American film director, writer and television showrunner Hugh Wilson – best known for creating the acclaimed sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, as well as directing the first Police Academy movie – passed away on January 14, 2018. He was 74 years old. His death was confirmed by family friends who said he had suffered from an illness.
Hugh Hamilton Wilson, Jr. was born on August 21, 1943 in Miami, Florida. He attended the University of Florida and graduated in 1964 with a degree in journalism. In 1966, Wilson began working for the Burton-Campbell Agency as a copywriter before advancing to creative director and later president. Around this time, Wilson met Jay Tarses and Tom Patchett – producers of the Bob Newhart Show. These writers helped Wilson get a position with Mary Tyler Moore Productions in 1975. The following year they gave him his first writing assignment for the Bob Newhart Show and in 1977 made him a co-producer of the Tony Randall Show.
In 1978, Wilson created WKRP in Cincinnati for CBS. This series, set at a rock radio station in the Ohio city, ran for four seasons from 1978 to 1982. It starred Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Jan Smithers, Richard Sanders, and Frank Bonne. Two of his WKRP scripts won Humanitas Prizes and the show was nominated twice for the Emmy in the Best Comedy category. Following the conclusion of WKRP, Wilson was tasked with rewriting a screenplay for a movie about a group of misfits in training to join the police force. The result was the first Police Academy film for Warner Bros., a franchise that has since pawned six sequels.
Wilson also directed The First Wives Club, co-wrote and helmed Guarding Tess, wrote and directed Blast From the Past and Dudley Do-Right, and penned the screenplay for Hal Needham’s Stroker Ace. Additional film credits for Wilson include Rustlers' Rhapsody, Burglar, Down Periscope, Southie, and Mickey. He also created three short lived television series The Famous Teddy Z, Easy Street, and Frank’s Place. The latter series earned Wilson three Emmy nominations, along with the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.
He is survived by his wife, five children, and four grandchildren.
