Ron Koslow, Screenwriter and Creator of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ TV Series, Dies at 81 — SkimNews
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- Ron Koslow died Oct. 7 at his Brentwood, California home at age 81, his family confirmed; he was born April 9, 1945 and raised between St. Louis and Los Angeles.
- Koslow earned a law degree from Loyola University and became a member of the California Bar, but abandoned law for storytelling, debuting with the 1976 Sam Elliott film 'Lifeguard.'
- Koslow's other screenplay credits included 'Last Dance' with Sharon Stone, 'Firstborn' starring Teri Garr and Peter Weller, and John Landis' 'Into the Night' with Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer.
- The 1987 CBS series 'Beauty and the Beast,' starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman in a fantastical underground world beneath New York City, was Koslow's most notable work and earned him three Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.
- Koslow also created and wrote 'Moonlight,' wrote for 'My Life and Times' and 'Roar,' and served as executive producer on the 'Birds of Prey' series.
- Koslow's original 'Beauty and the Beast' served as the creative basis for the later CW television adaptation; he is survived by his sister Judy, brother-in-law Stefan, and nieces Jenna and Lily.
Why it matters: Koslow's 1987 CBS series earned three Emmy nominations and directly served as the basis for the later CW adaptation, meaning his creative blueprint shaped two generations of 'Beauty and the Beast.' A trained California Bar attorney who abandoned law for Hollywood, his career arc illustrates how a single showrunner's vision can define a franchise's DNA across networks and decades.
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