Philip DeGuere, 60; Innovative TV Writer, Producer

Philip DeGuere Jr., a writer and producer best known as the creator and original executive producer of the television series “Simon & Simon,” has died.

He was 60.

DeGuere died Jan. 24 at his Los Angeles home of cancer.

The innovative DeGuere also wrote several episodes for “Simon & Simon,” which starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker, while serving as executive producer for its first four seasons.

The series ran on CBS from 1981 to 1988.

A pioneer in adapting computers to television production, DeGuere championed computerized script processing and established a computer system for tracking daily production that became a model for the industry.

In the 1990s, DeGuere sued CBS, Columbia Pictures, Universal Studios and others, claiming he was defrauded of profits from “Simon & Simon” and had the plug pulled on a series he co-created called “Triangle,” which was to star Parker and Bruce Boxleitner.

The suit was partially resolved by undisclosed settlements.

Born in Cincinnati, DeGuere studied communications at Stanford University and, on the basis of his senior project, landed a job as a writer at Universal after he graduated in 1966.

He wrote for the series “Alias Smith and Jones,” “Baretta,” “City of Angels,” and “Magnum, P.I.” and moved into production as an associate producer on the 1971 television movie “How to Steal an Airplane” and the 1976 series “Baa Baa Black Sheep.”

Following his success with “Simon & Simon,” DeGuere served as executive producer of 1980s revivals of “Whiz Kids” and “The Twilight Zone” and of the 1987 series “Max Headroom.”

More recently, he was creator and executive producer of the 1998 series “Air America” starring Lorenzo Lamas, and was a writer for “JAG,” “The Dead Zone” and “Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service.”

DeGuere is survived by his wife, Alison; and three daughters, Adrienne, Dulcinee and Milena.

A memorial service is pending.

The family has asked that memorial donations be sent to Project Avary, which provides mentoring and social enrichment services for children of incarcerated parents, at 1018 Grand Ave., San Raphael, CA 94901.