Biography
Cannell - not to mention his instantly recognizable company logo - became synonymous with high-octane, crowd-pleasing entertainment. Creator of hits like "The Rockford Files," "The Greatest American Hero," "The A-Team" and "21 Jumpstreet," the extremely prolific Cannell wrote over 450 television episodes and served as creator or executive producer on dozens of shows and thousands of episodes in his particular TV niche. Though most of his over …
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Career Milestones
2012 | Produced the big screen reboot of "21 Jump Street," based on the Fox police drama; starred Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill | |
2010 | Served as a producer and creative consultant for feature film adaptation of "The A-Team," starring Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper | |
2009 | Featured in the documentary about dyslexia "Dislecksia: The Movie" | |
2002 | Produced the romantic comedy "Bad Boy," starring Denis Leary and Elizabeth Hurley | |
1997 | Co-wrote and produced "Hawaii Five-O" TV movie | |
1996 | Co-executive produced Fox series "Profit" | |
1995 | Hosted "U.S. Customs Classified," a syndicated reality-based series | |
1995 | Sold Stephen J. Cannell Productions. and Cannell Films to New World Communications for $30 million; Canadian operation renamed Cannell Production Services | |
| Disbanded Cannell Distribution Co. | ||
1995 | Published first novel, political thriller "The Plan | |
1992 | Created and executive produced "Renegade," a popular syndicated series with a large international audience; also marked TV series acting debut, played recurring role of villainous cop Lt. Donald "Dutch" Dixon | |
1992 | Created and produced "The Hat Squad" (CBS) | |
1991 | Executive produced primetime series "The Commish" (ABC), starring Michael Chiklis, and "Palace Guard" (the latter ran only in the fall of 1991) | |
1991 | Produced late night game show "Personals" | |
1991 | Premiered "Scene of the Crime," a late night mystery anthology series on CBS which he created, produced and hosted | |
1990 | Established Cannell Distribution Co. | |
1989 | Made film acting debut in Melvin Van Peebles' "Identity Crisis" (unreleased in the U.S.) | |
1989 | Cannell Communications began acquiring TV stations in Ohio, South Carolina and Washington state | |
1989 | Opened the North Shore Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; purchased a 65 percent interest (35 percent owned by Toronto-based Comweg Corp.) | |
1987 | Co-created, executive produced and wrote premiere episode for serial detective drama "Wiseguy" (CBS) | |
1987 | Co-created and served as executive producer of popular Fox teen undercover detective series "21 Jump Street" | |
1987 | Cannell banded with producers Witt-Thomas and Tri-Star distribution | |
1986 | Appeared on episode of "Today at Night, Volume II," a prime time backstage look at how television series are produced | |
1986 | Began producing his series in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada through Cannell Films Ltd., a subsidiary of Stephen J. Cannell Productions. | |
1986 | Several episodes of his crime series "Stingray" (NBC) filmed in Calgary, Canada | |
1986 | TV movie acting debut with a supporting role in "Charley Hannah" (ABC), a crime drama starring Robert Conrad | |
1984 | Executive produced and wrote for detective series "Hunter" (NBC), starring Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer | |
1984 | Executive produced and wrote for detective series "Riptide" (NBC) | |
1983 | Executive produced and wrote for action series "Hardcastle and McCormick" (ABC), starring Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly | |
1983 | Executive produced and wrote for popular action series "The A-Team" (NBC) with George Peppard and Mr. T | |
1981 | Created and wrote for comedy/action series "The Greatest American Hero" (ABC) | |
1980 | First project for Steven J. Cannell Productions, executive produced and directed the quirky detective series "Tenspeed and Brownshoe" (ABC) | |
1979 | Founded independent production company Stephen J. Cannell Productions; served as Chief Executive Officer | |
1979 | Left Universal Television | |
1977 | Wrote screenplay and served as writing consultant in "The November Plan" | |
1976 | Created and executive produced the WWII adventure series "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (NBC), later renamed "Black Sheep Squadron" | |
1975 | Created successful police drama "Baretta" (ABC), starring Robert Blake | |
1974 | Created, produced and wrote popular NBC drama series "The Rockford Files" | |
1973 | Created and directed NBC police drama "Chase" | |
1973 | Produced and wrote for ABC police drama "Toma" | |
1973 | Wrote for various television series such as "Columbo" (NBC) | |
| Met his mentor, TV producer-creator Roy Huggins while working on the Universal lot; became Huggins' foremost writer of pilots | ||
1968 | Career breakthrough, sold a teleplay for the police drama "Adam 12" (NBC); hired as head writer | |
1968 | Sold a script to the crime drama series "It Takes A Thief" (ABC); quit working for his father | |
1966 | First entertainment work, sold several story ideas to "Mission Impossible" (CBS); deemed too young and inexperienced to write the actual teleplays (date approximate) | |
1964 | Worked in father's interior design firm after graduating college; devoted nights to scriptwriting | |
| Flunked three times before completing high school due to undiagnosed dyslexia | ||
Awards
1989 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Wiseguy |
1981 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series in The Greatest American Hero |
1980 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Drama Series in Tenspeed and Brown Shoe |
1980 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Rockford Files |
1979 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Rockford Files |
1978 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in The Rockford Files |