William Blinn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Blinn
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|---|---|
| Born |
William Frederick Blinn
July 21, 1937 |
| Died | October 22, 2020 (aged 83) Burbank, California, United States
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| Occupation | Screenwriter, television producer |
William Frederick Blinn (born July 21, 1937 – died October 22, 2020) was an American writer and producer for television. He was known for creating popular TV shows like Starsky & Hutch. He also wrote for famous shows such as Roots and Fame. Blinn won several awards for his work, including two Emmy Awards.
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William Blinn's Life and TV Career
William Blinn was born in Toledo, Ohio. He began his career in television in the 1960s. As a screenwriter, Blinn wrote episodes for many well-known TV series. These included classic Westerns like Rawhide and Gunsmoke. He also wrote for The Rookies and Here Come the Brides.
Award-Winning Work
In 1971, Blinn wrote the script for the TV movie Brian's Song. This movie told the true story of two football players. For his work on Brian's Song, he won an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award. These are very important awards in television.
He won a second Emmy Award in 1977. This was for his writing on the famous TV miniseries Roots. Roots was a groundbreaking show about American history.
Creating Popular TV Shows
William Blinn also created two popular series for producer Aaron Spelling. One was the very successful police drama Starsky & Hutch. He later helped produce the 2004 movie based on the show. He also created Heaven Help Us.
Blinn was an executive producer for the 1974 ABC series The New Land. He also created the short-lived 1977 CBS spy series Hunter.
Other Projects
Besides writing for TV, Blinn also wrote the screenplay for the 1984 movie Purple Rain. This film starred the famous musician Prince. He also wrote for the 1996 TV film The Boys Next Door.
Blinn produced several other TV series and movies. These included Aaron's Way and Pensacola: Wings of Gold. He also worked on shows like Eight Is Enough and Our House.
Later Life and Passing
William Blinn passed away on October 22, 2020. He was 83 years old. He died from natural causes at a retirement home in Burbank, California.
Awards and Recognitions
William Blinn received several important awards for his writing and producing work.
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Film or Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Emmy Award | Won | Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama - Adaptation | Brian's Song |
| 1977 | Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series | Roots | ||
| 1982 | Nominated | Outstanding Drama Series | Fame | |
| 1983 | Outstanding Drama Series | Fame | ||
| 1984 | Outstanding Drama Series | Fame | ||
| 1977 | Humanitas Prize | Won | 60 Minute Category | Roots |
| 1996 | Nominated | 90 Minute Category | The Boys Next Door | |
| 1972 | Peabody Awards | Won |
|
Brian's Song |
| 1997 | Writers Guild of America Award | Adapted Long Form | The Boys Next Door |
See also
In Spanish: William Blinn para niños
