Nick Corea was a prolific and versatile television writer, director and producer who worked on many popular shows such as The Incredible Hulk, Walker, Texas Ranger, Airwolf, Outlaws and Star Trek. He was also an author, a painter and a Vietnam War veteran. He died on January 17, 1999 at the age of 55 from pancreatic cancer. Here is a brief overview of his life and career, as well as the details of his illness and death.
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Early Life and Military Service
Nick Corea was born on April 7, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the United States Marines during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries. He reached the rank of Sergeant and was nicknamed “Padre” by his squad because he was the oldest at 21. He was also an active contributor to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes during his service.
Writing Career and Success
After returning from the war, Corea joined the University City, Missouri Police Department as an officer. He also wrote his first novel, A Cleaner Breed, in 1974, which was a police thriller. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television writing and producing.
He started with writing scripts for police dramas such as Police Woman, Baa Baa Black Sheep and Kingston: Confidential. His first regular writing job was for the western series The Oregon Trail. However, he found his first major success at Universal Studios as writer, director and producer of The Incredible Hulk from 1978 to 1981. He wrote and directed the sequel telefilm The Incredible Hulk Returns in 1988.
He also worked on other action and sci-fi shows such as The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire, Gavilan, The Renegades, Airwolf, Street Hawk, Hard Time on Planet Earth, Booker and J.O.E. and the Colonel. He created the western-themed sci-fi series Outlaws in 1986, which had a cult following.
He later wrote episodes for Renegade, M.A.N.T.I.S., Kung Fu: The Legend Continues and Star Trek-series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. He was also a one-time writer and creative consultant for Walker, Texas Ranger.
Illness and Death
Corea was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late 1998. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy, but his condition worsened rapidly. He died on January 17, 1999 in Burbank, California. He was survived by his wife Pheny, whom he married in 1992, and his mother Mary Louise Corea.
His death was announced by his friend and colleague Kenneth Johnson, who created The Incredible Hulk and worked with him on many projects. Johnson said that Corea was “one of the most talented writers I ever knew” and that he “had a great sense of humor and a great sense of adventure”.
Corea’s funeral was held on January 22, 1999 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. His ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.
Legacy and Tributes
Corea left behind a rich legacy of television work that entertained millions of viewers around the world. He was known for his imaginative stories, his action-packed scenes and his witty dialogue. He also had a deep range of passions that included painting, cooking, gardening and storytelling.
He was honored by his friends and colleagues in various ways after his death. The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno dedicated his autobiography My Incredible Life as the Hulk to him. Walker, Texas Ranger star Chuck Norris dedicated an episode of the show to him. Star Trek: Voyager star Robert Picardo wrote a poem about him called “For Nick”. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine star Armin Shimerman named his son Nicholas after him.
Corea’s fans also paid tribute to him online and offline. A fan website called Nick Corea’s World was created to celebrate his work and life. A memorial plaque was placed at the Storm King Theater in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, where he opened a restaurant called Nicky’s in 2001. He also created Nicky’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, which became an annual tradition in the village square.
Nick Corea cause of death was a tragic loss for the television industry and for his family and friends. He will always be remembered as a talented and generous person who brought joy and excitement to many people through his creative work.
