'Over Perform; Over Achieve'

 

“I believe in the concept of ‘over-performing.’  I believe anyone can achieve their goals in life if they over-perform, and that means you have to work ten times harder than anybody you see.” – Stephen J. Cannell

 

Born in Los Angeles on Feb. 5, 1941 Cannell was one of television’s most successful writers and producers who also became one of the country’s best mystery writers before his death in 2010.  

 

Because he was dyslexic, Cannell learned to do “great dictation,” which led to his scripting more than 450 shows and producing 1,500 separate episodes of the nearly 40 television series he created.  Among his biggest successes were The Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street and The Commish.

 

He began writing mystery novels in 1996 with the best-selling The Plan.  And in 2000, he introduced the character Shane Scully, a streetwise LAPD detective who followed his instincts and played by his own rules to catch criminals.  By the time of his death, Cannell had featured Scully in 10 best-selling novels. 

 

Also an occasional actor, Cannell participated in several “art imitating life” segments on the show Castle, appearing as himself in poker games with the fictional Richard Castle and other real life mystery writers James Patterson and Michael Connelly.  Once, Castle’s detective partner Kate Beckett joined them and “won” their poker showdown, much to the writers’ dismay.

 

Cannell said having a support system of family or fellow writers is a huge asset for anyone wanting to be a writer.  “My parents were always encouraging and told me they were behind me, whether or not I made it.  And my wife (Marcia, his high school sweetheart who was married to him for 46 years) was always there for me –  through successes and failures.”  Although the latter were few and far between.