George Schenck, who served as writer, producer and/or co-showrunner on NCIS: Secret Service Stories during the first 15 seasons of the CBS drama, died on Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, a spokesman for the network said. He was 82 years old.
He and Frank Cardea were creative partners for 40 years. In addition to working together on NCIS: Secret Service StoriesIn 1982-83 they created the CBS adventure series Bring her back alivestarring Bruce Boxleitner; the CBS crime series from 1984-86 Crazy like a foxwith Jack Warden and John Rubinstein; and the 1991-92 ABC drama pros and conswith James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna.
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After writing nearly 50 episodes of NCIS: Secret Service Stories Beginning with the show’s first season in 2003, the pair were named co-showrunners in November 2016 after Gary Glasberg died suddenly two months earlier. “It is with a heavy heart that we take over his duties,” they said at the time.
“I’m so sorry to hear the news about George,” NCIS: Secret Service Stories Star and producer Mark Harmon said in a statement. “The professionalism and tenacity of George and Frank changed the face of the show. I am so grateful for the team and teamwork they both represented.”
Schenck retired in 2018 and Cardea remained on the show until 2022.
George William Schenck was born on February 12, 1942. His father, Aubrey Schenck, worked at Fox, Eagle-Lion Pictures and with Howard W. Koch as a producer of films, including T-Men (1947) and Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964). His great uncles Nicholas and Joseph Schenck ran MGM and Fox.
Schenck graduated from USC with a degree in screenwriting, completed an undergraduate degree in film school, and served in the U.S. Navy.
His first literary achievements included episodes of The Wild, Wild West, Branded, Hondo And Goldmine and the films Don’t worry, we’ll think of a title (1966) and More dead than alive (1969), starring Clint Walker.
He later co-wrote the CBS television film The Phantom of Hollywood and further Future world (1976), the first sequel to the Michael Crichton hit Westworld.
He and Cardea had a production company at Columbia Pictures Television and worked together over the years on Fantasy Island, The Cosby Crime Stories, High Sierra Search and Rescue, The great defender, Soldier of Fortune, Inc., Relic Hunter And Chop as well as.
He is survived by his children Kirk and Jeff, their wives Allison and Natalie, and his grandchildren Aidan, Andrew, Ryan, Jordan and Owen. His wife of over 50 years, Virginia, died in March 2023. Donations in his name may be made to the Writers Guild Foundation.
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