Kevin Arkadie, the American television producer best known for co-creating the police drama «New York Undercover» with Dick Wolf, has died at the age of 68.
Born on December 10, 1957, in Maryland, Arkadie earned a BFA in acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. He began as a staff writer on NBC’s drama «I’ll Fly Away.»
In 1994, he teamed up with Dick Wolf to launch «New York Undercover,» starring Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo. The show made history as the first US cop drama to feature two actors of color in lead roles and ran on Fox for four seasons until 1999.
Beyond this series, Arkadie produced acclaimed dramas such as «Chicago Hope,» «NYPD Blue,» and «The Shield.» He also wrote for the NBC miniseries «The Temptations» and led BET’s «Sacrifice» as showrunner for two seasons. He earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Drama Series in 1996 for «Chicago Hope» and in 1998 for «NYPD Blue.»
Legacy and Tributes
More recently, Arkadie collaborated with Tony Award winner Lamar Richardson and Zaire Julion-Richardson’s Ivy Lion Productions on the TV project «Freeman Ranch.» His other credits include «Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,» «Law & Order,» «High Incident,» «Rescue 77,» «Ambitions,» and «The Quad.»
In July, he revealed on Instagram that he was facing kidney failure. Following his death on December 22, colleagues and collaborators paid tribute.
Dick Wolf said Arkadie «brought the voice of the next generation to cop shows and advanced diversity on network television. He will be greatly missed.»
Wolf Studios added that beyond his creative talent, Arkadie was «a generous and trusted collaborator whose work left a lasting mark on television.» Lamar Richardson described him as «a consummate professional and insightful researcher,» while Arkadie’s cousin, producer L True Green, called him «one of America’s greatest storytellers.»
He is survived by his wife and family.
Kursiv also reports that Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise «Call of Duty,» died after a single-car accident near Los Angeles.
