Writer/Producer George Schenck Passes On

George Schenck, who wrote for such shows as The Wild Wild West and Bonanza, created the show Crazy Like a Fox, and served as an executive producer on NCIS, died on August 3 2024 at the age of 82. He collaborated with  Frank Cardea for forty years.

George Schenck was born on February 12 1942 in New York City. His father, Aubrey Schenck was a producer at Fox and Eagle-Lion Films and produced such films as Shock (1946), T-Men (1947) and Up Periscope (1959).  He graduated with a degree in screenwriting from USC and then received a graduated degree from the film school. He served in the United States Navy.

His first writing credit was for the second episode of The Wild Wild West, "The Night of the Deadly Bed." In the Sixties he wrote episodes of Branded, Hondo, and Bonanza. He wrote the movies Don't Worry, We'll Think of a Title (1966), Kill a Dragon (1967), Banquero (1970), and More Dead Than Alive (1969).

In the Seventies he wrote the screenplay for the movies Superbeast (1972) and Futurewold (1976). He wrote the TV movies The Phantom of Hollywood and Deathmoon. He wrote episodes of the shows The Wide World of Mystery and Barnaby Jones.

In the Eighties George Schenck and Frank Cardea created the short-lived series Bring 'Em Back Alive (based on the 1932 film and the radio show of the same name, both based on the real-life career of Frank Buck), as well as the hit Crazy Like a Fox. He wrote episodes of Fantasy Island and Small & Frye. In the Nineties George Schenck and Frank Cardea were among the creators of the TV drama Pros and Cons.

In the Nineties George Schenck and Frank Carda created thr show High Sierra Search and Rescue. George Schenck wrote episodes of Pros and Cons, The Great Defender, and Soldier of Fortune, Inc. In the Naughts George Schenck and Frank Careda wrote several episodes of NCIS and later became executive producers on the show. They wrote an episode of Painkiller Jane.

George Schenck served as an executive or consulting producer on the TV shows Bring 'Em Back Alive; Crazy Like a Fox; Pros and Cons; Soldier of Fortune . Inc.; Hack; and NCIS.

George Schenck ws a fine writer, although my favorite works of his came early in his career. The Wild Wild West episode  is one of my favourite episodes of that show, and includes one of the best death traps James West ever faced. "The Luck of Pepper Shannon" was one of the better episodes from late in Bonanza, centring on a reformed outlaw played by Neville Brand. The Barnaby Jones episode "Catch Me If You Can" involved a fellow private eye and friend of Barnaby Jones who is killed by the murderer he had been tracking. Ultimately, George Schenck was responsible for several hours of entertaining television.