homage to stephen j. cannell

A HOMAGE TO STEPHEN J. CANNELL

By

Nick Mancuso

I first met Stephen J. Cannell in Burbank in 1976. I was a young actor, fresh out of the underground and classical theatre in Toronto Canada and had been optioned by ABC to act in a pilot.I knew nothing of the world of Hollywood. I didn’t even know what a pilot was. And he was the first Hollywood screenwriter I ever met.

It was a vital and hopeful time and Stephen was cordial and gentle and brimming with energy and creativity. And he welcomed my contributions, small as they were, without judgment. He treated me as an equal. And he accepted me and made me feel like a welcome guest, like family.

The A.B.C, network had flown me down to Los Angeles from Toronto Canada and had me introduced to Stephen and Aaron Spelling and several other producers to perform in a pilot project.

When my agent at the time, asked me who I had liked I immediately responded “I like Steve”.

And I did. I liked him then and I liked him even more as I got to know him over the years. After we shot the pilot we stayed in touch and years later he offered me a series- “Stingray”. And though Stingray was short lived we stayed in touch over the years having lunch at one of his eateries “The Bistro” in Burbank, every now and then.

I considered him to be one of my dearest friends; always open, always affable- telling me what he was writing and creating. Always enthused about the creative act and interested and curious. Never cynicisms or fatigue. And he was never bored or distant. In spite of living in two worlds, one filled with the many lives of his characters and creation- Stephen lived in the here and now and he listened- and cared. How rare! What a loss!

And his sudden and unfair passing at such a young age has left a giant crater and has been a shock and terrible blow not only to his family and friends, but to the entire world. An earthquake of loss and he will be missed –forever and a day.

He was and remains a true legend. And Hollywood and world of entertainment has lost one of the greats.

He made it all worthwhile.

He inspired and led and nourished his fellow artists and he was kind and humble, albeit a tough no nonsense man of action and thought. And so many in the business owe so much to him and to the many doors he opened. Hollywood has lost one of its founding fathers.

A creative prince has passed away.

He saw the truth of the art and as Stanislavski, the great Russian man of the theatre wrote, he “loved the art in himself and not the man in the art.”

He was one of the hardest creative workers I ever knew and he left a legacy unmatched by anyone in the last 40 years, in television and in publishing.

Stephen could write and tell a story, almost better than anyone. He made it effortless for the actor. He knew how to spin a tale for television that resonated with audiences around the world. He made it easy for us, a modern American populist Shakespeare.

He made us laugh and cry and be curious and amused, be frightened and relieved and grateful for the world we live in and underneath all the gauzes and filters of character and plot of action and music there was a strong pounding pulse, the true delightful heartbeat of the creative soul, a pulse that told us that in the end, the good guys always win and the sun will always shine- in spite of the darkest nights.

And it’s true!

Stephen’s sun will never set into darkness and despair and the ship of artistry that he launched into the great ocean of unknowing will never sink. His words and images have entered the fabric of America and of the world. And they will remain.

We can all remember the logo of Stephen typing furiously at his typewriter with two fingers, and launching the finished paper into the air, like a sudden bird in flight, as it morphed and became the symbol of his company.

He made us all feel free like that paper as he launched us all into space, and imagination, air, light, truth and beauty and yes justice. He told us the stories we all wanted to hear and believe in. And he told us that in spite of the “bad guys” and the obstacles of life, we, like the hero’s he invented, of which I had the honor of playing several-would in the end arrive to a safe and peaceful port.

Stephen has endured the final storms. His journey on this earth is over. And has come to his arrival, the point of destination from which we all embark and to which we shall all return. The final harbor.

And when we do return, as well we must, perhaps, he will be there compass in hand, awaiting our arrival, maps outstretched, waiting to take us on a new journey to tell us a new fantastic story, filled with thrills and action and, yes, new life.

I see him again as he was in at the old Burbank Studios, young and vital and electric with creative spark-fire, driving a car with a license plate that read “what if…” and I am re-inspired to continue to try to emulate his passion for the soul of art, which he manifested so perfectly, so selflessly. Stephen was never older.

Nor did he die old. He passed onwards as a solar warrior, lance and pen in hand, ready like the hero’s of his tales, to travel to new continents, explorers of the deep, energetic fighters of the darkness’s of this world.

And the flights of angels that have taken him to his rest will be surprised to discover that in heaven there too waiting, is an audience hungering for his stories, his fables, his artistry.

Waiting to tune in and see “what if” and “what next…”

Stephen I shall never forget you! Thanks for everything and God bless you and your family and friends.

Nick Mancuso
Actor

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