Hugh Wilson

Hugh Hamilton Wilson, Jr. was born on Aug. 21, 1943, in Miami, FL. Shortly after graduation from the University of Florida in 1964, Wilson leapt to a career in advertising, working his way to the top of the Atlanta, GA-based Burton-Campbell Agency by 1973. Two years later, however, Wilson endeavored a career switch and became a writer for "The Bob Newhart Show" (CBS 1972-78) by the following year. Ascending yet another professional ladder, Wilson soon graduated to status of producer for "The Tony Randall Show" (ABC/CBS 1976-78) before creating his own series altogether: "WKRP in Cincinnati" (CBS 1978-1982). Following his program's run, Wilson shifted his attention to movies, making his feature screenwriting debut with the Burt Reynolds-led comedy "Stroker Ace" (1983) and his feature directorial debut with the original "Police Academy" (1984). After a number of short-lived television projects throughout the latter half of the 1980s, Wilson wrote and directed popular moves including "The First Wives Club" (1996), "Blast from the Past" (1999), and "Dudley Do-Right" (1999). Around this period, Wilson began teaching screenwriting at the University of Virginia on an occasional basis. His final directing credit was a baseball drama, "Mickey" (2004), starring Harry Connick Jr. and written by novelist John Grisham. Wilson died on Jan. 14, 2018 at the age of 74 following a battle with lung cancer.