Peter S. Fischer
Birth namePeter Steven Fischer
Birth dateAugust 10, 1935
Birth placeQueens, New York City, U.S.
Death dateOctober 30, 2023 (aged 88)
Death placePacific Grove, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter · producer
Years active1971–1996 · 2009–2019
Alma materHofstra University
SpouseLucille Warnock (m. 1957; died 2017)

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.

Early life

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

Television

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

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

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

Films

YearFilmCreditNotes
1971The Last Child[2]Written By
1975A Cry for HelpWritten By
1977Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a HangingStory By, Screenplay By, Produced ByCo-Wrote Story with "Richard Levinson" and "William Link"
1979Donovan's KidStory By
1981Hellinger's LawStory By, Screenplay ByCo-Wrote screenplay with "Ted Leighton" and "Jack Laird"
1991TaggetScreenplay ByCo-Wrote screenplay with "Janis Diamond" and "Richard T. Heffron"
Stranger at My DoorWritten By
1992CoopersmithWritten By
1995Cops n RobertsWritten By, Executive Producer
1996Dead Man's IslandScreenplay ByBased on the novel of the same name by "Carolyn Hart"

Television

YearTV SeriesCreditNotes
1972–1973Marcus Welby, M.D.[2]Writer3 Episodes
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law[2]Writer2 Episodes
1973–1974GriffWriter3 Episodes
1974–1975McMillan & WifeWriter3 Episodes
1974–1995Columbo[2]Writer, Executive Producer, Executive Story ConsultantMultiple Episodes
1975Baretta[2]Writer1 Episode
Kojak[2]Writer1 Episode
1975–1976Ellery QueenWriter, Producer22 Episodes
1976DelvecchioWriter1 Episode
Once an EagleWriter, Producer4 Episodes
1977–1978What Really Happened to the Class of '65?Writer2 Episodes
1978Black BeautyWriter, Executive Producer
Richie Brockelman, Private EyeWriter, Producer5 Episodes
1978–1979The Eddie Capra MysteriesWriter, Creator, Producer, Executive Producer12 Episodes
1979The Magical World of DisneyWriter2 Episodes
1981–1982DarkroomWriter, Executive Producer
1984–1996Murder, She WroteWriter, Creator, Executive ProducerMultiple Episodes
1986Blacke's MagicWriter, Executive Producer14 Episodes
1987–1988The Law & Harry McGrawWriter, Creator, Executive Producer

Novels

The Hollywood Murder Mysteries

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

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

References

  1. ^ The New York Times
  2. ^ 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. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike (2 November 2023). "Peter S. Fischer, 'Murder, She Wrote' Co-Creator and 'Columbo' Writer, Dies at 88". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  6. ^ "The Hollywood Murder Mysteries". Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2020.