Leonard Freeman

The creator of the long-running police drama "Hawaii Five-0," Leonard Freeman was a television writer and producer who made the occasional foray into film. Freeman began writing for television during the 1950s, penning episodes of the family show "Lassie" and the military drama "Men of Annapolis." In the early '60s, he gained wider recognition as a writer on "Route 66," and he also produced one episode of the series. Freeman had a particularly busy year in '68, with the release of "Hang 'Em High," a Clint Eastwood Western that he both wrote and produced, as well as the debut of his TV series "Hawaii Five-0." The popular island-themed cop show aired for 12 seasons, but Freeman didn't live to see many of them, since he died from heart problems in '74. In 2010, a high-profile TV revival of "Hawaii Five-0" was launched, and Freeman was appropriately credited for his signature creation.