Celebrity Biographies
Glen A Larson
” The fantastic car is a fast-paced adventure of a man who does not exist, in a world full of dangers.” Thus began one of the greatest television hits of the 80s, created by Glen A. Larson, one of the most important producers of this medium in that decade. The person in charge of other titles such as “Magnum” and “Galáctica” died on November 14, 2014 at the age of 77 as a result of stomach cancer.
Born on January 3, 1937, Glen Albert Larson began his journey in show business as a singer, as part of the group The Four Preps. Later, he began recycling himself as a screenwriter for the small screen, writing an episode of the series The Fugitive .
After signing an agreement with Universal Studios, he began to develop series, which basically shot elements of the greatest movie hits. His first big hit was Alias Smith and Jones , a western about two outlaws, indebted to Two Men and One Fate . When Star Wars swept the big screen , Galactica was invented : Battlestar , also a space adventure, whose subsequent remake, Battlestar Galactica , is considered one of the great science fiction series of all time. After the great success of the film Los caraduras , with Burt Reynolds as a trucker chased by irascible sheriffs, he launched Billy Joe and his monkey, which gave rise to a fun spin-off, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo , which humorously recounted the adventures of the incompetent and corrupt Orly County Sheriff and his useless assistants.
But the title Larson will be best remembered for is Fantastic Car , for which David Hasselhoff became a celebrity, playing Michael Knight, an advocate for the poor and homeless who drives a smart car called KITT.
Glen A. Larson was very clear about what kind of product he wanted to make, and that Michael Knight’s adventures were not going to be recognized by critics, but they would keep viewers glued to the screen. “My shows were entertaining, and they had a pretty decent dose of humor,” the producer recalled. “We weren’t going to have a shelf full of Emmys, even though we did have a ton of nominations. We were doing shows to reach the mainstream. I’d like to think we brought a lot of entertainment home.”
Another of his milestones was Magnum , with Tom Selleck as a private investigator from Hawaii, always dressed in flowered shirts and Bermuda shorts. The contract with which he had tied the actor prevented him from becoming Indiana Jones, despite the fact that he was the initial choice of Steven Spielberg .
Divorced from Carol Jean Gourley, he was later joined by Janet Curtis-Larson , actress who played the waitress Margaret Ellen, in his Billy Joe and Sheriff Lobo series, and Jeannie Marie Pledger. He leaves nine children.