George Schenck Dies: Former ‘NCIS’ Showrunner Was 82

George Schenck, a television writer and producer for the beloved long-running series NCIS, died peacefully at his home in Brentwood, California on August 3. He was 82.

His death was announced by his family.

Schenck was the son of the late TV producer Aubrey Schenck and great-nephew of the legendary Nicholas and Joseph Schenck, who ran MGM and 20th Century Fox during Hollywood’s Golden Age and were part of the industry’s major movers and shakers for much of the first half of the 20th Century.

With more than 40 years as a producing partner with Frank Cardea, Schenck’s prolific producing credits stretch back to the late 1970s and early ’80 on such popular series as Fantasy Island (1981); Bring ‘Em Back Alive, the 1982 adventure series starring Bruce Boxleitner; and the 1984 detective series Crazy Like a Fox starring Jack Warden and John Rubinstein as a father and son investigator team.

But his signature series was NCIS, the long-running series – it began in 2003 and continues today – that depicts a team of special agents for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The show combines the twin dramas of military life and police procedural.

Schenck joined the series as a writer, taking over as co-showrunner (with Cardea) following the 2016 death of showrunner Gary Glasberg. Schenck retired in 2018.

Mark Harmon, who won acclaim and legions of devoted fans playing NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for the first 19 seasons of the series, said in a statement, “So sorry to hear the news on George. The professionalism and tenacity of George and Frank changed the face of the show. I’m so appreciative of the team and teamwork they both represented.”

Born February 12, 1942, in New York City, Schenck graduated from the University of Southern California and earned a graduate degree in the first class of the Film School’s new writers’ program. After school, he served in the U.S. Navy.

After a brief solo career as a writer on independent movies, Schenck collaborated with Cardea on many successful series such as the aforementioned Crazy Like a Fox and Bring ‘Em Back Alive as well as Pros and Cons (1991) starring James Earl Jones and Richard Crenna and the short-lived The Cosby Mysteries (1994).

Schenck, known as a devoted mentor to many aspiring TV writers, was predeceased by his wife of more than 50 years, Virginia Schenck, who died last year. He is survived by their two sons Kirk and Jeff, daughters-in-law Allison and Natalie, and grandchildren Aidan, Andrew, Ryan, Jordan and Owen.

A private memorial service will be held for family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Writers Guild Foundation in George Schenck’s memory, supporting young writers pursuing their dreams.