LOS ANGELES — Joseph Wambaugh, a former Los Angeles Police Department officer who transformed his 14 years of service into gripping novels such as “The Onion Field,” “The New Centurions” and “The Blue Knight,” died on Feb. 28, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 88.
Wambaugh, who co-created the acclaimed 1970s anthology series “Police Story” for NBC, died at his Rancho Mirage home due to esophageal cancer, his longtime family friend Janene Gant confirmed to The New York Times.
Wambaugh began his LAPD career as a patrol officer in 1960 and gained literary acclaim with his debut novel, “The New Centurions.” This expansive narrative follows three young LAPD officers over five years, culminating in the 1965 Watts riots. Published by Little, Brown and Co. in 1971, the novel remained on The New York Times Best Seller List for 32 weeks, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
In 1972, “The New Centurions” was adapted into a feature film starring George C. Scott and Stacy Keach. At that time, Wambaugh was still serving as an LAPD detective and often joked that his newfound fame led suspects to request autographs as he handcuffed them, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Wambaugh’s second novel, “The Blue Knight,” was released in 1973. While his first book focused on rookie officers, this narrative centered on a veteran cop nearing retirement, the Hollywood Reporter states. “The Blue Knight” became a best-seller and was adapted into a 1973 NBC telefilm with William Holden portraying the titular character, Bumper Morgan. Two years later, it was developed into a CBS series starring George Kennedy, running for 25 episodes.
Wambaugh then ventured into nonfiction with “The Onion Field” in 1973, achieving significant success. The book recounts a 1963 incident where two undercover LAPD officers were kidnapped during a routine traffic stop. The assailants drove them to an onion field near Bakersfield, California, where one officer was killed and the other managed to escape. The book spent 14 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List and earned an Edgar Award.
In a 2008 interview cited by the Hollywood Reporter, Wambaugh reflected, “I was put on Earth to write ‘The Onion Field.’ That’s how I felt about it. It was such an emotional experience for me. I took a six-month leave of absence from the police department to write that book. I read 40,000 pages of court transcripts; I interviewed about 63 people and wrote the book in three months.”
The Hollywood Reporter states that Wambaugh adapted “The Onion Field” into a screenplay for the 1979 film directed by Harold Becker, featuring James Woods and Franklyn Seales as the kidnappers, and John Savage and Ted Danson as the officers. Following the success of “The Onion Field,” Wambaugh retired from the LAPD in 1974 to focus on writing full-time, the Hollywood Reporter states.
Born Joseph Aloysius Wambaugh Jr. on January 22, 1937, in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his father served as a police chief before becoming a steelworker. At 14, Wambaugh’s family moved to Los Angeles. In 1954, Wambaugh enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and later attended night school, according to the Hollywood Reporter. After his service, he worked in a steel mill and pursued part-time college education.
Although he considered a career in English literature, Wambaugh chose law enforcement, joining the LAPD. He continued his education, earning a B.A. in 1960 and an M.A. in 1968 from Cal State L.A. While advancing to detective sergeant, Wambaugh wrote short stories during his off-hours. Despite initial rejections, an editor encouraged him to write a novel, leading to “The New Centurions.”
In 1973, Wambaugh collaborated with E. Jack Neuman, writer of “The Blue Knight” teleplay, to create “Police Story,” an ultra-realistic series that predated shows like “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue.” The series won the Emmy for Outstanding Drama in 1976 and spawned three spinoffs, including “Police Woman” starring Angie Dickinson.
Wambaugh’s other notable novels include “The Choirboys,” adapted into a 1977 film directed by Robert Aldrich; “The Black Marble,” which he adapted into a 1980 film directed by Becker; “The Glitter Dome,” turned into a 1984 HBO movie starring James Garner and John Lithgow; “The Delta Star"; and “The Secret of Harry Bright.” He also adapted his nonfiction work “Echoes in the Darkness” and novel “Fugitive Nights” into telefilms that aired in 1987 and 1993, respectively.
