'Honey West' star Anne Francis (1930-2011)

Actress Anne Francis died Sunday (Jan. 2, 2011) due to complications of pancreatic cancer. She was at a retirement home in Santa Barbara, California.

Related links:
Anne Francis, Hollywood beauty known for 'Honey West,' 'Forbidden Planet' (Washington Post)
Anne Francis, TV and Film Actress, Dies at 80 (New York Times)
Goodbye, Honey: Writer Remembers Anne Francis As Pioneering TV Female (Pop Eater)
'Forbidden Planet' star Anne Francis passes away at 80 (Catholic Online)

Opening Credits HONEY WEST (ABC, 1965-66)

TV producer, writer, creator Stephen Cannell (1941-2010)

The man who more or less defined crime television in the 1970s and '80s, Stephen Cannell, passed away Thursday due to complications from melanoma.

A prolific TV writer and producer, Cannell, 69, started as a writer for It Takes a Thief, Ironside and Columbo, then story editor for Adam-12. He went on to create or co-create nearly 40 series.

His credits include:
The Rockford Files (1974-1980, 1994-1999)
Baretta (1975-1978)
The Greatest American Hero (1980-1983)
The A-Team (1983-1987)
Hardcastle & McCormick (1983-1986)
Hunter (1984-1991)
Riptide (1984-1986)
21 Jump Street (1986-1991)
Wiseguy (1987-1990)
Booker (1989-1990)
The Commish (1991-1995)



In recent years, Cannell appeared as himself on Castle. This morning, Castle star Nathan Fillion‎ tweeted: "Stephen Cannell, For shaping my youth, influencing the pros around me, and participating in Castle, thank you. You will be missed."

Cannell was also a spokesman for the learning disorder dyslexia.

More links:
TV producer Stephen J. Cannell created 40 shows (Chicago Sun-Times)
Stephen J. Cannell dies at 69; TV writer, producer (Los Angeles Times)
Stephen J. Cannell 1941-2010 (Ain't It Cool News)

More from Crime TV:
Classic Stephen J. Cannell TV on DVD
Watch CASTLE on ABC
Watch 21 JUMP STREET free online!
Watch HUNTER episodes online free!
Opening Theme: BARETTA
Mystery TV Themes: THE ROCKFORD FILES
Crime TV Themes: NBC MYSTERY MOVIE (Columbo)
Opening Theme: IT TAKES A THIEF

Gene Barry (1919-2009)

Suave actor of stage, screen, and television Gene Barry died this week in California at the age of 90. Barry's TV credits included the western Bat Masterson (1958-61), the whodunit series Burke's Law and spin-off Amos Burke, Secret Agent (1963-66), crime drama The Name of the Game (1968-71), and the British series The Adventurer (1972). Read his obituary at the New York Times.

THE NAME OF THE GAME OPENING CREDITS


THE ADVENTURER OPENING CREDITS

Edward Woodward (1930-2009)

TV legend Edward Woodward ("The Equalizer," "Callan") passed away today at 79. He will be missed.

Watch the opening credits sequences for his shows "The Equalizer" and "Callan" at Crime TV.

Obituary: Edward Woodward Telegraph.co.uk
UK's Edward Woodward, Star of 'The Wicker Man,' Dies at 79 Bloomberg
Wicker Man, Equalizer actor Edward Woodward dies Reuters
'Equalizer' star Edward Woodward dies at 79 The Associated Press
Actor Edward Woodward dies at 79 BBC News

DARREN MCGAVIN: 1922-2006

Last night, actor Darren McGavin passed away. His great roles include gruff news reporter Carl Kolchak chasing impossible stories in Kolchack: The Night Stalker and the grouchy dad in the perennial 1983 classic A Christmas Story.

Find out more about his life and career at www.darrenmcgavin.net, and at the links below:

Prolific Actor Darren McGavin Dies at 83 ABC News
Darren McGavin, 83; Played Reporter on TV's 'Night Stalker' Washington Post

An entire generation of X-Files fans can thank him, too -- X-Files creator Chris Carter has regularly acknowledged he was inspired by Night Stalker. McGavin even played a brief role on the show, where his character turned out to be the original agent working the files.

McGavin co-starred with Don Knotts -- who, I'm sure you've heard, also passed away yesterday -- in the Disney family comedies No Deposit, No Return (1976) and Hot Lead & Cold Feet (1978).

R.I.P GRANDPA MUNSTER 1923-2006

After years of failing health, actor Al Lewis passed away Friday night.

Associated Press reports:

Lewis, with his wife at his bedside, passed away Friday night, said Bernard White, program director at WBAI-FM, where the actor hosted a weekly radio program. White made the announcement on the air during the Saturday slot where Lewis usually appeared.

"To say that we will miss his generous, cantankerous, engaging spirit is a profound understatement," White said.

Both seasons of his classic series The Munsters are now available on DVD. The second season includes features on the stars of the show, including a whole documentary on the intriguing life of Lewis.