writer
  - S 6: Ep 19 Three Weeks Of the Condor
    4/20/97
  - S 6: Ep 1 Runway Strip
    9/15/96
  - S 1: Ep 14 The Sock Drawer
    2/13/92
  - S 1: Ep 2 Going to Babylon
    11/14/91
  - S 1: Ep 1 Pilot
    11/7/91
- The Rockford Files
  Writer
  - S 7: Ep 5 Friends and Foul Play
    4/25/96
  - S 7: Ep 2 A Blessing in Disguise
    5/14/95
  - S 6: Ep 8 The Hawaiian Headache
    11/23/79
  - S 6: Ep 7 Nice Guys Finish Dead
    11/16/79
  - S 6: Ep 1 Paradise Cove
    9/28/79
  - + 31 More Credits
- Marker
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 11 Snowballs in Hawaii
    5/2/95
  - S 1: Ep 3 Cloud Warriors
    1/31/95
  - S 1: Ep 1 Pilot
    1/17/95
- Renegade
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 2 Hunting Accident
    9/26/92
  - S 1: Ep 1 Pilot / Renegade
    9/14/92
- The Commish
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 6 A Matter of Life or Death (2)
    11/2/91
  - S 1: Ep 5 A Matter of Life or Death (1)
    11/2/91
  - S 1: Ep 2 Do You See What I See?
    10/5/91
  - S 1: Ep 1 The Commish
    9/21/91
- The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 7 For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls
    5/26/91
  - S 1: Ep 6 The Not-So-Great Dictator
    5/19/91
  - S 1: Ep 5 Look for the Union Label
    5/12/91
  - S 1: Ep 4 Deals are Made to Be Broken
    4/19/91
  - S 1: Ep 3 A Day in the Life of Logan Murphy
    4/12/91
  - + 2 More Credits
- Broken Badges
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 5 Chucky
    12/22/90
  - S 1: Ep 2 Pilot (2)
    11/24/90
  - S 1: Ep 1 Pilot (1)
    11/24/90
- Wiseguy
  Writer
  - S 4: Ep 4 The Gift
    11/24/90
  - S 4: Ep 9 Changing Houses
  - S 1: Ep 13 Fascination for the Flame
    1/11/88
  - S 1: Ep 12 Independent Operator
    1/4/88
  - S 1: Ep 4 The Loose Cannon
    10/1/87
  - + 2 More Credits
- Booker
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 5 All You Gotta Do is Do It
    10/29/89
  - S 1: Ep 2 The Pump
    10/1/89
  - S 1: Ep 1 Booker
    9/24/89
- Unsub
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 1 White Bone Demon
    2/3/89
- Sonny Spoon
  Writer
  - S 2: Ep 7 Deuces Wild
    12/9/88
- J.J. Starbuck
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 6 Permanent Hiatus
    2/27/88
  - S 1: Ep 9 A Song From The Sequel
    2/20/88
  - S 1: Ep 11 Cactus Jack's Last Call
    2/13/88
  - S 1: Ep 12 Gold From The Rainbow
    12/5/87
  - S 1: Ep 7 Incident At Sam September
    11/10/87
  - + 2 More Credits
- Stingray
  Writer
  - S 2: Ep 11 Cry Wolf
    4/3/87
  - S 2: Ep 4 Bring Me the Hand That Hit Me
    1/30/87
  - S 2: Ep 1 The Greeter
    1/9/87
  - S 1: Ep 8 Orange Blossom
    4/29/86
  - S 1: Ep 6 Sometimes You Gotta Sing the Blues
    4/8/86
  - + 3 More Credits
- The A-Team
  Writer
