William Link

Show Creator/ Writer/ Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his four-and-a-half-hour Archive interview, William Link speaks about his long collaboration with partner Richard Levinson on such projects as television movies My Sweet Charlie and That Certain Summer. He discusses further collaborations with Levinson on the TV series Columbo and Murder, She Wrote. He also speaks about writing for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Fugitive. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on August 23, 2002 in Beverly Hills, CA .

"The mysteries were intellectual exercises full of twists and surprises. We had fun doing them -- as much as you can have fun under very tight television schedules and budgets and trying to get the best work out of your actors."

Highlights
William Link on the creation of Murder, She Wrote and originally considering Jean Stapleton for the lead role
07:01
William Link on the genesis, writing, production, format, cast and other details about his best-known series, Columbo
15:47
William Link on the death of his writing/producing partner Richard Levinson
05:38
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) on the signature elements of the series
08:05
Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the genesis and production of Mannix
07:20
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early years and education; on meeting his future collaborator Richard Levinson on his first day of junior high

Chapter 2
On his education; on his first television work at Four Star

Chapter 3
On working at Four Star; on what was expected of freelance writers; on writing for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Fugitive
On moving to Universal Studios; on the executives there
On the creation and production of Mannix
On the influence of mystery novels on the creation of Columbo

Chapter 4
On the creation (with Richard Levinson), writing, production, fand ormat of his best-known series, Columbo
On casting Peter Falk as Lt. Columbo; on the Columbo TV movies

Chapter 5
On the signature elements of Columbo; on some of its directors (including a young Steven Spielberg)
On the signature elements of Columbo; on his favorite episodes

Chapter 6
On the legacy of Columbo
On his writing style
On some of his television movies

Chapter 7
On My Sweet Charlie
On the pilot of McCloud; on That Certain Summer
On The Execution of Private Slovik; on The Gun; on The Storyteller; on Terrorist on Trial

Chapter 8
On the death of his writing/producing partner Richard Levinson
On mystery series; on Murder She Wrote; on The Cosby Mysteries; on then-current projects; on his proudest achievement and biggest regrets

Chapter 9
On being inducted into the Academy Hall of Fame; advice and legacy
Shows

Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The

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William Link on writing for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
03:30

Columbo

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Co=creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the influence of mystery novels on the creation of Columbo
03:05
William Link on the genesis, writing, production, format, cast and other details about his best-known series, Columbo
15:47
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on series star Peter Falk.
09:11
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on Lt. Columbo's first name.
00:45
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the Columbo TV movies.
03:27
Columbo co-creator on the series schedule; on some of its directors
14:20
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) on the signature elements of the series
08:05
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) on his favorite episodes
06:43
Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the legacy of Columbo
06:53

Cosby Mysteries, The

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William Link on The Cosby Mysteries
04:33

Execution of Private Slovik, The

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William Link on writing and producing The Execution of Private Slovik
06:08

Fugitive, The

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William Link on being a freelance writer on The Fugitive
02:38

Gun, The

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William Link on the controversial TV movie, The Gun
02:33

Mannix

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Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the genesis and production of Mannix
07:20

McCloud

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William Link on the pilot of McCloud
01:41

Murder, She Wrote

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William Link on the creation of Murder, She Wrote and originally considering Jean Stapleton for the lead role
07:01

My Sweet Charlie

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Writer William Link on My Sweet Charlie
05:56

Storyteller, The

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William Link on the anti-violence TV movie, The Storyteller
00:51

Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami

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William Link on Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami
03:27

That Certain Summer

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55
Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55

Characters & Catchphrases

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On Lt. Columbo's trademark raincoat, car and cigars
03:26

LGBTQ

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55
Professions

Writers

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William Link on his writing style 
18:22
Genres

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

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Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the genesis and production of Mannix
07:20
Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the legacy of Columbo
06:53

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55
People

Mike Connors

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Co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on the genesis and production of Mannix
07:20

Bill Cosby

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William Link on The Cosby Mysteries
04:33

Barry Diller

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55

Peter Falk

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Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) William Link on Peter Falk.
09:11
William Link on how Peter Falk worked with directors (including a young Steven Spielberg) on Columbo
04:25
Columbo co-creator (with Richard Levinson) on the signature elements of the series
08:05

Hal Holbrook

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William Link on writing and producing That Certain Summer
07:55

Lamont Johnson

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William Link on writing and producing The Execution of Private Slovik
06:08

Jennings Lang

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William Link on moving to Universal Studios; on the executives there
06:11

Angela Lansbury

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William Link on the creation of Murder, She Wrote and originally considering Jean Stapleton for the lead role
07:01

Richard Levinson

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William Link on moving to Universal Studios; on the executives there
06:11
William Link on Terrorist on Trial
03:27
William Link on the death of his writing/producing partner Richard Levinson
05:38

Norman Lloyd

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William Link on writing for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
03:30

Martin Sheen

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William Link on writing and producing The Execution of Private Slovik
06:08

Frank Sinatra

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William Link on writing and producing The Execution of Private Slovik
06:08

Aaron Spelling

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Writer William Link on Aaron Spelling
02:08

Steven Spielberg

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William Link on how Peter Falk worked with directors (including a young Steven Spielberg) on Columbo
04:25

Jean Stapleton

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William Link on the creation of Murder, She Wrote and originally considering Jean Stapleton for the lead role
07:01

Lew Wasserman

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William Link on moving to Universal Studios; on the executives there
06:11

All Interviews

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