Frank Lupo

A creator of fun, fast-paced crime shows, writer and producer Frank Lupo exemplified his ethos with "The A-Team." Lupo had his first foray in writing for TV with an episode of the short-lived mercenary series "Sword of Justice" in 1978, followed shortly thereafter by an episode of the original "Battlestar Galactica" sci-fi show. He began his producing career with the "Battlestar Galactica" spinoff "Galactica 1980" (for which he also wrote one episode). From 1981 to 1983, Lupo wrote and produced for the quirky family action show "The Greatest American Hero," which was created by Stephen J. Cannell. This marked the first time the two worked together in a professional relationship that would span decades. Lupo created his first solo project, the detective series "Hunter," in 1984, which lasted for seven seasons. His most successful endeavor was undoubtedly "The A-Team," widely seen as one of the classic action series of the 1980s. The show followed the adventures of a ragtag group of mercenaries, and played like an over-the-top version of "Mission: Impossible." In 1987, Lupo again scored a modest hit with the ambitious crime drama "Wiseguy," another joint effort with Cannell. After executive producing the first few seasons of "Walker, Texas Ranger," Lupo's fast-paced career slowed, though he did oversee a few TV movies based on his "Hunter" series in the early 2000s. Frank Lupo died on February 18, 2021 in FL at the age of 66.