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Peter S. Fischer

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

(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

Early life

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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

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Television

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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

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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

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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

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Films

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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

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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

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The Hollywood Murder Mysteries

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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

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c The New York Times
  2. ^ 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.
  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.
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