r.i.p.

Battlestar Galactica Creator Glen A. Larson Dies

The television writer and producer Glen A. Larson, whose oeuvre includes hit television shows like Battlestar Galactica, Quincy M.E., Magnum, P.I., Knight Rider, and a number of others, died Friday night in Los Angeles, California. He had been battling esophageal cancer. He was 77.

Larson’s first writing credit was for The Fugitive, and he later worked his way up the ladder, creating his first show, Alias Smith and Jones, in 1971. He later made Battlestar Galactica, which lasted for just a season in 1978–79 because of high production costs. The show is best known now for its beloved rebirth in the mid aughts on Syfy. His biggest hits would come in the ‘80s with the mustachioed Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. and Knight Rider starring David Hasselhoff. He earned three Emmy nominations for McCloud and Quincy, M.E.

When Larson was younger, he was part of a vocal quartet called the Four Peps, whose biggest hit, “26 Miles (Santa Catalina),” went gold and hit No. 2 on the charts. According to his son, James Larson, his musical background helped him co-write the theme songs to Knight Rider and snagged him a Grammy nomination for Battlestar Galactica. He was also an NBC page, which means that 30 Rock dreams can come true.

Battlestar Galactica Creator Glen A. Larson Dies