Murder, She Wrote & Columbo co-creator William Link has died

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Over the course of this horrendous year, many of us have found comfort in watching iconic TV shows such as Columbo and Murder, She Wrote, but there's sad news to report today as it's been announced that William Link, the co-creator of those very shows, has died of congestive heart failure at the age of 87.

Together with his longtime writing and producing partner Richard Levinson, William Link co-created shows such as Columbo, Murder, She Wrote, Mannix, Ellery Queen, and more. Link also wrote episodes of Johnny Ringo, The Chevy Mystery Show, Michael Shayne, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Dr. Kildare, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Burke's Law, The Fugitive, Honey West, and much more. Steven Spielberg, who directed the first episode of Columbo, released a statement paying tribute to William Link and the profound impact Link had on his career.

Bill’s truly good nature always inspired me to do good work for a man who, along with Dick Levinson, was a huge part of what became my own personal film school on the Universal lot. Bill was one of my favorite and most patient teachers and, more than anything, I learned so much from him about the true anatomy of a plot. I caught a huge break when Bill and Dick trusted a young, inexperienced director to do the first episode of ‘Columbo.’ That job helped convince the studio to let me do ‘Duel,’ and with all that followed I owe Bill so very, very much. My thoughts are with Margery and his entire family.

William Link received many awards over the course of his long career, most shared with Richard Levinson, including two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, The George Foster Peabody Award, four Edgar Allan Poe Awards, and so much more. Link and Levinson were also inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. You will be missed, Mr. Link, but your contributions to television will live on forever.