Veteran writer and producer Eric Overmyer died on March 16, Deadline reports. His cause of death was described as an “illness,” but no specific details were given. He was 74. Overmyer leaves behind an incredible legacy in the entertainment industry, and his work credits include “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Law & Order,” “Bosch,” “Bosch: Legacy,” The Wire,” and “Treme.”
Remembering the Life of Eric Overmyer
GettyOvermyer will be missed by many who loved him and worked closely with him, and his career spanned decades. In a statement, “Law & Order” creator and franchise head Dick Wolf remembered Overmyer for his talents and personality. “Not only was Eric a superbly talented writer, he was just one of those people everyone loved,” Wolf said, Deadline reports. “We are all going to miss him.”
Overmyer was successful in his career, and his efforts were recognized by prestigious award ceremonies. He was nominated for four Emmys, five WGA Award nominations, and a Humanitas Prize.
Tributes Pour in for Eric Overmyer
Tributes have poured in for Overmyer, including one from the author of the Harry Bosch books, Michael Connelly.
Connelly paid tribute to Overmyer upon learning of his passing. He shared a throwback photo on Instagram on March 18 and penned a touching tribute in the caption. “About 15 years ago, I met with Eric Overmyer in New York City to try to convince him to be the showrunner/creator of a TV show based on my books about Harry Bosch,” he wrote.
He continued, “I had met Eric once before, and he had spoken very knowingly about the character of Bosch. His television work included The Wire and Homicide: Life on the Streets. But there was a catch. The show was going to be on this new form of television watching called streaming. Amazon was dipping its toe in it, and Bosch would be its first drama. My producing partner, Henrik Bastin, and I were halfway through our sales pitch when Eric cut us off and said, ‘I don’t know if you are auditioning me or I am auditioning you, but I’m in.’ And so it started.”
Connelly credits Overmyer for helping bring 98 episodes of Bosch to TV screens around the world. He ended his message with a powerful statement: “Now he’s gone, but the stories he told will live on. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Fans showed their support for Connelly in the comment section of his post. “I’m so sorry. I think I’ve read every book that you’ve written and couldn’t imagine how they would translate to screen but he helped make it happen. Beautifully,” a fan shared. “Oh man… I’m really sorry for your loss Michael,” another comment reads.
