Joseph Wambaugh, the writer who mined his years as a Los Angeles Police Department patrolman for a series of bestselling crime books including The Onion Field, The New Centurions, The Blue Knight and The Glitter Dome, and whose literary works were adapted for feature films and television series, died today of esophageal cancer at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 88.
His death was reported to The New York Times by a Wambaugh family friend.
In 1971, eleven years after joining the LAPD, Wambaugh saw his first novel, The New Centurions, published by Little, Brown and Co. The story of rookie LAPD cops in the early 1960s became his first bestseller and, the following year, the first movie based on his work. The film adaptation starred George C. Scott and Stacy Keach.
The New Centurions novel was followed by a string of police novels, including 1972’s The Blue Knight (later...
His death was reported to The New York Times by a Wambaugh family friend.
In 1971, eleven years after joining the LAPD, Wambaugh saw his first novel, The New Centurions, published by Little, Brown and Co. The story of rookie LAPD cops in the early 1960s became his first bestseller and, the following year, the first movie based on his work. The film adaptation starred George C. Scott and Stacy Keach.
The New Centurions novel was followed by a string of police novels, including 1972’s The Blue Knight (later...
- 2/28/2025
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
1987. The soon-to-be-published Joseph Wambaugh true crime bestseller "Echoes in the Darkness" was "too big" to be a theatrical feature, signaling the chase to get it for TV as a miniseries. Wambaugh came to the William Morris Agency to check me out. The former Lapd detective sergeant, unimpressed with the trappings of Hollywood, appeared to like me enough to sign papers and have me get him something he didn't find himself. Which is not what other agents had done. I immediately got him an assignment to adapt someone else's book at ABC. I also brought him...
- 4/26/2011
- The Wrap
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.