John Falsey obit

John Falsey, ‘St. Elsewhere’ and ‘Northern Exposure’ Co-Creator, Dies at 67

 

He was not on the list.

John Falsey, a television writer best known for his work with co-writer Joshua Brand on the acclaimed television series “St. Elsewhere,” “Northern Exposure” and I’ll Fly Away, died Jan. 3 in Iowa City. He was 67.

Falsey’s death was first announced to the New York Times by his brother, James Falsey, who said the death was caused by complications from a head injury sustained during a fall in the writer’s home.

Nominated for 11 Emmy Awards throughout his television career, Falsey took home his first win in 1987 for the hit show “A Year in the Life,” which followed the lives of the fictional Gardner family for one year. Two more Emmys came just five years later in 1992 for “Northern Exposure,” which won in the outstanding dramatic series category, and “I’ll Fly Away,” which took home an award for Brand’s writing in its pilot episode.

Originating in New Haven Conn., Falsey was born to John Henry and Patricia Helene Falsey in 1951 before moving to Massachusetts, where he graduated from Hampshire College in 1975. He later attended the University of Iowa in 1978 in pursuit of a master of fine arts degree.

Falsey’s entry into the television world came in 1979 when he was hired to work as a story editor for CBS’ “The White Shadow.” There he met Brand, who was working on the show as a writer. Soon after, Brand recruited Falsey for his gritty hospital show “St. Elsewhere,” which ran from 1982 to 1988 and gave rise to the pair’s long-term writing partnership.

In addition to “A Year in the Life,” “Northern Exposure,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “St. Elsewhere,” Falsey and Brand would go on to develop a number of hit shows including 1985’s “Amazing Stories” and the 1992 tropical comedy “Going to Extremes.” Falsey also served as a consulting producer on the 1999 drama “Providence.”

More recently, Falsey was set to serve as executive producer on a reboot of “Northern Exposure,” which was being written by Brand for CBS. The project was first confirmed in November of last year with original star Rob Morrow set to reprise his role as Dr. Joel Fleischman who returns to Cicely, Alaska, for the funeral of an old friend.

Falsey is survived by wife Julie, and a daughter and son from a first marriage.

 

Writer

Northern Exposure (1990)

Northern Exposure

8.4

TV Series

created by

written by (creator)

1990–1995

110 episodes

 

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (1993)

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now

8.3

TV Movie

Writer

1993

 

Sam Waterston, John Aaron Bennett, Ashlee Levitch, Jeremy London, and Regina Taylor in I'll Fly Away (1991)

I'll Fly Away

8.6

TV Series

created by

written by (creator)

1991–1993

38 episodes

 

Going to Extremes (1992)

Going to Extremes

8.4

TV Series

created by

story by (creator)

1992–1993

17 episodes

 

Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel, Cynthia Sikes, Ellen Bry, William Daniels, and Ed Flanders in St. Elsewhere (1982)

St. Elsewhere

8.0

TV Series

created by

story by

written by (creator) ...

1982–1988

137 episodes

 

Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Peterson, Trey Ames, Adam Arkin, Jayne Atkinson, Richard Kiley, Diana Muldaur, David Oliver, Scott Paulin, Wendy Phillips, and Morgan Stevens in A Year in the Life (1987)

A Year in the Life

8.5

TV Series

created by

story

writer (creator) ...

1987–1988

22 episodes

 

Amanda Peterson, Eva Marie Saint, Trey Ames, Adam Arkin, Jayne Atkinson, Jennifer Cooke, Richard Kiley, David Oliver, Scott Paulin, Wendy Phillips, and Morgan Stevens in A Year in the Life (1986)

A Year in the Life

8.6

TV Mini Series

creator

story

teleplay ...

1986

3 episodes

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

developer

story

teleplay (creator) ...

1985–1986

24 episodes

 

The White Shadow (1978)

The White Shadow

8.0

TV Series

written by

television story and teleplay

story ...

1979–1980

15 episodes

 

Producer

Melina Kanakaredes, Concetta Tomei, Paula Cale, Mike Farrell, and Seth Peterson in Providence (1999)

Providence

6.7

TV Series

consulting producer

1999

11 episodes

 

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now (1993)

I'll Fly Away: Then and Now

8.3

TV Movie

executive producer

1993

 

Northern Exposure (1990)

Northern Exposure

8.4

TV Series

executive producer

1990–1993

63 episodes

 

Sam Waterston, John Aaron Bennett, Ashlee Levitch, Jeremy London, and Regina Taylor in I'll Fly Away (1991)

I'll Fly Away

8.6

TV Series

executive producer

1991–1993

38 episodes

 

Going to Extremes (1992)

Going to Extremes

8.4

TV Series

executive producer

1992–1993

17 episodes

 

Sarah Jessica Parker, Amanda Peterson, Trey Ames, Adam Arkin, Jayne Atkinson, Richard Kiley, Diana Muldaur, David Oliver, Scott Paulin, Wendy Phillips, and Morgan Stevens in A Year in the Life (1987)

A Year in the Life

8.5

TV Series

executive producer

1987–1988

22 episodes

 

Amanda Peterson, Eva Marie Saint, Trey Ames, Adam Arkin, Jayne Atkinson, Jennifer Cooke, Richard Kiley, David Oliver, Scott Paulin, Wendy Phillips, and Morgan Stevens in A Year in the Life (1986)

A Year in the Life

8.6

TV Mini Series

executive producer

1986

3 episodes

 

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

supervising producer

1985–1986

22 episodes

 

Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel, Cynthia Sikes, Ellen Bry, William Daniels, and Ed Flanders in St. Elsewhere (1982)

St. Elsewhere

8.0

TV Series

producer

1982–1983

22 episodes

 

Additional Crew

The White Shadow (1978)

The White Shadow

8.0

TV Series

story editor

1979–1981

28 episodes