William Blinn, the two-time Emmy winner who penned the Prince-starring Purple Rain, created Starsky & Hutch and wrote for such landmark TV projects as Roots, Fame and Brian's Song, has died. He was 83.

PennyPurple said:

William Blinn, the two-time Emmy winner who penned the Prince-starring Purple Rain, created Starsky & Hutch and wrote for such landmark TV projects as Roots, Fame and Brian's Song, has died. He was 83.

Interesting that he had a habit of writing culture changing fiction that felt so cool, we couldn't separate the fact from fiction, and neither could the casts who were typecast forever after.

R.I.P. Mr. Blinn. You left your mark on the world.

https://variety.com/2020/tv/obituaries-people-news/william-blinn-dead-dies-purple-rain-brians-song-screenwriter-1234814871/

William Blinn, the two-time Emmy-winning screenwriter of “Brian’s Song” and “Roots,” died on Thursday, his daughter Anneliese Johnson confirmed to Variety. He was 83.

Blinn died of natural causes at an assisted living community in Burbank, Calif, according to his daughter.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Blinn moved to Los Angeles for college, where he launched his career as a television writer-producer in the 1960s. Freelancing on different series led to his big break in 1971 when he penned ABC’s television movie “Brian’s Song,” which details the life of former Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo. The following year, Blinn nabbed his first Emmy award in outstanding writing achievement in the drama adaptation category for his work on the film, in addition to a Peabody award. “Brian’s Song” was watched by 55 million people when it aired on Nov. 30, 1971, and was the fourth most-watched film ever to air on television at the time.

In 1972, the writer also pitched “The Rookies” to producer Aaron Spelling. After two years on the show, Blinn developed the TV adaptation of “Eight is Enough,” wrote the miniseries “Roots” and produced and penned the first three seasons of “Fame.” Blinn won his second Emmy award in 1977 for outstanding writing in a drama series for his work on “Roots,” in addition to a Humanitas prize in the 60 minutes category.

Blinn wrote one feature screenplay, “Purple Rain,” in 1984 with co-writer and director Albert Magnoli. The rock musical drama starred the musician Prince and grossed over $70 million at the box office.

The late writer, producer and drama specialist received the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award from Writers Guild of America in 2009. He also served as a staff writer on “Bonanza,” created “The Interns” and “Pensacola: Wings of Gold.”

“He was humble, pensive, very fair, sensitive, generous, simple, intimidating to many but a huge heart of gold, so intelligent, an introvert… my dad,” Anneliese Johnson told Variety.

Blinn is survived by his daughter, Anneliese; his son, Chris; and his grandchildren Mackenzie, Eden, Zachary and Zoe.

PennyPurple said:

William Blinn, the two-time Emmy winner who penned the Prince-starring Purple Rain, created Starsky & Hutch and wrote for such landmark TV projects as Roots, Fame and Brian's Song, has died. He was 83.

We owe so much to this man. Without his contributions, Prince's career, and in many cases, our lives would have been very different.

Alasseon said:

PennyPurple said:

William Blinn, the two-time Emmy winner who penned the Prince-starring Purple Rain, created Starsky & Hutch and wrote for such landmark TV projects as Roots, Fame and Brian's Song, has died. He was 83.

We owe so much to this man. Without his contributions, Prince's career, and in many cases, our lives would have been very different.

So very true!

There's been a consistent error in Blinn's account of WDC and Purple Rain.

Blinn claimed that the song came before the film and was an inspiration.
Actually, WDC was recorded in March 1984 (after filming was complete) as an "over-arching view" of the film which could be used over some scenes.the

laytonian said:

There's been a consistent error in Blinn's account of WDC and Purple Rain.

Blinn claimed that the song came before the film and was an inspiration.
Actually, WDC was recorded in March 1984 (after filming was complete) as an "over-arching view" of the film which could be used over some scenes.the

Unless there was an earlier vocal demo that he heard, much like the early Purple Rain. It is the one song that really follows the storyline, so it could be a case where both stories are true. The song isn't regarded as a work of fiction based on fiction, and Prince supposedly gave them a truckload of songs to pick through.

Some stooge on Facebook said Prince wrote the screenplay, Blinn "just tweaked it." I was like, "Heifer, HAVE ALL THE SEATS!"

She was quickly corrected on it. I said, "I bet you think Prince directed Sign O The Times by himself, too."

Blinn's kinda low-key historic in the movie and TV industry as a writer. You don't typically know his name, even like you may know someone like Alan Parker or Dick Wolf. But Blinn's resume goes above and beyond Purple Rain.

Purple Rain

Fame

Starsky & Hutch (TV show and movie, and was connected to a TV reboot)

Roots

Hunter

Brian's Song

Gunsmoke

Bonanza

Our House

Eight is Enough

...to name a few. Dude was all over the place. He left a great legacy in TV & film.

TrivialPursuit said:

Some stooge on Facebook said Prince wrote the screenplay, Blinn "just tweaked it." I was like, "Heifer, HAVE ALL THE SEATS!"

She was quickly corrected on it. I said, "I bet you think Prince directed Sign O The Times by himself, too."

Blinn's kinda low-key historic in the movie and TV industry as a writer. You don't typically know his name, even like you may know someone like Alan Parker or Dick Wolf. But Blinn's resume goes above and beyond Purple Rain.

Purple Rain

Fame

Starsky & Hutch (TV show and movie, and was connected to a TV reboot)

Roots

*Hunter*

Brian's Song

Gunsmoke

Bonanza

Our House

Eight is Enough

...to name a few. Dude was all over the place. He left a great legacy in TV & film.

You didn't MEAN the 80s HUNTER(1984-1991) with 2 Main Casts, Fred Dryer & Stephanie Kramer?

[Edited 10/29/20 10:58am]

samuelmcneal said:

You didn't MEAN the 80s HUNTER(1984-1991) with 2 Main Casts, Fred Dryer & Stephanie Kramer?

You can peek at his IMDB and find out.