Gordon T. Dawson Obituary -Death: ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ & ‘Rockford Files’ Scribe, Sam Peckinpah Pal Cause Of Death

Costume designer turned screenwriter Gordon T. Dawson passed away on March 6 in West Hills, CA due to pulmonary disease at the age of 84. Dawson worked on several films with director Sam Peckinpah, including Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, The Ballad of Cable Hogue, The Getaway, and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. He also had a small role in The Wild Bunch and appeared in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Dawson transitioned to writing for TV and worked on various shows such as Bonanza, Black Sheep Squadron, Lou Grant, and The Rockford Files, where he wrote nine episodes. He later created the Bret Maverick TV series, which he wrote all 18 episodes for in 1981-82. Dawson also wrote for and produced the hit neo-Western show Walker, Texas Ranger, starting in its second season, and wrote over 30 episodes. He was later named supervising producer, co-EP, and executive producer. Dawson was nominated for a WGA Award for the TNT Western movie Purgatory in 2000.