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. 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, with stops in between at 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".
Filmography
Films
| Year | Film | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Singing in the Dark | Written By | Co-wrote screenplay with "Ann Hood" and "Aben Kandel" |
| Magnificent Roughnecks | Written By, Music by | Co-wrote musical score with "Paul Dunlap" | |
| 1958 | Frontier Gun | Written By | |
| 1959 | Battle of the Coral Sea | Written By | Co-wrote screenplay with "Daniel B. Ullman" |
| 1960 | The Walking Target | Written By | |
| 1966 | Chamber of Horrors | Screenplay by, Story by | Co-wrote story with "Ray Russell" |
| 1967 | Winchester 73 | Screenplay by | Co-wrote screenplay with "Richard DeLong Adams" |
| 1970 | Cannon for Cordoba | Written By, Associate Producer | |
| 1975 | Death Stalk | Screenplay by | Co-wrote screenplay with John W. Bloch, Based on the novel by "Thomas Chastain" |
| 1979 | Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love | Screenplay by | Co-wrote screenplay with "Samahria Lyte Kaufman" and "Barry Neil Kaufman", Based on the book Son-Rise by "Barry Neil Kaufman" |
| 1980 | Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II | Written by | |
| 1981 | Broken Promise | Written By | Television film |
| 1982 | Shocktrauma | Screenplay by | Television film, Based on the book "Shocktrama" by "Jon Franklin" and "Alan Doelp" |
| 1983 | Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story | Screenplay by | Television film, Co-wrote screenplay with "I. C. Rapoport" |
Television
| Year | TV Series | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958–1961 | Sea Hunt | Writer | 14 Episodes |
| 1959 | State Trooper | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Tombstone Territory | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| The Man and the Challenge | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 77 Sunset Strip | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1959–1960 | The Millionaire | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| 1960 | Johnny Midnight | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| The Chevy Mystery Show | Writer | 3 Episodes | |
| The Brothers Brannagan | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1961–1962 | Everglades! | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| 1962 | Ripcord | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1962–1963 | Empire | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1964 | The Littlest Hobo | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Burke's Law | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1964–1965 | The Rogues | Writer | 12 Episodes |
| 1965–1966 | Gidget | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| 1965–1968 | The Wild Wild West | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1966 | Daktari | Writer | 1 Episode |
| The Wackiest Ship in the Army | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1966–1967 | Batman | Writer | 5 Episodes |
| Star Trek: The Original Series | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1966–1968 | Iron Horse | Writer, Creator, Producer, Associate Producer | |
| I Spy | Writer | 7 Episodes | |
| 1967 | Cimarron Strip | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1967–1968 | Ironside | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1968–1969 | The Mod Squad | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| It Takes a Thief | Writer | 5 Episodes | |
| 1968–1973 | Mannix | Writer | 12 Episodes |
| 1969 | The Outcasts | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1969–1970 | The New People | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| Bracken's World | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1970 | The Bold Ones: The Lawyers | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1970–1971 | The Immortal | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| The Young Lawyers | Writer | 3 Episodes | |
| Dan August | Writer | 3 Episodes | |
| 1970–1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Cade's County | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| Longstreet | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| Bearcats! | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1971–1973 | Room 222 | Writer | 4 Episodes |
| 1971–1975 | Medical Center | Writer | 9 Episodes |
| 1972–1973 | Mission Impossible | Writer, Story Editor | 6 Episodes |
| 1972 | Banacek | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1972–1976 | Cannon | Writer, Executive Story Consultant | 10 Episodes |
| 1973–1974 | The Magician | Executive Story Consultant, Story editor | 10 Episodes |
| Star Trek: The Animated Series | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1974 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1974–1975 | Movin' On | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1974–1976 | Harry O | Writer | 6 Episodes |
| 1975 | Caribe | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Barnaby Jones | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1975–1976 | Bronk | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1975–1978 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Writer | 2 Episodes |
| 1976 | McNaughton's Daughter | Writer | 1 Episode |
| The Bionic Woman | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1976–1977 | Most Wanted | Writer | 3 Episodes |
| Switch | Writer, Story Editor | 3 Episodes | |
| 1977 | Wonder Woman | Writer | 5 Episodes |
| Man from Atlantis | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1978 | Charlie's Angels | Writer | 1 Episode |
| The Paper Chase | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1979 | The Amazing Spider-Man | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Supertrain | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| Time Express | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| California Fever | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| The Dukes of Hazzard | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| A Man Called Sloane | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1980 | CHiPs | Writer | 1 Episode |
| The Love Boat | Writer | 2 Episodes | |
| 1981 | Vega$ | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Nero Wolfe | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1983 | For Love and Honor | Writer | 1 Episode |
| Lottery! | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| Dynasty | Writer | 1 Episode | |
| 1983–1984 | Hart to Hart | Writer, Story Editor | 5 Episodes |
| 1984–1985 | The New Mike Hammer | Writer, Producer, Executive Story Editor, Executive Story Consultant | 3 Episodes |
| 1985 | Cover Up | Writer | 1 Episode |
| 1985–1990 | MacGyver | Writer, Executive Story Consultant, Producer, Co-Producer | |
| 1989 | Mission Impossible | Writer | 1 Episode |
References
- Badasie, Charlene (2023-11-14). "Stephen Kandel, Writer On Star Trek & Batman, Dead At 96". GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- ^ Online Archive of California
- "Harry Mudd Creator, Stephen Kandel, Is Dead at 96". www.dailystartreknews.com. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- "Stephen Kandel". Legacy. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- Barnes, Mike (2023-11-13). "Stephen Kandel, Writer on 'Star Trek,' 'Batman,' 'Mannix' and 'MacGyver,' Dies at 96". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
- Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers: 20 Interviews