Bill Clark (screenwriter)

Walter Clark
Promotion to Major (General Barker, Bill Clark, Walter Clark Sr.)
Born
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Other namesBill Clark
Occupation(s)Writer, executive producer, retired detective (NYPD)

Bill Clark is a former New York Police Department first grade detective and an award-winning television writer and producer. He was a veteran NYPD Detective First Grade before joining David Milch and Steven Bochco's NYPD Blue in the first season as technical consultant, drawing on his twenty-five years experience with New York undercover and homicide units to ensure that the series accurately and realistically portrayed the work of New York City detectives. He went on to win two Emmy Awards, and was also honored with a Writers Guild of America Award, a Peabody Award and two Humanitas Prize.[1]

Biography

Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, Clark grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in an area now known as Park Slope.

Education

While on the NYPD, Clark attended the New York Institute of Technology on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a B.A. in Criminal Justice.

Military

At age 17, Clark joined the United States Army, with tours of duty in Europe and Vietnam as a member of the Infantry Division where he served as a scout dog handler, walking point with his German Shepherd Dog Mox, with the Forty-Sixth Infantry Platoon Scout Dog, Second Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment.

While in the NYPD he joined the Army Reserve, entering at the rank of Staff Sergeant and retiring in 1989 as a Major.

N.Y.P.D.

Promotion to First Grade Detective N.Y.P.D. with Ray Kelly

Clark joined the New York City Police Department in 1969. He worked a special undercover assignment for two years before entering the Police Academy. In 1972 he earned his gold detective shield. On December 31, 1994, Clark retired from the Queens Homicide Detective Squad as a First Grade Detective.

One of Clark's specialties on the force was interrogation. He worked on a number of headline cases ranging from the Son of Sam[2] to crackdowns against the Gambino crime family.[3]

His first assignment—even before he attended the Police Academy—was to infiltrate the Young Patriots Organization, an organization of white radicals who, he soon discovered, were planning to bomb several New York City landmarks.[4]

Television credits

He has had featured acting roles on L.A. Law, John from Cincinnati, Fallen, CSI: Miami and NYPD Blue.

Clark appeared on Charlie Rose in 1995 along with David Milch.

Activision consulted with Clark on their 2005 release True Crime: New York City.

Awards and recognition

Emmy Awards

Humanitas Prize

Peabody Award

Writers Guild of America Award

Edgar Award

People's Choice

U.S. Army

Author

He co-authored, along with NYPD Blue co-creator and executive producer David Milch, True Blue: The Real Stories Behind NYPD Blue (1995).[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ HBO: John From Cincinnati: Cast and Crew: Crew Bio: Bill Clark
  2. ^ James Logan Courier - News Every Day, Year-round » 30 years ago, `Son of Sam' terrorized New York Archived October 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Out of N.Y.P.D., Into 'N.Y.P.D. Blue' - New York Times
  4. ^ Out of N.Y.P.D., Into 'N.Y.P.D. Blue' - New York Times
  5. ^ Police Officer Writers – Bill Clark

External links

  • Bill Clark at IMDb
  • Profile : HBO
  • Interview with Charlie Rose on YouTube
  • Recalling a City in Fear During the Year of 'Son of Sam' : The New York Times
  • Profile : Variety.com
  • Podcast : "A City Looks Back: The Hunt For Sam"
  • True Crime with Bill Clark : XBox365 Interview
  • NYPD Blues Praise TV Version : The New York Times
  • Out of N.Y.P.D., into 'N.Y.P.D. Blue' : The New York Times
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