Edward DeBlasio

Edward DeBlasio, a prolific television writer-producer died on February 1st in Studio City, California. Best known for his work on “Dynasty” and “Police Woman” he enjoyed a long, successful career. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Amerigo and Pasqualina DeBlasio and grew up there with his younger brother Peter. He graduated from the High School of Music and Art at the age of 16. He attended two years at Columbia College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 18. After completing his service he went back to Columbia College and graduated in 1948. He then received his Master’s degree at Columbia School of Journalism where he served as president of his class of 1950.

His first job was as a copy boy at the Hartford Courant. When he had saved enough money from from his meager earnings he traveled to Italy in search of an interview with Lucky Luciano. He never scored the interview but wrote a few articles and sold them to Inside Detective magazine. He eventually became its editor. Later he worked for Modern Screen and Photoplay magazines where he interviewed many of the top Hollywood actors including Joan Crawford, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lewis, Sophia Loren, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Rock Hudson.

His first teleplay for “East Side/West Side” became the premiere episode of the George C. Scott series. Although the series was not successful, mainly due to the fact that the southern affiliates refused to air the show, it launched his career. He wrote for “The Defenders”, “Marcus Welby”, “Ironside” and scores of other shows including the British series “Strange Report” starring Sir Anthony Quayle. He, his wife and daughters moved to Los Angeles in 1971.

After freelancing for several years he became executive script consultant of “Police Woman” where he wrote several episodes. He worked as writer-producer of “Dynasty” for its first eight years and wrote 94 episodes. Edward DeBlasio is credited with many television movies. He also wrote a paperback book, “All About The Beatles”.

He is survived by Irene, his wife of 57 years, their daughter Gioia Cristina and brother Peter DeBlasio of New York as well as two grandchildren --Chloe Moore and Collin Moore. He is also survived by nieces Caralee and Alessandra. He was predeceased by daughter Michelle Maria of cancer in 2012.

A memorial service will be held in June in his native New York

Filmography

1994 Janek: The Silent Betrayal (TV Movie) (teleplay)

1991 Dynasty: The Reunion (TV Movie) (written by)

In the Heat of the Night (TV Series) (teleplay - 2 episodes, 1989 - 1990) (written by - 2 episodes, 1989) (story - 1 episode, 1990)
- Home Is Where the Heart Is (1990) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- Bubba’s Baby (1990) ... (story - as Edward De Blasio)

- My Name Is Hank (1989) ... (written by)

- Murder Most Ancient (1989) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- Fairest of Them All (1989) ... (written by)

Dynasty (TV Series) (teleplay - 83 episodes, 1981 - 1988) (written by - 11 episodes, 1981 - 1987)
- Colorado Roulette (1988) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- Adam’s Son (1988) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- Images (1988) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- The Interview (1988) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

- The Testing (1987) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

1980 The Boy Who Drank Too Much (TV Movie) (teleplay)

1979 Paris (TV Series) (writer - 2 episodes)
- Friends and Enemies (1979) ... (writer)

- Pawn (1979) ... (writer)

Police Woman (TV Series) (writer - 6 episodes, 1975 - 1978) (teleplay - 5 episodes, 1974 - 1977) (written by - 4 episodes, 1974 - 1976) (story - 1 episode, 1976)
- Sons (1978) ... (writer - as Edward De Blasio)

- Blind Terror (1978) ... (writer - as Edward De Blasio)

- Do You Still Beat Your Wife? (1977) ... (writer - as Edward De Blasio)

- Silky Chamberlain (1977) ... (writer - as Edward De Blasio)

- The Killer Cowboys (1977) ... (teleplay - as Edward De Blasio)

Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) (writer - 2 episodes, 1970 - 1974) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1972) (written by - 1 episode, 1971)
- Last Flight to Babylon (1974) ... (writer)

- We’ll Walk Out of Here Together (1972) ... (teleplay)

- Tender Comrade (1971) ... (written by)

