Kevin Arkadie, a two-time Emmy-nominated producer and writer known for co-creating New York Undercover with Dick Wolf (Law & Order, FBI: International), has passed away at the age of 68, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Throughout his prolific career, Arkadie left an indelible mark on television, contributing to acclaimed dramas such as NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, and The Shield.
The Hollywood Reporter stated that on Wednesday, Arkadie’s relatives announced his death on social media. He previously explained that he was dealing with kidney failure back in July in a video posted on Instagram.
“This man right here was one of America’s greatest storytellers,” cousin and producer L True Green (Out with the Old, Highway) wrote on Facebook via The Hollywood Reporter. “He has forever changed the landscape of creativity … he is the reason I have remained in the arts as a writer today.”
Arkadie co-created the Fox police drama New York Undercover (1994-1999), a groundbreaking series that made history as the first of its kind to feature Black and Latino leads, portrayed by Malik Yoba (Why Did I Get Married?, Cool Runnings) and Michael DeLorenzo (The Employer, Resurrection Blvd.). His excellence in production earned him Outstanding Drama Series Emmy nominations in 1996 and 1998 for Chicago Hope and NYPD Blue, respectively. He later received a WGA Award in 2006 for his writing on the Noggin series Miracle’s Boys, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Two-time Tony Award winner Lamar Richardson (Death of A Salesman, New York, New York) shared a tribute with The Hollywood Reporter following the death of his collaborator, Arkadie. The two had recently been developing Freeman Ranch, a television drama centered on the family behind the first Black-owned ranch in Texas.
“Kevin was the first showrunner to sign on to one of our TV projects at Ivy Lion, and we spent a lot of time with him developing and pitching together this year,” Richardson said. “He was a consummate professional, true collaborator and astute researcher. Everything was always in service of telling the best story.”
“It’s not lost on us that he was willing to say yes to a young production company and newer writer in an industry where first chances are seldom given freely. It was important to him to invest in the next generation of diverse voices, and we are extremely grateful to have partnered with him.”