Don Brinkley
Introduction '''Donald Alan Brinkley''' (March 9, 1921 – July 14, 2012) was an American television writer, director and producer. He wrote for countless television shows in a career that spanned over 55 years, and wrote and produced the shows ''Medical Center'' and ''Trapper John M.D''. He also wrote a play and a novel, "A Lively Form of Death". Brinkley was honored by the Museum of Broadcasting both in Los Angeles and New York City for his career.
Career After World War II Brinkley worked in Chicago as a staff writer at WGN Radio and as a Chief Writer at CBS Radio.In 1950 he moved to Southern California where he began an illustrious career as a television scenarist, writing over 400 teleplays for such shows as ''The Untouchables'', ''The Fugitive'', ''Have Gun, Will Travel'', ''Kraft Suspense Theatre'', ''The F.B.I. '', ''The Virginian'', ''Ben Casey'', ''Bat Masterson'', ''The Man From U.N.C.L.E. '', ''Rawhide'', ''Ironside'', ''The Name of the Game'' and many others.After serving as producer on the ''Executive Suite'' series, Brinkley wrote and produced a number of television pilots, one of which was ''Trapper John, M.D.''. The series ran for seven years on CBS, accumulating high ratings and numerous awards for its unique explorations of such controversial issues as gay rights, women's rights, euthanasia, nuclear disarmament, the right to die, and animal research. As one of the first series on prime time to deal with the AIDS problem, ''Trapper John, M.D.'' was awarded a citation of excellence by the city of Los Angeles. With Brinkley as executive producer, the show was also lauded for employing female writers and directors and for hiring disabled actors.Don and Frank Glicksman, his co-creator and partner on ''Trapper John, M.D.'' also teamed up for the highly successful series, ''Medical Center'', which Brinkley produced. Over the series' seven-year span, he also wrote 45 original episodes. One of them was directly responsible for strengthening the California laws regarding discrimination against cancer patients. Because of its social and political impact, that particular episode was cited by the California Legislature and awarded a certificate of merit by the American Cancer Society. Another of Brinkley's ''Medical Center'' scripts was chosen "Best Dramatic Television Show" at the Monte Carlo Film Festival.In 1996 he published a thriller novel called "A Lively Form of Death". In 1998 he wrote "Prisoner of Justice (The Trials of Doctor Mudd)", a drama in two acts.In July 1988 the Museum of Broadcasting in New York set aside two nights to honor Don Brinkley with a retrospective of his career in television. In his speech to the museum's audience, Don stated that after almost fifty years as a writer/producer, "I've already become what I'm going to be".
Early life Don Brinkley knew what he was going to be when he was in his teens, growing up in New York City. While still in High School and in his collegiate years at Hofstra University, he began writing and selling radio scripts to the major networks. During World War II he served as a medic in the US Army.
Family Don married Marjorie M. Bowling and legally adopted her children, Christie and Gregory. They refer to him as their "father" and not "step-father." The day after Don died, Marjorie had a stroke and heart attack, dying only seven weeks later on September 9.Christie said her mother died of a broken heart after fifty-five years of a happy marriage.
Filmography ===Films=== Year  Film  Credit  Notes1959''Beach Patrol''Writer1982''Family In Blue''Writer1988''Divided We Stand''Writer, Producer===Television=== Year  TV Series  Credit  Notes1951''Dick Tracy''Writer1 Episode1952''The Cisco Kid''Writer1 Episode1953''The Web''Writer1 Episode''I Led 3 Lives''Writer1 Episode1955-57''Highway Patrol''Writer, Director1956-57''West Point''Writer11 Episodes1957''Dr. Christian''Writer1 Episode''Panic! ''Writer1 Episode''The Web''Writer3 Episodes1957-58''Have Gun – Will Travel''Writer3 Episodes''Boots And Saddles''Writer2 Episodes1958''Target''Writer1 Episode''Perry Mason''Writer1 Episode''Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse''Writer1 Episode1958-60''Wanted: Dead or Alive''Writer6 Episodes''Tombstone Territory''Writer2 Episodes1958-61''Bat Masterson''Writer14 Episodes1959''The Rough Riders''Writer1 Episode''Trackdown''Writer2 Episodes''The Man and The Challenge''Writer1 Episode''Bold Venture''Writer1 Episode1959-60''Richard Diamond, Private Detective''Writer3 Episodes1960''Stagecoach West''Writer1 Episode''This Man Dawson''Writer1 Episode1960-61''Michael Shayne''Writer6 Episodes1961''Target: The Corruptors! ''Writer1 Episode''King of Diamonds''Writer1 Episode1962''The Detectives''Writer1 Episode''The New Breed''Writer2 Episodes1962-63''Ben Casey''Writer3 Episodes1963''I'm Dickens, He's Fenster''Associate Producer1 Episode''The Untouchables''Writer1 Episode''Redigo''Writer1 Episode''Ripcord''Writer1 Episode1963-64''Arrest and Trial''Writer3 Episodes1964''Rawhide''Writer1 Episode''Voyage to the Bottom Of the Sea''Writer2 Episodes1965''Kraft Suspense Theatre''Writer3 Episodes''Convoy''Writer1 Episode1965-66''The Fugitive''Writer5 Episodes''The Virginian''Writer2 Episodes1965-71''The F.B.I. ''Writer11 Episodes1966''Tarzan''Writer, Co-Producer6 Episodes1967''The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ''Writer1 Episode''The Rat Patrol''Writer2 Episodes''Cowboy in Africa''Writer1 Episode1967-68''Ironside''Writer2 Episodes''The Invaders''Writer4 Episodes''The Felony Squad''Writer5 Episodes1968-69''Lancer''Writer2 Episodes1969''The Outcasts''Writer1 Episode''Strange Report''Writer2 Episodes1969-76''Medical Center''Writer, Producer, Story ConsultantMultiple Episodes1970''Mannix''Writer2 Episodes''The Name of the Game''Writer1 Episode1970-71''The Interns''Writer2 Episodes1976''Executive Suite''Writer, Producer4 Episodes1979-86''Trapper John, M.D. ''Writer, Producer, Executive ProducerMultiple Episodes
References
External links * * *  Donald Brinkley collection, 1946-1987, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.