[RIP] Colin Dexter (creator of 'Inspector Morse')

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:-(


From Variety.com ...

'Inspector Morse' Creator Colin Dexter Dies at 86
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Author Colin Dexter, whose novels spawned the successful
crime-drama series "Inspector Morse," died Tuesday at
his home in Oxford, England. He was 86.

His 13 "Morse" novels were adapted for the series
starring John Thaw, which aired on broadcaster ITV in
the U.K. and was distributed across the world. Dexter's
publisher announced the news in a statement on Tuesday:
"With immense sadness, MacMillan announces the death of
Colin Dexter, who died peacefully at his home in Oxford
this morning."

Kevin Whately, who played Morse's sidekick Lewis in the
series, described Dexter as "impish and bubbly and
always fascinated with everybody and everything," the
BBC reported.

Kevin Lygo, director of television at ITV, said
"Inspector Morse" was "one of the nation's best-loved
shows," and Thaw's "irascible detective with a love for
crosswords, real ale, and classical music" was one of
the most popular characters of all time.

"Through 33 feature-length stories, the casebook of
Morse and Lewis changed the landscape of detective
drama," he said.

Dexter's books also inspired the TV prequel "Endeavour,"
with Shaun Evans as the young Morse, and "Lewis," the
sequel starring Whately.

Born Norman Colin Dexter on Sept. 29, 1930, in the town
of Stamford in the English midlands, Dexter served in
the Royal Corps of Signals in the British army, before
going on to study at Christ's College, Cambridge.

Dexter originally started out writing textbooks, but he
decided to switch to crime fiction after he penned a
few paragraphs while on a rainy family holiday in North
Wales in 1972. His first Morse novel, "Last Bus to
Woodstock," was published in 1975 and introduced the
world to the cantankerous, yet highly intelligent
policeman.

MacMillan's publisher, Jeremy Trevathan, described
Dexter's death as a "tectonic shift in the international
crime writing scene."

"Colin represented the absolute epitome of British crime
writing, and in the 1990s John Thaw's Inspector Morse
took over Wednesday night television," Trevathan added.
"He was one of those television characters who the
nation took to their hearts. This is a very sad day for
us all."

<http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/colin-dexter-dead-dies-inspector-morse-
1202013289/>