  - S 5: Ep 1 Dishpan Man (Part 1 of The Court Martial)
    9/26/86
  - S 4: Ep 17 Waiting for Insane Wayne
    2/18/86
  - S 4: Ep 16 Cowboy George
    2/11/86
  - S 4: Ep 9 Mind Games
    11/26/85
  - S 4: Ep 5 The Road to Hope
    10/29/85
  - + 12 More Credits
- Riptide
  Writer
  - S 3: Ep 4 The Bargain Department
    11/5/85
  - S 2: Ep 7 Be True To Your School
    11/27/84
  - S 2: Ep 5 Beat The Box
    11/13/84
  - S 2: Ep 2 The Orange Grove
    10/16/84
  - S 1: Ep 10 #1 With A Bullet
    3/20/84
  - + 4 More Credits
- Hardcastle & McCormick
  Writer
  - S 3: Ep 5 The Career Breaker
    10/28/85
  - S 2: Ep 18 The Birthday Present
    2/25/85
  - S 2: Ep 16 The Long Ago Girl
    2/11/85
  - S 2: Ep 8 One of the Girls From Accounting
    11/25/84
  - S 1: Ep 6 The Black Widow
    10/16/83
  - + 3 More Credits
- Hunter
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 3 The Hot Grounder
    10/5/84
  - S 1: Ep 2 Hard Contract
    9/28/84
- The Rousters
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 1 The Marshal of Sladetown
    10/1/83
- The Quest (1982)
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 6 Escape from a Velvet Box
    11/19/82
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 12 Untitled
    6/13/80
  - S 1: Ep 11 This One's Gonna Kill Ya
    6/6/80
  - S 1: Ep 10 Loose Larry's List of Losers
    5/30/80
  - S 1: Ep 8 Savage Says, "The Most Dangerous Bird is the Jailbird"
    3/23/80
  - S 1: Ep 7 The Millionaire's Life
    3/16/80
  - + 4 More Credits
- Stone
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 5 Just a Little Blow Between Friends
    3/3/80
  - S 1: Ep 3 Case Number HM-89428, Homicide
    1/28/80
  - S 1: Ep 9 What Do You People Want from Me?
- Black Sheep Squadron
  Writer
  - S 2: Ep 8 Fighting Angels
    3/1/78
  - S 2: Ep 7 Forbidden Fruit
    2/22/78
  - S 2: Ep 2 The 200 Pound Gorilla
    12/21/77
  - S 1: Ep 24 The Fastest Gun
    3/22/77
  - S 1: Ep 20 Trouble at Fort Apache
    2/15/77
  - + 6 More Credits
- Baretta
  Writer
  - S 1: Ep 1 He'll Never See Daylight Again
    1/17/75
- Columbo
  Writer
  - S 3: Ep 4 Double Exposure
    12/16/73
- Adam-12
  Writer
  - S 5: Ep 18 Killing Ground
    2/7/73
  - S 5: Ep 15 Clear With A Civilian (pt 2)
    1/17/73
  - S 5: Ep 14 Clear With A Civilian (pt 1)
    1/10/73
  - S 5: Ep 6 Badge Heavy
    10/25/72
  - S 5: Ep 2 The Late Baby
    9/20/72
  - + 9 More Credits
- Ironside
  Writer
  - S 4: Ep 21 The Riddle in Room Six
    2/25/71
- The Greatest American Hero
  Writer
  - S 3: Ep 12 Desperado
  - S 3: Ep 2 The Price is Right
    11/5/82
  - S 2: Ep 20 Captain Bellybuster and the Speed Factory
    4/7/82
  - S 2: Ep 17 Dreams
    3/17/82
  - S 2: Ep 13 The Shock Will Kill You
    2/10/82
  - + 11 More Credits
Director (3)

