William Blinn was an American screenwriter and producer.

After graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1957, he began writing for television, including episodes of Rawhide, My Favorite Martian, Bonanza, The Big Valley, The High Chaparral, Here Come the Brides, and Gunsmoke.

Blinn went on to create or develop shows such as The Interns (a 1970-71 medical drama), Hunter (a spy series starring James Franciscus), and three hit series for ABC: The Rookies, Starsky & Hutch, and Eight is Enough.

He won an Emmy for the 1971 TV movie Brian’s Song, which dramatized the friendship of Chicago Bears football players Gale Sayers (played by Billy Dee Williams) and Brian Piccolo (played by James Caan).

In 1977, Blinn received a second Emmy for outstanding writing in a drama series for his work on Roots. The miniseries’ final episode drew more than 100 million viewers.

Blinn co-wrote Prince’s 1984 feature film Purple Rain with director Albert Magnoli. He was offered the film because of his work as a writer and executive producer on Fame, which extensively integrated music into the show.

He later created Heaven Help Us, a short-lived 1994 fantasy series, and Pensacola: Wings of Gold, which ran from 1997 to 2000 and starred James Brolin as a naval aviator.

Blinn died October 22, 2020, in Burbank, California. He was 83.