Stephen J. Cannell (1941–2010)

Writer | Producer | Actor

Stephen J. Cannell was raised in Pasadena, California. His father ran an interior design firm. From...

Born: February 5, 1941
Died: September 30, 2010 (age 69)

Photos

Filmography

Known For

The Rockford Files Writer (1974-1980)
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe Writer (1980)
The Greatest American Hero Writer (1981-1986)
Known For

Wiseguy Writer (1987-2009)
Producer

22 Jump Street (2014)
21 Jump Street (2012)
The A-Team (2010)
Wiseguy (1987-2009)
The Poker House (2008)
24/24 Rule (2007)
Left in Darkness (2006)
The Tooth Fairy (2006)
The Garden (2006)
It Waits (2005)
Demon Hunter (2005)
Hunter (2003)
Hunter: Back in Force (2003)
Hunter: Return to Justice (2002)
Dead Above Ground (2002)
Bad Boy (2002)
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda (1997)
Profit (1996-1997)
Hawaii Five-O (1997)
Two (1996-1997)
Them (1996)
The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime (1996)
Wiseguy (1996)
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play (1996)
The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (1996)
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... (1996)
The Commish (1991-1996)
A Child Is Missing (1995)
Hawkeye (1994-1995)
The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise (1995)
The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. (1995)
Marker (1995)
Jake Lassiter: Justice on the Bayou (1995)
The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. (1994)
Missing Persons (1993-1994)
The Hat Squad (1992-1993)
Renegade (1992)
Palace Guard (1991)
Street Justice (1991)
The Belles of Bleecker Street (1991)
Broken Badges (1990-1991)
The Great Pretender (1991)
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991)
Top of the Hill (1989)
21 Jump Street (1989)
Booker (1989)
Unsub (1989)
Scandals (1988)
J.J. Starbuck (1988)
Sonny Spoon (1988)
CBS Summer Playhouse (1987)
Stingray (1986-1987)
Destination America (1987)
The A-Team (1983-1987)
The Greatest American Hero (1981-1986)
Riptide (1984-1986)
The Last Precinct (1986)
Hunter (1984-1986)
Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-1986)
Gifts of Greatness (1985)
Stingray (1985)
The Rousters (1983)
The Rousters (1983)
The Quest (1982)
Midnight Offerings (1981)
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980)
Nightside (1980)
Stone (1979-1980)
The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
Stone (1979)
The Night Rider (1979)
The Duke (1979)
The Chinese Typewriter (1979)
Doctor Scorpion (1978)
The Gypsy Warriors (1978)
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (1978)
Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978)
Dr. Scorpion (1978)
Baretta (1976)
Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours (1976)
Scott Free (1976)
Toma (1973-1974)
Chase (1973)
Producer

Chase (1973)
Writer

The Greatest American Hero (2018)
22 Jump Street (2014)
21 Jump Street (2012)
The A-Team (2010)
Wiseguy (1987-2009)
The Greatest American Hero: The Fan Series (2009)
The Tooth Fairy (2006)
It Waits (2005)
Hunter: Back in Force (2003)
Hunter: Return to Justice (2002)
Dead Above Ground (2002)
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads (1999)
Silk Stalkings (1991-1999)
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda (1997)
Hawaii Five-O (1997)
Renegade (1992-1997)
The Rockford Files: Punishment and Crime (1996)
Wiseguy (1996)
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play (1996)
The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (1996)
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... (1996)
The Commish (1991-1996)
The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise (1995)
Marker (1995)
The Rockford Files: I Still Love L.A. (1994)
Greyhounds (1994)
Cobra (1993-1994)
Traps (1994)
The Hat Squad (1992-1993)
Palace Guard (1991)
Scene of the Crime (1991)
Broken Badges (1990-1991)
21 Jump Street (1987-1991)
The Great Pretender (1991)
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage (1991)
Booker (1989-1990)
Top of the Hill (1989)
Top of the Hill (1989)
Thunderboat Row (1989)
Unsub (1989)
Sonny Spoon (1988)
J.J. Starbuck (1987-1988)
Stingray (1986-1987)
The A-Team (1983-1987)
The Greatest American Hero (1981-1986)
Riptide (1984-1986)
The Last Precinct (1986)
Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-1986)
Stingray (1985)
Brothers-in-Law (1985)
The New Mike Hammer (1984)
Hunter (1984)
The Rousters (1983-1984)
The Rousters (1983)
The Quest (1982)
Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980)
Nightside (1980)
Stone (1979-1980)
The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
Stone (1979)
The Duke (1979)
The Night Rider (1979)
The Chinese Typewriter (1979)
Doctor Scorpion (1978)
The Jordan Chance (1978)
Baretta (1975-1978)
The Gypsy Warriors (1978)
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (1978)
Black Sheep Squadron (1976-1978)
Dr. Scorpion (1978)
Confessions of the D.A. Man (1978)
The November Plan (1977)
Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours (1976)
Scott Free (1976)
City of Angels (1976)
Switch (1975)
Chase (1973-1974)
Toma (1973-1974)
Columbo (1973)
Chase (1973)
Adam-12 (1971-1973)
The D.A. (1971)
Writer

Ironside (1970-1971)
Actor

Castle Stephen J. Cannell (2009-2010)
Army Wives Radio Executive (2008)
Ice Spiders Frank Stone (2007)
Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making 'Kid' Roy (2005)
Threshold Pacheco Laval (2003)
Half Past Dead Frank Hubbard (2002)
Dead Above Ground Carl Hadden (2002)
Pacific Blue Judge J. Gunnar Halloran (1999-2000)
The Contract William Goodwin (1999)
Diagnosis Murder Jackson Burley (1997-1999)
CHiPs '99 Bendix (1998)
Linehan Guest (1998)
Renegade Marshal Donald 'Dutch' Dixon (1992-1997)
Silk Stalkings BMW Salesman (1992-1996)
U.S. Customs Classified Host (1995)
Posse Jimmy Love (1993)
Santa Barbara Eden's Chauffeur (1991)
Identity Crisis The Coroner (1989)
Magnum, P.I. Hotel Detective (1986)
Charley Hannah Roscoe Tanner (1986)
Actor

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe Stephen J. Cannell (1980)
Director

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980)
Stone (1980)
The Rockford Files (1977-1979)
Director

Chase (1973)
Archive footage

200 Dollars, plus les frais: The Cannell Files (2016)
Archive footage

The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards (2011)
Renegade (1996)
Miscellaneous Crew

The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads (1999)
Adam-12 (1971-1973)
Sound Department

The Magical World of Disney (1987)

Awards

Did You Know

The filmed logo for his production company showed him at a typewriter, typing something onto a piece of paper, then throwing the paper in the air. In the background, we see a shelf containing his awards.

Quotes

Because I was a private company, I always looked long-term. And our meetings at the Cannell company had a theme... It wasn't about doing what was in our best interest, it was about doing what was right. We were one of the first companies to hire an ...