Glen A. Larson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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.
Occupation	Producer, screenwriter
Notable work	Quincy, M.E. Battlestar Galactica The Fall Guy Magnum, P.I. Knight Rider
Spouse(s)	Carol Jean Gourley ​ ​ (m. 1961; div. 1982)​ Janet Prescott ​ ​ (m. 1982; div. 2008)​ Jeannie Marie Pledger ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	9

Glen Albert Larson (born January 3, 1937 – died November 14, 2014) was an American television producer, writer, musician, and director. He created many popular TV shows.

Some of his most famous works include Battlestar Galactica, Knight Rider, Magnum, P.I., and Quincy, M.E.. He also helped create The Fall Guy and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Before his TV career, Larson was a member of a music group called The Four Preps.

Glen Larson's Career in Entertainment

Glen Larson started in entertainment in 1956. He was part of a singing group called The Four Preps. They had three hit songs that Glen Larson helped write. These songs were "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)", "Big Man", and "Down by the Station".

Later, he worked on TV shows. One of his first writing jobs was for The Fugitive. He then signed a deal with Universal Studios.

Early TV Successes

His first big hit TV series was Alias Smith and Jones. This was a Western show from 1971 to 1973. It was about two outlaws trying to live an honest life. Many people think it was inspired by the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Larson also helped develop The Six Million Dollar Man for television. This show was based on a book called Cyborg. It became a very successful series.

Creating Battlestar Galactica

Glen Larson created the original Battlestar Galactica series. He had been working on the idea since 1968. He wanted to call it Adam's Ark at first. Later, he changed the name to Galactica. He was then convinced to add "star" to the title. This was because the movie Star Wars had just come out and was very popular.

Battlestar Galactica had a large budget for its time. However, it often reused special effects scenes. The show was canceled after only one season. The first episode was even made into a movie for theaters. After the original series, Larson made a sequel called Galactica 1980. This show was set many years later. It was not as successful and only lasted 10 episodes.

Other Science Fiction Shows

Larson reused some of the sets and costumes from Battlestar Galactica. He used them for another science fiction show called Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. This show started in 1979. It was based on a comic book character. The first episode was also released as a movie. The TV series ran for two seasons.

Hits of the 1980s

In the 1980s, Larson had more success. He was one of the creators of Magnum, P.I., which aired from 1980 to 1988. He also created The Fall Guy, which ran from 1981 to 1986.

Another very famous show he created was Knight Rider. This show combined science fiction with action and adventure. It featured a talking car named KITT. Many of Larson's shows in the 1980s had similar elements. However, some of his later shows like Automan and Manimal were not as successful.

Later Work and Remakes

In 2003, Battlestar Galactica was remade as a miniseries. A new TV series followed in 2004. This new series lasted for several seasons. Glen Larson was not directly involved in these remakes. However, he received credit as a "Consulting Producer."

Criticism of His Work

Even with his success, some people criticized Glen Larson. They felt that many of his TV shows were very similar to popular movies. Some even called him "Glen Larceny" because of these similarities.

For example, the actor James Garner said that Larson used plots from his show, The Rockford Files, for his own shows. Garner's team complained to the Writer's Guild. Larson was fined for this.

Glen Larson's Death

Glen Larson died on November 14, 2014. He passed away in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 77. He died from esophageal cancer. He was survived by his wife, Jeannie, and his nine children. He is buried in Rose Hill Burial Park (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).

Awards and Honors

Glen Larson received several awards and honors for his work:

• Emmy Award
  • 1978: Nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, for Quincy, M.E.
• Grammy Award
  • 1979: Nominated for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special, for Battlestar Galactica
• Edgar Award
  • 1973: Won for Best Episode in a TV Series Teleplay, for McCloud, "The New Mexico Connection"
  • 1981: Won for Best Episode in a TV Series Teleplay, for Magnum, P.I., "China Doll"

Larson also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This star honors his important contributions to the television industry.

Filmography

Books Written

See also

In Spanish: Glen A. Larson para niños