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William Blinn was born in Toledo, Ohio. After graduating from high school, and then to college, he moved to California, where he started his career as a television writer and producer in the 1960s.

After his freelance work on many television shows, his big break came in 1971 where he wrote the made-for-TV movie "Brian's Song" which is an instant ratings success. This followed in 1972 when he came up with the idea for "The Rookies" and then pitched it to producer Aaron Spelling and broadcaster ABC.

After a two year stint with the show, he moved to Warner Bros. where he wrote and produced "The New Land". His next project was another success, entitled "Starsky and Hutch". Blinn originally pitched it as an episode of "The Rookies" before the producers demanded that they wanted to need to separate it and decided to made itself as a made for TV movie, before going to series in 1975.

He briefly moved to Lorimar in 1976 when they came up with ideas for "Hunter" and a television adaptation of "Eight is Enough", then at Wolper Productions where he wrote the miniseries "Roots""

In 1977, after a freelance writing stint, he came full time as a writer and producer for Viacom, partnering with director Jerry Thorpe, to start its own entity Blinn/Thorpe Productions. There he produced "The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove", "The Lazarus Syndrome" and "American Dream" as well as made-for-TV movies like "Fast Lane Blues", "Stickin' Together" and "Heaven Only Knows".

In 1980, Blinn and Thorpe broke their ties, signing a production agreement with MGM Television. There he developed and produced the television series "Fame". He worked in its show's first three seasons.

By 1984, he left MGM Television and its "Fame" program, signing a production deal with Lorimar Productions. During their time at Lorimar, he renamed it from Eilenna Productions to Echo Cove Productions. While at Lorimar, he first produced "Bridges to Cross" for CBS and the made-for-TV movie "Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion" then reuniting with Jerry Thorpe for "Our House", and "Aaron's Way" both for NBC.

In 1988, he left Lorimar to work for Walt Disney Television under a two-year production deal. There he produced a remake of "The Absent-Minded Professor", as well as "Wild Jack", "Davy Crockett: A Letter to Polly", "Appearances" and "Polly: Comin' Home!". Following his time at Disney, he switched to New World Television. He resulted in the making of "The Boys of Twilight".

In 1993, he signed a non exclusive pact with producer Aaron Spelling. Therefore, he created "Heaven Help Us" for the Spelling Premiere Network. After the show flopped, he went back to becoming an independent producer and writer. He wrote for Hallmark Hall of Fame "The Boys Next Door" and for Hill/Fields Entertainment, "Shaughnessy".

In 1997, he was signed with Stu Segall Productions. Therefore, Echo Cove was renamed to Dauphine Productions. Therefore he wrote and serves as show-runner for "Pensacola: Wings of Gold". He was retired in 1998, and "Pensacola"'s show-running and writing duties were assumed to Jacqueline Zambrano. Therefore, he received an producing credit on the 2004 movie adaptation of "Starsky & Hutch".

Awards

William Blinn

Primetime Emmy Awards

Humanitas Prize

Peabody Awards

Writers Guild of America, USA

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