Role
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
  Director
  - S 1: Ep 11 This One's Gonna Kill Ya
    6/6/80
- Stone
  Director
  - S 1: Ep 3 Case Number HM-89428, Homicide
    1/28/80
- The Rockford Files
  Director
  - S 6: Ep 1 Paradise Cove
    9/28/79
  - S 5: Ep 4 White on White and Nearly Perfect
    10/20/78
  - S 4: Ep 1 Beamer's Last Case
    9/16/77
Story (3)

Role
- Hunter (2003)
  Story
  - S 1: Ep 1 Hunter: Back in Force
    4/12/03
- The Rockford Files
  Story
  - S 7: Ep 8 If It Bleeds, It Leads
    4/20/99
  - S 5: Ep 3 The Jersey Bounce
    10/6/78
  - S 2: Ep 4 Gearjammers (2)
    10/3/75
  - S 2: Ep 3 Gearjammers (1)
    9/26/75
- Ironside
  Story
  - S 4: Ep 13 This Could Blow Your Mind
    12/17/70
Producer (3)

Role
- Street Justice
  Producer
- The Last Precinct
  Producer
- The Rockford Files
  Producer
  - S 5: Ep 4 White on White and Nearly Perfect
    10/20/78
Creator (13)

Role
- The Rockford Files
  Creator
  - S 7: Ep 3 If the Frame Fits...
    1/14/96
  - S 1: Ep 15 Aura Lee, Farewell
    1/3/75
- Marker
  Creator
- The Commish
  Creator
  - S 2: Ep 22 The Anti-Commish
    5/15/93
  - S 2: Ep 21 Sight Unseen
    5/8/93
  - S 2: Ep 20 Eastbridge Boulevard
    5/1/93
  - S 2: Ep 19 Blue Flu
    3/20/93
  - S 2: Ep 18 The Ides of March
    3/13/93
  - + 36 More Credits
- The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
  Creator
- Booker
  Creator
  - S 1: Ep 22 Father's Day
    5/6/90
  - S 1: Ep 21 Mobile Home
    4/29/90
  - S 1: Ep 20 Crazy
    4/15/90
  - S 1: Ep 19 Molly and Eddie
    4/8/90
  - S 1: Ep 18 Wedding Bell Blues
    4/1/90
  - + 17 More Credits
- Sonny Spoon
  Creator
- J.J. Starbuck
  Creator
- Stingray
  Creator
  - S 2: Ep 14 Caper
    5/1/87
  - S 2: Ep 11 Cry Wolf
    4/3/87
  - S 1: Ep 10 That Terrible Swift Sword
    5/13/86
  - S 1: Ep 9 Less Than the Eye Can See
    5/6/86
  - S 1: Ep 7 Abnormal Psych
    4/15/86
  - + 2 More Credits
- The A-Team
  Creator
  - S 5: Ep 12 The Grey Team
    12/30/86
  - S 5: Ep 11 The Spy Who Mugged Me
    12/12/86
  - S 5: Ep 10 The Crystal Skull
    11/28/86
  - S 5: Ep 9 Point of No Return
    11/21/86
  - S 5: Ep 8 Family Reunion
    11/14/86
  - + 23 More Credits
- Hardcastle & McCormick
  Creator
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
  Creator
  - S 1: Ep 14 Diamonds Aren't Forever
    6/27/80
  - S 1: Ep 13 The Treasure of Sierra Madre Street
    6/20/80
  - S 1: Ep 12 Untitled
    6/13/80
  - S 1: Ep 11 This One's Gonna Kill Ya
    6/6/80
  - S 1: Ep 10 Loose Larry's List of Losers
    5/30/80
  - + 7 More Credits
- Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
  Creator
- Black Sheep Squadron
  Creator
  - S 1: Ep 16 The Deadliest Enemy of All (2)
    1/18/77
  - S 1: Ep 15 The Deadliest Enemy of All (1)
    1/11/77
Co-Executive Producer (2)

Role
- Hunter
  Co-Executive Producer
  - S 7: Ep 1995 The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A.
    4/30/95
  - S 7: Ep 22 Little Man With a Big Reputation
    4/26/91
  - S 7: Ep 21 Ex Marks the Spot
    4/5/91
  - S 7: Ep 20 Cries of Silence
    3/15/91
  - S 7: Ep 19 All That Glitters
    3/8/91
  - + 141 More Credits
- Wiseguy
  Co-Executive Producer
  - S 1: Ep 5 The Birthday Surprise
    10/8/87
  - S 1: Ep 3 New Blood
    9/24/87
  - S 1: Ep 2 Wiseguy (2)
    9/16/87
Teleplay (1)

Role
- Ironside
  Teleplay
  - S 4: Ep 13 This Could Blow Your Mind
    12/17/70
Executive Consultant (1)

Role
- Adam-12
  Executive Consultant
  - S 5: Ep 9 Vendetta
    11/22/72
  - S 5: Ep 6 Badge Heavy
    10/25/72
  - S 5: Ep 5 Training Wheels
    10/12/72
  - S 5: Ep 4 Lost And Found
    10/4/72
  - S 5: Ep 2 The Late Baby
    9/20/72
  - + 1 More Credits
Story Editor (1)

