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Peter S. Fischer

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American television writer and producer (1935–2023)

Peter S. Fischer
BornPeter Steven Fischer
(1935-08-10)August 10, 1935
Queens, New York City, U.S.
DiedOctober 30, 2023(2023-10-30) (aged 88)
Pacific Grove, California, U.S.
Alma materHofstra University
Occupations
  • Writer
  • producer
Years active
  • 1971–1996
  • 2009–2019
Spouse Lucille Warnock ​ ​(m. 1957; died 2017)​
Children3

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, which he co-created with Richard Levinson and William Link.

Early life

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. 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. He decided to pursue screenwriting as a career, and relocated to Los Angeles.

Writing career

Television

Fischer wrote for the television series Baretta and Kojak. He created, produced and wrote for the NBC series The Eddie Capra Mysteries. He was also a story editor on Columbo.

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. 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. He later wrote the television films Stranger at My Door (1991) and Dead Man's Island (1996), which was his last credit in television.

Novels

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.

Personal life and death

In 1957, Fischer married Lucille Warnock. They had three children and were married until her death in 2017.

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.

Filmography

Films

Year Film Credit Notes
1971 The Last Child 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

Year TV Series Credit Notes
1972–1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. Writer 3 Episodes
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Writer 2 Episodes
1973–1974 Griff Writer 3 Episodes
1974–1975 McMillan & Wife Writer 3 Episodes
1974–1995 Columbo Writer, Executive Producer, Executive Story Consultant Multiple Episodes
1975 Baretta Writer 1 Episode
Kojak 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

The Hollywood Murder Mysteries

Source:

  • 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

  • The Blood of Tyrants (2009)
  • The Terror of Tyrants (2010)
  • Expendable: A Tale of Love and War (2015)

References

  1. ^ The New York Times
  2. ^ 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.
  3. Taylor, Dennis L. (July 29, 2013). "Career change to writer was right move for Pacific Grove man". Monterey Herald. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  4. "Peter S. Fischer". TV.com. March 19, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  5. 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.
  6. "The Hollywood Murder Mysteries". Retrieved December 30, 2020.

External links

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