Edward J. Lakso

Edward Joseph Lakso (September 20, 1932 – May 23, 2009) was an American screenwriter, producer, and composer, known for his work on series such as Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Charlie's Angels and Combat!. He is sometimes miscredited as Edward J. Lasko.

Edward J. Lakso
Born
Edward Joseph Lakso

(1932-09-20)September 20, 1932
San Francisco, California
DiedMay 23, 2009(2009-05-23) (aged 76)
Beverly Hills, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationScreenwriter, composer, producer
Years active1959–1986
OrganizationWriters Guild of America West, ASCAP
Spouse(s)Ruth Louise Laird (1953–1963; divorced)
Diane H. Haggin (1967–1975; divorced)
Linda Rouse A.K.A. Lee Travis Lakso (1985 to 2009; his death)

Life and career

Lakso graduated from UCLA with a degree in music and taught briefly in the Los Angeles school district.[1] While attending UCLA, he wrote the screenplay for "Operation Dames", a Korean War drama about a USO troop trapped behind enemy lines shot in Topanga Canyon, California.[1]

While serving in the United States Air Force he wrote a musical with Tommy Oliver (they would later work again on Watergate: the Musical).[1]

Lakso co-wrote and scored The Immoral Mr. Teas, an early film by Russ Meyer, and scripted several other films, including The Broken Land the screen debut for Jack Nicholson, (1962), Gentle Giant (1967), and the blaxploitation film Brother on the Run (1973), which he co-directed with Herbert Stock.[1][2]

Lakso is best known for his television work, writing "Combat!", Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Charlie's Angels, The Rockford Files, Name of the Game, Starsky & Hutch, Airwolf, The Fall Guy, and Hawaii Five-O.[1][3] He also composed music for Charlie's Angels and Dr. Kildare. He was also the line producer on the Charlie's Angels episodic television show, following Barney Rosensweig's brief tenure in that job.[4]

Lakso also wrote, produced and directed several musicals. In 1967, he spent a summer in West Yellowstone, writing and producing a melodrama at the Golden Garter Theatre which.[4] Later, "Tom Piper", for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics was produced at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, and starred Harve Presnell, "Watergate, the Musical" written and produced with Tommy Oliver at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta Georgia which starred Gene Barry; and "Vincent, the Musical" staged at the Las Palmas theater in Hollywood with his wife, Lee Travis, who co-produced and designed the costumes.

Family

Lakso divorced his first wife, Ruth Louise (Laird) Lakso, in 1961. Together they had 2 children, both girls. In 1967, Ed married Diane Haggin, a model and actor. The marriage lasted until 1974. In 1985, Lakso married writer-actress-producer Lee Travis.[1]

Lakso died from complications of Parkinson's disease on May 23, 2009 at home in Beverly Hills.[1]

References
  1. "Writer Edward J. Lakso dies", Variety/Associated Press, June 1, 2009, retrieved June 30, 2012
  2. Walker, David; Rausch, Andrew J; Watson, Chris (2009) Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0810867062, p. 198
  3. Handley, Rich (2009) Timeline of the Planet of the Apes, Hasslein Books, ISBN 978-0615253923
  4. personal knowledge
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