From the AP newsblip:
NEW YORK — Stephen J. Cannell, the prolific writer-producer of dozens of TV series that included “The Rockford Files” and “The A-Team,” has died at age 69. Cannell passed away at his home in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday night from complications associated with melanoma, his publicist said on Friday.
What a career he had. 
He’s tossed his last piece of paper.
RIP
He made several cameo appearances recently on Castle as himself. Sad…
I liked his appearances on Castle. Very sad.
RIP He will be missed!
Damn, he brought me many hours of entertainment (and brought Mike Post fame as the composer of many of his series’ themes). R.I.P., Steven.
What a bummer. In addition to being a prolific writer, he was a really nice guy. Now I’m depressed.
Man, I loved so many of his shows as a kid! Riptide, Greatest American Hero… and so many more.
Damn, that really sucks. He had a very prolific career and I liked a lot of his shows.
And now no more Shane Scully books. I’ll raise a glass tonight to a terrific entertainer. RIP.
He he had nothing but the Rockford Files his reputation would be secure.
(Yeah, that can be taken two ways…)
Was surprised he was ONLY 69.
‘Be careful out there’.
RIP
Wow. I’ll miss him! He provided me with uncountable hours of entertainment, and TV dinner “family time” when I was a kid.
Pssst…Stephen Cannell (The Rockford Files, The A Team, 21 Jump Street, Wiseguy, Hunter, The Greatest American Hero, etc.), not Steven Bochco (Columbo, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Doogie Howser, M.D., Murder One, etc.)
As I said in the Death Pool thread, I’ve been watching the Rockford Files on DVD for the past few weeks, and am truly saddened by Stephen Cannell’s death. He almost certainly provided me with more hours of entertainment than any other person, with the possible exception of Dick “Law & Order” Wolf.
This makes me so sad. I loved so many of his shows and I loved his novels too. I was just wondering the other day about new ones.
This is sad. I just found this out this morning when I read this Sun Times column. I always liked his work and there was something about his writing that really just appealed to people – as you can see by the love for shows like the Rockford Files that you see on these boards.
I used to listen to him on WLS in the afternoon on Roe and Garry and later Roe without Garry and he was just great to listen to. He was always engaging and told very entertaining stories while on the air.
I don’t think there could be another writer like him, he’ll definitely be missed.