Gordon T. Dawson, a costume designer turned screenwriter, has worked with Sam Peckinpah on several films and written hit TV shows The Rockford Files And Walker, Texas Ranger Among other films and series, he died of lung disease in West Hills, California on March 6, according to his family. He turned 84.
Dawson worked as a fireman and transitioned to working with costumes when Peckinpah tapped him to age costumes for his 1965 film. Major Dundee. In 1969 he worked again with the director as a dressing room attendant The wild gangthen as co-producer (and uncredited writer) in the 1970s The Ballad of Cable Hogue and years 1972 The escapeand co-wrote with Peckinpah in the 1974s Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia.
He also has a small role as a Pinkerton agent The wild gang and later appeared in Peckinpah’s 1973 western Unaccounted for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kidwith James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson and Bob Dylan.
By this time, Gordon had begun writing full-time for television, with early credits gold mine, Black Sheep Squadron, Lou Grant and nine episodes of Rockford Files with James Garner. He would later regroup with Garner and the Brett Maverick TV series reviving Garner’s card-playing brainchild. Dawson wrote all 18 episodes of his only season on NBC in 1981-82.
His next big project was writing and later producing Walker, Texas Ranger the Chuck Norris-led neo-western that bowed to CBS in April 1993. Dawson wrote over 30 episodes beginning in Season 2 and was named Producer in Season 4, later rising to Supervising Producer, Co-EP and Executive Producer.
The action series was a slow bowler, missing the year-end primetime for the first two seasons. But it would finish at No. 18 in its third full season in 1995-96, becoming a television star of martial arts legend Norris. The series aired nearly 200 episodes in the eight seasons that ended in 2001. The series is started again walker with Jared Padalecki will air on the CW.
Dawson’s other television writing includes episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Silk Stalkings, Diagnosis: Murder, Sons of Thunder And defectoramongst other things.
Dawson was nominated for a WGA Award for the 2000 TNT Western film purgatory.
Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
