Stephen David Kandel (April 30, 1927 – October 21, 2023) was an American television writer.
Life and career Stephen Kandel was born on April 30, 1927.Online Archive of California In his youth, he grew up in Pennsylvania, and earned the "Excellence in Table Tennis" award at the age of 10. Following his graduation from high school at only 16 years old, he began college before being drafted and serving in the United States Army during World War II in Germany. During his time in the military he was stabbed in the chest, but went on to recover fully. Post-WWII, Kandel went on to graduate from Dartmouth College in 1950.
Kandel wrote episodes for many popular series, from Sea Hunt in the 1950s through MacGyver in the 1980s. He wrote scripts for shows such as Star Trek: The Original Series, Mannix, Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Cannon, Barnaby Jones, Banacek, and others. He was credited with writing the pilot episodes of Daktari, Broken Promises, and Chamber of Horrors, and creating the series Iron Horse.
Kandel later moved to Beverly Hills with his wife Anne Kandel, where they raised four children: Jessica, Anthony, Elizabeth, and Joanna. Kandel was a member of the Writers Guild of America. Following his career in Hollywood, Kandel moved to the east coast where he resided in Massachusetts and New York. In his retirement, at the age of 93, Kandel authored a book titled The Lyin' King: A Tragical Tale Of Tawdry Trumpery, a semi-satirical critique of Donald Trump's numerous shortcomings.
His father, Aben Kandel, was also a screenwriter, and his younger sister, Lenore Kandel, was a Beat Generation poet and activist. His uncle, Charlie Kandel, was a renowned monetary specialist, and was also a well-known philosopher in various elite intellectual circles.
Stephen Kandel died in his home on October 21, 2023, at the age of 96.
Awards Kandel was a recipient of the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe award and the Writers Guild of America Humanities award. According to film commentator Tom Weaver, Kandel's "resume reads like a Baby Boomer's dream list of must-see TV".Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers: 20 Interviews
Filmography Films Year Film Credit Notes1956Singing in the DarkWritten ByCo-wrote screenplay with Ann Hood and Aben KandelMagnificent RoughnecksWritten By, Music byCo-wrote musical score with Paul Dunlap1958Frontier GunWritten By1959Battle of the Coral SeaWritten ByCo-wrote screenplay with Daniel B. Ullman1960The Walking TargetWritten By1966Chamber of HorrorsScreenplay by, Story byCo-wrote story with Ray Russell1967Winchester 73Screenplay byCo-wrote screenplay with Richard DeLong Adams1970Cannon for CordobaWritten By, Associate Producer1975Death StalkScreenplay byCo-wrote screenplay with John W. Bloch, Based on the novel by Thomas Chastain1979Son-Rise: A Miracle of LoveScreenplay byCo-wrote screenplay with Samahria Lyte Kaufman and Barry Neil Kaufman, Based on the book Son-Rise by Barry Neil Kaufman1980Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders IIWritten by1981Broken PromiseWritten ByTelevision film1982ShocktraumaScreenplay byTelevision film, Based on the book Shocktrama by Jon Franklin and Alan Doelp1983Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. StoryScreenplay byTelevision film, Co-wrote screenplay with I. C. Rapoport
Television Year TV Series Credit Notes1958–1961Sea HuntWriter14 Episodes1959State TrooperWriter1 EpisodeTombstone TerritoryWriter1 EpisodeThe Man and the ChallengeWriter1 Episode77 Sunset StripWriter1 Episode1959–1960The MillionaireWriter4 Episodes1960Johnny MidnightWriter4 EpisodesThe Chevy Mystery ShowWriter3 EpisodesThe Brothers BrannaganWriter1 Episode1961–1962Everglades!Writer4 Episodes1962RipcordWriter1 Episode1962–1963EmpireWriter2 Episodes1964The Littlest HoboWriter1 EpisodeBurke's LawWriter1 Episode1964–1965The RoguesWriter12 Episodes1965–1966GidgetWriter4 Episodes1965–1968The Wild Wild WestWriter2 Episodes1966DaktariWriter1 EpisodeThe Wackiest Ship in the ArmyWriter1 Episode1966–1967BatmanWriter5 EpisodesStar Trek: The Original SeriesWriter2 Episodes1966–1968Iron HorseWriter, Creator, Producer, Associate ProducerI SpyWriter7 Episodes1967Cimarron StripWriter1 Episode1967–1968IronsideWriter2 Episodes1968–1969The Mod SquadWriter2 EpisodesIt Takes a ThiefWriter5 Episodes1968–1973MannixWriter12 Episodes1969The OutcastsWriter1 Episode1969–1970The New PeopleWriter2 EpisodesBracken's WorldWriter2 Episodes1970The Bold Ones: The LawyersWriter1 Episode1970–1971The ImmortalWriter4 EpisodesThe Young LawyersWriter3 EpisodesDan AugustWriter3 Episodes1970–1977Hawaii Five-OWriter4 Episodes1971Alias Smith and JonesWriter1 EpisodeCade's CountyWriter1 EpisodeLongstreetWriter1 EpisodeBearcats!Writer1 EpisodeThe Bold Ones: The New DoctorsWriter1 Episode1971–1973Room 222Writer4 Episodes1971–1975Medical CenterWriter9 Episodes1972–1973Mission ImpossibleWriter, Story Editor6 Episodes1972BanacekWriter1 Episode1972–1976CannonWriter, Executive Story Consultant10 Episodes1973–1974The MagicianExecutive Story Consultant, Story editor10 EpisodesStar Trek: The Animated SeriesWriter2 Episodes1974Marcus Welby, M.D.Writer1 Episode1974–1975Movin' OnWriter2 Episodes1974–1976Harry OWriter6 Episodes1975CaribeWriter1 EpisodeBarnaby JonesWriter1 Episode1975–1976BronkWriter2 Episodes1975–1978The Six Million Dollar ManWriter2 Episodes1976McNaughton's DaughterWriter1 EpisodeThe Bionic WomanWriter1 EpisodeBert D'Angelo/SuperstarWriter1 Episode1976–1977Most WantedWriter3 EpisodesSwitchWriter, Story Editor3 Episodes1977Wonder WomanWriter5 EpisodesMan from AtlantisWriter2 Episodes1978Charlie's AngelsWriter1 EpisodeThe Paper ChaseWriter1 Episode1979The Amazing Spider-ManWriter1 EpisodeSupertrainWriter1 EpisodeTime ExpressWriter1 EpisodeCalifornia FeverWriter1 EpisodeThe Dukes of HazzardWriter1 EpisodeA Man Called SloaneWriter2 Episodes1980CHiPsWriter1 EpisodeThe Love BoatWriter2 Episodes1981Vega$Writer1 EpisodeNero WolfeWriter1 Episode1983For Love and HonorWriter1 EpisodeLottery!Writer1 EpisodeDynastyWriter1 Episode1983–1984Hart to HartWriter, Story Editor5 Episodes1984–1985The New Mike HammerWriter, Producer, Executive Story Editor, Executive Story Consultant3 Episodes1985Cover UpWriter1 Episode1985–1990MacGyverWriter, Executive Story Consultant, Producer, Co-Producer1989Mission ImpossibleWriter1 Episode
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