Arne Olsen, 'Cop and a Half' Screenwriter, Dies at 64
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- Arne Olsen died Saturday in Vancouver, B.C., from cancer complications at age 64, leaving behind a screenwriting career spanning from 1988's "Red Scorpion" to 2018's "Distorted."
- Olsen wrote 1993's "Cop and a Half," starring Burt Reynolds and directed by Henry Winkler, as well as "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie," "Black Ice," "Final Round," and "All Dogs Go to Heaven 2."
- Olsen moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles at age 21 and landed his first screenwriting job on the Dolph Lundgren actioner "Red Scorpion" (1988) after graduating from the American Film Institute.
- Olsen wrote and directed 2000's "Here's To Life!" starring Eric McCormack, which earned nine Genie Award nominations in Canada and won one; he received a 2010 Leo Award nomination for Best Screenplay for the sci-fi thriller "Repeaters."
- Olsen taught screenwriting at Capilano University and Vancouver Film School and served as a mentor to young writers, while maintaining membership in both the WGC and WGA.
- Olsen is survived by his wife Dianne and children Ryan and Alyssa.
Why it matters: Olsen's death closes a chapter for Vancouver's screenwriting community, where he mentored aspiring writers at Capilano University and Vancouver Film School. His genre-spanning filmography — from family comedies like 'Cop and a Half' to Canadian award-contending dramas like 'Here's To Life!' — made him a versatile, if under-the-radar, figure whose institutional teaching role may outlast the fame of any single credit.
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