George Schenck obit

George Schenck Dies: Former ‘NCIS’ Showrunner Was 82

 

He was not on the list.

George Schenck, a television writer and producer for the beloved long-running series NCIS, died peacefully at his home in Brentwood, CA on August 3. He was 82.

His death was announced by his family.

Schenck was the son of the late film and TV producer Aubrey Schenck and great-nephew of the legendary Nicholas and Joseph Schenck, who ran MGM and 20th Century Fox during Hollywood’s Golden Age and were part of the industry’s major movers and shakers for much of the first half of the 20th Century.

With more than 40 years as a producing partner with Frank Cardea, Schenck’s prolific producing credits stretch back to the late 1970s and early ’80 on such popular series as Fantasy Island (1981); Bring ‘Em Back Alive, the 1982 adventure series starring Bruce Boxleitner; and the 1984 detective series Crazy Like a Fox starring Jack Warden and John Rubinstein as a father and son investigator team.

But his signature series was NCIS, the long-running series – it began in 2003 and continues today – that depicts a team of special agents for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The show combines the twin dramas of military life and police procedural.

Schenck joined the series as a writer, taking over as co-showrunner (with Cardea) following the 2016 death of showrunner Gary Glasberg. Schenck retired in 2018.

Mark Harmon, who won acclaim and legions of devoted fans playing NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for the first 19 seasons of the series, said in a statement, “So sorry to hear the news on George. The professionalism and tenacity of George and Frank changed the face of the show. I’m so appreciative of the team and teamwork they both represented.”

Born February 12, 1942, in New York City, Schenck graduated from the University of Southern California and earned a graduate degree in the first class of the Film School’s new writers’ program. After school, he served in the U.S. Navy.

After a brief solo career as a writer on independent movies, Schenck collaborated with Cardea on many successful series such as the aforementioned Crazy Like a Fox and Bring ‘Em Back Alive as well as Pros and Cons (1991) starring James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna and the short-lived The Cosby Mysteries (1994).

Schenck, known as a devoted mentor to many aspiring TV writers, was predeceased by his wife of more than 50 years, Virginia Schenck, who died last year. He is survived by their two sons Kirk and Jeff, daughters-in-law Allison and Natalie, and grandchildren Aidan, Andrew, Ryan, Jordan and Owen.

A private memorial service will be held for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Writers Guild Foundation in George Schenck’s memory, supporting young writers pursuing their dreams.

 

Producer

Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Diona Reasonover in NCIS (2003)

NCIS

7.8

TV Series

executive producer

co-executive producer

consulting producer

2003–2018

318 episodes

 

David Morse in Hack (2002)

Hack

7.3

TV Series

consulting producer

2003

4 episodes

 

Dennis Rodman, Tim Abell, Melinda Clarke, David Eigenberg, and Brad Johnson in Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997)

Soldier of Fortune, Inc.

6.9

TV Series

executive producer

1998–1999

17 episodes

 

The Cosby Mysteries (1994)

The Cosby Mysteries

4.7

TV Series

producer

1994–1995

 

Melissa Gilbert in Dying to Remember (1993)

Dying to Remember

5.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1993

 

James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna in Pros and Cons (1991)

Pros and Cons

6.6

TV Series

executive producer

1991

2 episodes

 

The Hit Man (1991)

The Hit Man

6.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1991

 

Still Crazy Like a Fox (1987)

Still Crazy Like a Fox

6.5

TV Movie

executive producer

1987

 

John Rubinstein and Jack Warden in Crazy Like a Fox (1984)

Crazy Like a Fox

7.0

TV Series

executive producer

producer

1984–1986

35 episodes

 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

7.5

TV Movie

producer

1984

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

co-executive producer

producer

1982–1983

17 episodes

 

Michael Dudikoff and Peter Horton in Sawyer and Finn (1983)

Sawyer and Finn

6.9

TV Movie

producer

1983

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

6.6

TV Series

co-supervising producer (segment Hard Knocks)

1981

1 episode

 

Superbeast (1972)

Superbeast

3.2

producer

1972

 

Writer

Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Diona Reasonover in NCIS (2003)

NCIS

7.8

TV Series

written by

teleplay

teleplay by

2003–2018

48 episodes

 

Kiss Me Deadly (2008)

Kiss Me Deadly

5.2

TV Movie

written by

2008

 

Painkiller Jane (2007)

Painkiller Jane

5.7

TV Series

written by

2007

1 episode

 

David Morse in Hack (2002)

Hack

7.3

TV Series

written by

2003–2004

5 episodes

 

Dennis Rodman, Tim Abell, Melinda Clarke, David Eigenberg, and Brad Johnson in Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997)

Soldier of Fortune, Inc.

