Glen A. Larson | |
|---|---|
 Larson in 2004 | |
| Born | Glen Albert Larson (1937-01-03)January 3, 1937 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 14, 2014(2014-11-14) (aged 77) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rose Hill Burial Park,Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Occupations | Producer, screenwriter, composer |
| Notable work | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 9 |
Glen Albert Larson (January 3, 1937 – November 14, 2014) was an American television producer, writer, and composer. He created many series, includingAlias Smith and Jones;Battlestar Galactica;Buck Rogers in the 25th Century;The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo;Quincy, M.E.;The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries;B. J. and the Bear;The Fall Guy;Magnum, P.I.; andKnight Rider. Active on television until the early 2010s, he was also a member of thefolk revival/satire groupThe Four Preps.
Larson began his career in the entertainment industry in 1956 as a member of the vocal groupThe Four Preps, with whom he appeared in one of theGidget films. The Four Preps ultimately produced three gold records forCapitol, all of which Larson himself wrote and/or composed: "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)", "Big Man", and "Down by the Station". A later member of theFour Preps,David Somerville, and a session singer he knew, Gail Jensen, later collaborated with Larson to write and compose "The Unknown Stuntman", the theme fromThe Fall Guy; series leadLee Majors performed this song over the opening titles.
After working forQuinn Martin on productions includingThe Fugitive (where he had his first writing credit), Larson signed a production deal withUniversal Studios. His first hit series wasAlias Smith and Jones, a 1971–1973Western which described the activities of Hannibal Heyes and Jedediah "Kid" Curry, concentrating on their efforts to go straight. (George Roy Hill'sfilm, scripted byWilliam Goldman, aboutButch Cassidy andthe "Sundance Kid", is commonly believed to have been the inspiration for the series.)[1]
Larson was involved in the development for television ofThe Six Million Dollar Man, based onMartin Caidin's novelCyborg, into the successful series, and was one of the program's earlyexecutive producers.
Larson later secured a then-unprecedented $1 million per episode budget forBattlestar Galactica. The show incorporated many themes fromMormon theology, such assealing (marriage) for "time and eternity" and a "council of twelve". Larson, a member ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in real life,[2][3] had been working on the concept since 1968 with formerStar Trek producerGene L. Coon mentoring him in its early development. Although, he originally wanted to name the seriesAdam's Ark, he instead opted forGalactica. He was later convinced to include the word "star" in the title to capitalize on the recently released filmStar Wars, eventually morphing the title intoBattlestar Galactica. Larson was similarly convinced to deviate from his plan to produce the property as a series of TV movies to a weekly hour-long series, which caught his crew by surprise with a production schedule more demanding than originally expected in terms of writing while it overwhelmed the series' budgetary limits.
Even with its generous budget, the series often recycled effects shots and was canceled after one season. The pilot episode, titled "Saga of a Star World" was edited into a two-hour theatrical film and a re-edit of the other episodes was released as a second theatrical feature film titledMission Galactica: The Cylon Attack. After the series was canceled, Larson went on to create a relatively low-budget sequel titledGalactica 1980, which was set many years later, when theGalactica had reached Earth. It was less successful than the original and was canceled after 10 episodes.
Larson re-used some of the sets, props, costumes, and effects work fromGalactica for the light-hearted sci-fi seriesBuck Rogers in the 25th Century in 1979. Based on the comic-book character created in 1928 byPhilip Francis Nowlan, Larson co-developed the series withLeslie Stevens. The feature-length pilot episode was released as a theatrical film in March 1979 and grossed $21 million at the North American box office.[4] The weekly television series began in September 1979, running for two seasons until April 1981.
In the 1980s, Larson had further success as one of the creators ofMagnum, P.I., which ran from 1980 to 1988. Around the same time, he left Universal to work for20th Century-Fox.[5] Additionally, Larson createdThe Fall Guy, which ran from 1981 to 1986. Larson's next prominent series wasKnight Rider, which featured science-fiction elements with a light-hearted action-adventure scenario and limited violence. These basic elements characterized many of Larson's series' throughout the 1980s withAutoman,Manimal andThe Highwayman, though all of these shows were unsuccessful and none lasted more than a single season. Larson's profile declined, though he made a brief comeback in the 1990s with an adaptation of theUltraverse comicNight Man, which lasted two seasons.
