A Story of a TV Writer Who Shaped Crime Dramas

Eric Overmyer was a well‑known writer and producer in television. He began his career writing for the hospital drama “St. Elsewhere. ” From there he moved into crime shows, joining NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1996. He stayed with the show until its final season, and helped create the related movie. While working on “Homicide, ” Overmyer met David Simon, the author of the book that inspired the series. The two became close friends and later collaborated on HBO’s “The Wire. ” Their partnership grew stronger when they co‑created the post‑Katrina series “Treme, ” which drew on Overmyer’s own experiences living in New Orleans.In the 2010s, Overmyer developed “Bosch, ” a television adaptation of Michael Connelly’s detective novels. He also produced the spin‑off “Bosch: Legacy. ” The series ran for three seasons and added to his reputation as a creator of gripping crime stories. Beyond these projects, Overmyer worked on several “Law & Order” shows, including the original series and its spin‑offs. He also wrote for “Boardwalk Empire, ” co‑wrote the ABC movie “Rear Window, ” and produced the National Geographic miniseries “Saints & Strangers. ” His work earned him multiple award nominations, including Emmys and Writers Guild awards. He won a Writers Guild prize in 2016 for “Saints & Strangers. ” Overmyer’s influence on television drama is remembered by colleagues and fans alike.