6.9

TV Series

writer

written by

1998–1999

2 episodes

 

Kelly Rutherford, Rhoda Gemignani, Peter Krause, and Michael Rispoli in The Great Defender (1995)

The Great Defender

4.1

TV Series

writer

1995

2 episodes

 

High Sierra Search and Rescue (1995)

High Sierra Search and Rescue

7.8

TV Series

created by (creator)

1995

7 episodes

 

River of Rage: The Taking of Maggie Keene (1993)

Search and Rescue

6.4

TV Movie

written by

1994

 

Melissa Gilbert in Dying to Remember (1993)

Dying to Remember

5.4

TV Movie

story

teleplay

1993

 

James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna in Pros and Cons (1991)

Pros and Cons

6.6

TV Series

writer

1991

1 episode

 

The Hit Man (1991)

The Hit Man

6.1

TV Movie

Writer

1991

 

Still Crazy Like a Fox (1987)

Still Crazy Like a Fox

6.5

TV Movie

based on characters created by

written by

1987

 

John Rubinstein and Jack Warden in Crazy Like a Fox (1984)

Crazy Like a Fox

7.0

TV Series

created by

teleplay by

written by (creator) ...

1984–1986

35 episodes

 

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984)

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

7.5

TV Movie

written by

1984

 

Jack Blessing and Darren McGavin in Small & Frye (1983)

Small & Frye

6.0

TV Series

teleplay

1983

1 episode

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

created by

written by

story ...

1982–1983

17 episodes

 

Michael Dudikoff and Peter Horton in Sawyer and Finn (1983)

Sawyer and Finn

6.9

TV Movie

written by

1983

 

O'Malley (1983)

O'Malley

8.0

TV Movie

script

1983

 

Olivia Hussey and Steve Railsback in Turkey Shoot (1982)

Turkey Shoot

5.9

story

1982

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

6.6

TV Series

written by (segment Hard Knocks)

1981

1 episode

 

Deathmoon (1978)

Deathmoon

4.1

TV Movie

story

teleplay

1978

 

Futureworld (1976)

Futureworld

5.7

written by

1976

 

The Phantom of Hollywood (1974)

The Phantom of Hollywood

5.6

TV Movie

story

teleplay

1974

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

writer

1973

1 episode

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

6.8

TV Series

Writer

1973

1 episode

 

Superbeast (1972)

Superbeast

3.2

written by

1972

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

story by

1970

1 episode

 

Barquero (1970)

Barquero

6.3

written by

1970

 

More Dead Than Alive (1969)

More Dead Than Alive

6.1

writer

1969

 

Jack Palance, Fernando Lamas, and Aldo Ray in Kill a Dragon (1967)

Kill a Dragon

4.5

Writer

1967

 

Ralph Taeger in Hondo (1967)

Hondo

7.2

TV Series

writer

1967

1 episode

 

Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966)

Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title

4.5

adaptation (as George W. Schenck)

1966

 

Chuck Connors in Branded (1965)

Branded

7.4

TV Series

Writer (as George W. Schenck)

1965

1 episode

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West (1965)

The Wild Wild West

8.1

TV Series

written by (as George W. Schenck)

1965

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Diona Reasonover in NCIS (2003)

NCIS

7.8

TV Series

executive consultant

2018–2019

24 episodes

 

Tia Carrere in Relic Hunter (1999)

Relic Hunter

6.5

TV Series

executive consultant

2001–2002

34 episodes

 

Fast Track (1997)

Fast Track

6.5

TV Series

executive consultant

1998

1 episode