In 2003,Battlestar Galactica was remade for theSci-Fi Channel as aminiseries; it was followed by a2004 series, that lasted multiple seasons. Larson was not involved in any capacity with the new series, though he did receive a screen credit as "Consulting Producer". After the series ended in 2009, a short-livedprequel series,Caprica, followed in 2010. Larson was again not involved, but he was given a screen credit for the creation of certain characters.
In February 2009, media sources reported that Larson was in talks withUniversal Pictures to bringBattlestar Galactica to the big screen, though any potential feature film would not be based on the recentSci-Fi Channel series remake, but would possibly be based on theoriginal series. The project stalled for some time; in 2011 a re-announced version was now no longer a continuation of the original series but rather a complete remake.
Despite his success, much criticism has been aimed at Larson for his perceived general lack of originality as many of his television series are seen as small screen "knock-offs" of feature films.Harlan Ellison once referred to him as "GlenLarceny" for the similarities between Larson's shows and cinema blockbusters.[6][7]
In his autobiography,The Garner Files,James Garner claimed that Larson stole a number of plots ofThe Rockford Files (which Garner's production company co-produced), then used them for his own shows, simply changing the dialogue minimally and using different character names. Garner's group complained to theWriter's Guild; Larson was fined, and an episode of Larson's seriesSwitch, "Death by Resurrection", had the writing credits revised to give sole credit to the writers of theRockford Files episode "This Case Is Closed", as it was the basis of theSwitch episode. Nevertheless, Garner felt that the fine had taught Larson nothing when he persisted, including copying the theme music fromThe Rockford Files for one of his shows. Garner stated that when Larson subsequently showed up on theRockford set, he put his arm around Garner and said: "I hope there are no hard feelings, Jim." After Larson ignored a warning by Garner to take his arm off him, Garner claimed to have punched Larson so hard that Larson "flew across the curb, into a motor home, and out the other side."[8]
In July 2011, Larson began a lawsuit against Universal Studios, alleging a decades-long fraud and claimed the studio had not paid him a share of the profits owed from the television shows he produced while working with them. Larson's involvement with Universal had begun in the 1970s, and his contractual agreement had secured him net profits from the revenues generated by the shows he worked on as a producer, includingThe Six Million Dollar Man,Quincy, M.E.,Battlestar Galactica,Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,Magnum, P.I. andKnight Rider.[9] The dispute was settled in 2015.[10]
This was not the first legal wrangle Larson had with the studio, as there had previously been a disagreement over ownership of rights to theBattlestar Galactica franchise. It was ultimately determined that Larson no longer owned the television rights to the property, but retained feature film rights.
Larson died on November 14, 2014, inUCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica,California, fromesophageal cancer, aged 77 and was survived by his wife Jeannie and nine children.[11] He is buried atRose Hill Burial Park (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).
Larson also has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television industry.
