Peter Steven Fischer (August 10, 1935 – October 30, 2023) was an American television writer, producer, and novelist. He was best known for the series Murder, She Wrote,[1] which he co-created with Richard Levinson and William Link.
Peter S. Fischer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Peter Steven Fischer August 10, 1935 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 30, 2023 (aged 88) |
| Alma mater | Hofstra University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active |
|
| Spouse |
Lucille Warnock
(m. 1957; died 2017) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life edit
Fischer was born in Queens on August 10, 1935, and took an interest in writing as a child. He graduated from Hofstra University in 1956.[2] Fischer held a series of jobs for the next several years, including editing trade publications and working in direct mail. During this time, he was a resident of Smithtown, New York. However, he sold the script The Last Child when he was 35 years old, and it was produced as a made-for-TV film.[2] He decided to pursue screenwriting as a career, and relocated to Los Angeles.[3]
Writing career edit
Television edit
Fischer wrote for the television series Baretta[1] and Kojak. He created, produced and wrote for the NBC series The Eddie Capra Mysteries. He was also a story editor on Columbo.[2]
Fischer was the executive producer of Murder, She Wrote for the first seven seasons from, 1984 to 1991. He wrote 8 of the 22 episodes the first season, and wrote or co-wrote nearly three dozen episodes of the show during its run.[4] He said the series was conceived with the idea to create a character that combined the fictional detective Miss Marple with her creator, Agatha Christie.[2] He later wrote the television films Stranger at My Door (1991) and Dead Man's Island (1996), which was his last credit in television.[1]
Novels edit
After more than a decade in retirement, Fischer began a new career in his seventies as a novelist. He wrote more than 20 novels in the Hollywood Murder Mysteries series, set during the Golden Age of Hollywood.[2]
Personal life and death edit
In 1957, Fischer married Lucille Warnock. They had three children and were married until her death in 2017.[2]
Fischer lived in Pacific Grove, California, in his later years, and died at a care home there on October 30, 2023, at the age of 88.[2][5]
Filmography edit
Films edit
| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Last Child[2] | Written By | |
| 1975 | A Cry for Help | Written By | |
| 1977 | Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging | Story By, Screenplay By, Produced By | Co-Wrote Story with "Richard Levinson" and "William Link" |
| 1979 | Donovan's Kid | Story By | |
| 1981 | Hellinger's Law | Story By, Screenplay By | Co-Wrote screenplay with "Ted Leighton" and "Jack Laird" |
| 1991 | Tagget | Screenplay By | Co-Wrote screenplay with "Janis Diamond" and "Richard T. Heffron" |
| Stranger at My Door | Written By | ||
| 1992 | Coopersmith | Written By | |
| 1995 | Cops n Roberts | Written By, Executive Producer | |
| 1996 | Dead Man's Island | Screenplay By | Based on the novel of the same name by "Carolyn Hart" |
Television edit
| Year | TV Series | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D.[2] | Writer | 3 Episodes |
| Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law[2] | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1973–1974 | Griff | Writer | 3 Episodes |
| 1974–1975 | McMillan & Wife | Writer | 3 Episodes |
| 1974–1995 | Columbo[2] | Writer, Executive Producer, Executive Story Consultant | Multiple Episodes |
| 1975 | Baretta[2] | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Kojak[2] | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1975–1976 | Ellery Queen | Writer, Producer | 22 Episodes |
| 1976 | Delvecchio | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Once an Eagle | Writer, Producer | 4 Episodes | |
| 1977–1978 | What Really Happened to the Class of '65? | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1978 | Black Beauty | Writer, Executive Producer | |
| Richie Brockelman, Private Eye | Writer, Producer | 5 Episodes | |
| 1978–1979 | The Eddie Capra Mysteries | Writer, Creator, Producer, Executive Producer | 12 Episodes |
| 1979 | The Magical World of Disney | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1981–1982 | Darkroom | Writer, Executive Producer | |
| 1984–1996 | Murder, She Wrote | Writer, Creator, Executive Producer | Multiple Episodes |
| 1986 | Blacke's Magic | Writer, Executive Producer | 14 Episodes |
| 1987–1988 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Writer, Creator, Executive Producer |
Novels edit
The Hollywood Murder Mysteries edit
Source:[6]
- Jezebel in Blue Satin (2010)
- We Don't Need no Stinking Badges (2011)
- Love Has Nothing to Do with It (2011)
- Everybody Wants an Oscar (2012)
- The Unkindness of Strangers (2012)
- Nice Guys Finish Dead (2013)
- Pray For Us Sinners (2013)
- Has Anybody Here Seen Wyckham? (2013)
- Eyewitness to Murder (2014)
- A Deadly Shoot in Texas (2016)
- Everybody Let's Rock (2016)
- A Touch of Homicide (2016)
- Some Like Em Dead (2016)
- Dead Men Pay No Debts (2016)
- Apple Annie and the Dude (2017)
- Till Death Us Do Part (2017)
- Cue the Crows (2017)
- Murder Aboard the Highland Rose (2018)
- Ashes to Ashes (2018)
- The Case of the Shaggy Stalker (2018)
- Warner's Last Stand (2018)
- The Man in the Raincoat (2019)
Other novels edit
- The Blood of Tyrants (2009)
- The Terror of Tyrants (2010)
- Expendable: A Tale of Love and War (2015)
References edit
- ^ a b c The New York Times
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Sandomir, Richard (November 11, 2023). "Peter S. Fischer, Who Helped Create 'Murder, She Wrote,' Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Dennis L. (July 29, 2013). "Career change to writer was right move for Pacific Grove man". Monterey Herald. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "Peter S. Fischer". TV.com. March 19, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (November 2, 2023). "Peter S. Fischer, 'Murder, She Wrote' Co-Creator and 'Columbo' Writer, Dies at 88". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "The Hollywood Murder Mysteries". Retrieved December 30, 2020.
External links edit
- Peter S. Fischer at IMDb
- Profile at Hollywood.com