- The Girl from Rainbow Beach (1970) ... (writer)

1974 The Man from Independence -- TV Movie

1972-1974 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (TV Series) (written by - 4 episodes)
- House of Friends (1974) ... (written by)

- The Prowler (1973) ... (written by)

- The Pool House (1973) ... (written by)

- Words of Summer (1972) ... (written by)

1973 The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- A Wrongful Death (1973) ... (written by - as Edward De Blasio)

1973 Circle of Fear (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- The Phantom of Herald Square (1973) ... (story - as Ed DeBlasio)

1971-1972 Ironside (TV Series) (written by - 3 episodes)
- Riddle Me Death (1972) ... (written by - as Edward De Blasio)

- His Fiddlers Three (1972) ... (written by - as Edward De Blasio)

- Dear Fran... (1971) ... (written by - as Edward de Blasio)

1972 Medical Center (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Condemned (1972) ... (written by)

The Man and the City (TV Series) (written by - 2 episodes, 1971 - 1972) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1971)
- Diagnosis: Corruption (1972) ... (written by)

- Cross Country Man (1971) ... (written by)

- Running Scared (1971) ... (teleplay)

Sarge (TV Series) (1 episode, 1971) (story - 1 episode, 1971)
- The Silent Target (1971) ... (story - as Edward De Blasio)

- Ring Out, Ring It (1971) ... (as Edward De Blasio)

1971 Bonanza (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- The Silent Killer (1971) ... (story)

The Virginian (TV Series) (story - 2 episodes, 1966 - 1971) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1971)
- The Angus Killer (1971) ... (story) / (teleplay)

- That Saunders Woman (1966) ... (story)

1969 Strange Report (TV Series) (3 episodes)
- Report 8944: Hand

- A Matter of Witchcraft (1969)

- Heart

1969 This Town Will Never Be the Same (TV Movie)

1968 The Legend of Lylah Clare (teleplay with Robert Thom)

1968 Mission: Impossible (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- The Phoenix (1968) ... (story)

1967-1968 N.Y.P.D. (TV Series) (written by - 4 episodes)
- Last Port of Call (1968) ... (written by)

- Wire Finish (1967) ... (written by)

- To Catch a Hero (1967) ... (written by)

- Macho (1967) ... (written by)

1968 Run for Your Life (TV Series) (1 episode)
- The Killing Scene (1968)

1967 Coronet Blue (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Where You from and What You Done? (1967) ... (written by)

Seaway (TV Series) (writer - 3 episodes, 1965 - 1966) (story - 2 episodes, 1966)
- Gunpowder and Paint: Part 2 (1966) ... (story - as Edward de Blasio)

- Gunpowder and Paint: Part 1 (1966) ... (story - as Edward de Blasio)

- Hot Line (1966) ... (writer)

- Port of Call: Paradise (1966) ... (writer)

- Last Voyage (1965) ... (writer)

1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- The Sister and the Savage (1966) ... (writer)

1965 The Doctors and the Nurses (TV Series) (writer - 2 episodes)
- Threshold (1965) ... (writer)

- A Couple of Dozen Tiny Pills (1965) ... (writer)

1964-1965 The Defenders (TV Series) (written by - 4 episodes)
- The Sworn Twelve (1965) ... (written by)

- Whipping Boy (1965) ... (written by)

- Comeback (1964) ... (written by)

- Stowaway (1964) ... (written by)

1964 Mr. Broadway (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
Pay Now, Die Later (1964) ... (written by)

East Side/West Side (TV Series) (1 episode, 1964) (written by - 2 episodes, 1963)
- Don’t Grow Old (1964) ... (as Edward De Blasio)

- Something for the Girls (1963) ... (written by - as Edward de Blasio)

- The Sinner (1963) ... (written by - as Edward de Blasio) Premiere episode of East Side/West Side

1955 Kraft Theater (TV Special)...Flowers for 2-B