| Title | Year | Director | Writer | Producer | Creator | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Fugitive | 1966 | Yes | |||||
| Twelve O'Clock High | 1966 | Yes | |||||
| It Takes a Thief | 1968–70 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| The Virginian | 1970–71 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| McCloud | 1970–77 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Alias Smith and Jones | 1971–73 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| The Six Million Dollar Man | 1973 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 additional television films | ||
| Fools, Females and Fun | 1974 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | ||
| Get Christie Love! | 1975 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Switch | 1975–78 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Quincy, M.E. | 1976–83 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Benny and Barney: Las Vegas Undercover | 1977 | Yes | Yes | Television film | |||
| Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | 1977–78 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Evening in Byzantium | 1978 | Yes | Yes | Mini-series | |||
| The Islander | 1978 | Yes | Yes | Television film | |||
| A Double Life | 1978 | Yes | Yes | Television film | |||
| Battlestar Galactica | 1978–79 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Pilot also theatrical release | |
| Sword of Justice | 1978–79 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire | 1979 | Yes | |||||
| Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | 1979 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Theatrical film | ||
| Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | 1979–81 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | 1979–81 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| B. J. and the Bear | 1979–81 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Battles: The Murder That Wouldn't Die | 1980 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | ||
| Galactica 1980 | 1980 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Nightside | 1980 | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | |||
| Magnum, P.I. | 1980–88 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Fitz and Bones | 1981–82 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| The Fall Guy | 1981–86 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Rooster | 1982 | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | |||
| Simon & Simon | 1982 | Yes | |||||
| Knight Rider | 1982–86 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Manimal | 1983 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Trauma Center | 1983 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Automan | 1983–84 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Masquerade | 1983–84 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Cover Up | 1984–85 | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||
| Half Nelson | 1985 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| In Like Flynn | 1985 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | ||
| Crazy Dan | 1986 | Yes | Unsold pilot | ||||
| The Highwayman | 1987–88 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| The Road Raiders | 1989 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Television film | ||
| Chameleons | 1989 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Unsold pilot | ||
| P.S. I Luv U | 1991–92 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Staying Afloat | 1993 | Yes | Television film | ||||
| One West Waikiki | 1994–96 | Yes | Yes | ||||
| Team Knight Rider | 1997–98 | Yes | |||||
| Night Man | 1997–99 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| The Darwin Conspiracy | 1999 | Yes | Yes | Television film | |||
| Millennium Man | 1999 | Yes | Yes | Television film | |||
| Battlestar Galactica[12] | 2003–09 | Yes | Yes | Includingminiseries,[13] TV movies (1,2) &web-series | |||
| Knight Rider | 2008–09 | Yes | |||||
| Caprica[12] | 2009–10 | Yes | |||||
| Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome[12] | 2012 | Yes | Web series |
| Title | Year | Co-writer | Followed series | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula | 1977 | Michael Sloan | Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Novelization for two same name episode |
| Battlestar Galactica | 1978 | Robert Thurston | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for three-part pilot episode "Saga of a Star World" |
| The Cylon Death Machine | 1979 | Robert Thurston | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for two episodes "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero" |
| The Tombs of Kobol | 1979 | Robert Thurston | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for two episodes "Lost Planet of the Gods" |
| The Young Warriors | 1980 | Robert Thurston | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for episode "The Young Lords" |
| Galactica Discovers Earth | 1980 | Michael Resnick | Galactica 1980 | Novelization for three same name episodes |
| The Living Legend | 1982 | Simon Hawke | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for two same name episodes |
| War of the Gods | 1982 | Simon Hawke | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for two same name episodes |
| Greetings from Earth | 1983 | Ron Goulart | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for two-part same name episode |
| Knight Rider | 1983 | Roger Hill | Knight Rider (1982) | Novelization for two-part pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix" |
| Trust Doesn't Rust | 1984 | Roger Hill | Knight Rider (1982) | Novelization for same name episode |
| Experiment in Terra | 1984 | Ron Goulart | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for episodes "Baltar's Escape" and "Experiment in Terra" |
| Hearts of Stone | 1984 | Roger Hill | Knight Rider (1982) | Novelization for same name episode |
| The 24-Carat Assassin[14] | 1984 | Roger Hill | Knight Rider (1982) | Novelization for two-part episode "Mouth of the Snake/All That Glitters" |
| Mirror Image[14] | 1984 | Roger Hill | Knight Rider (1982) | Novelization for two-part episode ""Goliath" |
| The Long Patrol | 1984 | Ron Goulart | Battlestar Galactica (1978) | Novelization for same name episode |
| The Nightmare Machine | 1985 | Robert Thurston | No | OriginalBattlestar Galactica novel |
| "Die, Chameleon!" | 1986 | Robert Thurston | No | OriginalBattlestar Galactica novel |
| Apollo's War | 1987 | Robert Thurston | No | OriginalBattlestar Galactica novel |
| Surrender the Galactica! | 1988 | Robert Thurston | No | OriginalBattlestar Galactica novel |