Role
- Adam-12
  Story Editor
  - S 4: Ep 22 Who Won?
    3/1/72
  - S 4: Ep 21 Back-Up 1L-20
    2/23/72
  - S 4: Ep 16 The Tip
    1/19/72
  - S 4: Ep 13 Pick-Up
    12/29/71
  - S 4: Ep 12 The Dinosaur
    12/15/71
Executive Producer (12)

Role
- Profit
  Executive Producer
  - S 1: Ep 2 Pilot (2)
    4/8/96
- Marker
  Executive Producer
- The Commish
  Executive Producer
  - S 2: Ep 22 The Anti-Commish
    5/15/93
  - S 2: Ep 21 Sight Unseen
    5/8/93
  - S 2: Ep 20 Eastbridge Boulevard
    5/1/93
  - S 2: Ep 19 Blue Flu
    3/20/93
  - S 2: Ep 18 The Ides of March
    3/13/93
  - + 16 More Credits
- The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage
  Executive Producer
- Stingray
  Executive Producer
  - S 2: Ep 14 Caper
    5/1/87
  - S 2: Ep 11 Cry Wolf
    4/3/87
  - S 1: Ep 10 That Terrible Swift Sword
    5/13/86
  - S 1: Ep 9 Less Than the Eye Can See
    5/6/86
  - S 1: Ep 7 Abnormal Psych
    4/15/86
  - + 2 More Credits
- The A-Team
  Executive Producer
  - S 5: Ep 12 The Grey Team
    12/30/86
  - S 5: Ep 11 The Spy Who Mugged Me
    12/12/86
  - S 5: Ep 9 Point of No Return
    11/21/86
  - S 5: Ep 8 Family Reunion
    11/14/86
  - S 5: Ep 7 Alive at Five
    11/7/86
  - + 50 More Credits
- Riptide
  Executive Producer
- Hardcastle & McCormick
  Executive Producer
- The Greatest American Hero
  Executive Producer
  - S 1: Ep 1 The Greatest American Hero (1)
    3/18/81
- Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
  Executive Producer
  - S 1: Ep 14 Diamonds Aren't Forever
    6/27/80
  - S 1: Ep 13 The Treasure of Sierra Madre Street
    6/20/80
  - S 1: Ep 12 Untitled
    6/13/80
  - S 1: Ep 11 This One's Gonna Kill Ya
    6/6/80
  - S 1: Ep 10 Loose Larry's List of Losers
    5/30/80
  - + 7 More Credits
- Stone
  Executive Producer
- Black Sheep Squadron
  Executive Producer
  - S 1: Ep 16 The Deadliest Enemy of All (2)
    1/18/77
  - S 1: Ep 15 The Deadliest Enemy of All (1)
    1/11/77
  - S 1: Ep 1 Flying Misfits (1)
    9/21/76
Supervising Producer (1)

Role
- The Rockford Files
  Supervising Producer
  - S 7: Ep 3 If the Frame Fits...
    1/14/96
  - S 7: Ep 2 A Blessing in Disguise
    5/14/95
  - S 7: Ep 1 I Still Love L.A.
    11/27/94
  - S 6: Ep 12 Deadlock in Parma
    1/10/80

Stephen J. Cannell News

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Trivia and Quotes

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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA
- Stephen J. Cannell received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America in 1994.
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- Stephen J. Cannell broke into TV when he sold his first script to It Takes a Thief in 1968.
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- Stephen J. Cannell has been married to his wife, Marcia Finch, since 1964 and the couple has had four children.
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Stephen J. Cannell: (on his dyslexia) I was certainly thought Least Likely to Succeed. This condition has helped to motivate me and has allowed me to enjoy my unexpected success as a writer for 35 years.
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- Stephen J. Cannell: I'm a very positive person. I believe that positive thought brings success in life. Negative feelings and thoughts get you nothing, and are a complete waste of time. Get over it -- move on!
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- Stephen J. Cannell: If you just sit around and wait for that mood to hit you when your setter is curled up in front of the fireplace and there's a little rain outside and the thunder is rumbling and you've got the Irish coffee there... You know what? You'll never write anything. You've got to get up every day and pound it out.
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