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Richard Levinson

Highest Rated: 31% The Hindenburg (1975)

Lowest Rated: 31% The Hindenburg (1975)

Birthday: Aug 7, 1934

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Born in Philadelphia, Richard Levinson attended summer camp as a young boy and met William Link, who would become his writing and producing partner throughout their professional careers. Together the two wrote sketches while at camp, and later at the University of Pennsylvania. After college and a brief stint in the Army, Levinson landed work writing on anthology series like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "The Chevy Mystery Show." Levinson and Link created their first and perhaps most famous detective when they came up with "Columbo," who was immortalized by Peter Falk in the series of the same name that began in 1971 and ran for 12 seasons ending in 1998. During this time the duo brought to life a number of famous detectives and mystery shows including the violent drama "Mannix," the TV adaptation of "Ellery Queen," and the long-running Angela Lansbury vehicle "Murder, She Wrote." This show debuted in 1984 and proved wildly popular, running for 12 years and over 250 episodes, and defining the second half of Lansbury's long career. The pair's mystery niche served them well, earning them much acclaim including numerous Emmy nominations, and a win for "Columbo." In 1986, Levinson was honored with the Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement, which is awarded by the Writers Guild of America. Sadly, Levinson's career was cut short when he died of a sudden heart attack in 1987 at the age of 52.

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Highest rated movies

31% 39% The Hindenburg
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Columbo: Agenda for Murder
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82% Columbo: Caution, Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
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The Gun
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Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging
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Columbo Goes to the Guillotine
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Take Your Best Shot
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Columbo: Ransom for a Dead Man
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My Sweet Charlie
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Too Many Suspects
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 82% Columbo: Caution, Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health Creator - 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Columbo: Agenda for Murder Creator - 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Columbo Goes to the Guillotine Creator - 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Take Your Best Shot Producer - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging Executive Producer - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Too Many Suspects Producer - 1975
31% 39% The Hindenburg Screenwriter - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Gun Producer - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Judge and Jake Wyler Producer - 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet That Certain Summer Producer - 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet Columbo: Ransom for a Dead Man Writer - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Two on a Bench Producer - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Sweet Charlie Producer - 1970
No Score Yet 80% Columbo Screenwriter - 1968

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 80% Columbo Creator,
Executive Producer,
Writer
1971-1978 1989-1992 1994-1995 1998 2001 2003
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Creator,
Executive Producer
1984-1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jericho Creator 1966-1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fugitive Writer 1964-1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet Alfred Hitchcock Hour Writer 1962-1964
No Score Yet 87% Alfred Hitchcock Presents Writer 1961-1962
No Score Yet No Score Yet Johnny Ringo Writer 1959
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dr. Kildare Writer