Michael Norell

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For the Swedish weightlifter, see Michael Norell (weightlifter).
Michael Norell
Norell in 2017
Born
Michael Alden Norell

(1937-10-04)October 4, 1937
Wallace, Idaho, United States
DiedMay 12, 2023(2023-05-12) (aged 85)[1]
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation(s)Actor, Screenwriter, Executive Producer
Years active1972 – 2001[2]

Michael Alden Norell (October 4, 1937 - May 12, 2023) was an American screenwriter, actor, and executive producer who starred as Captain Henry "Hank" Stanley in the Jack Webb-produced television series Emergency! from 1972 to 1978.

Norell was born in Wallace, Idaho to mother Wilma Helen Snook (1905-2001) and James Alden Norell (1908–1989). His family including brother James O.E. Norell (later first Director of Communications for the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action) moved to follow his father who was in the Army, and who ultimately retired with the rank of Brigadier General. His father was sent to Korea during the war. The family lived in Tokyo, Japan. Norell returned to the States after the war and attended Falls Church High School in Virginia where he acted in several school plays. He attended college at Washington and Lee University where he majored in journalism.[3]

After graduating college Norell entered the Army where he spent the next five years, leaving with the rank of captain. After his stint in the Army he went to work for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.[4] He went to New York City not too long after returning to civilian life and worked at acting full-time. Six months later he arrived in Hollywood where he won the role of Captain Henry "Hank" Stanley for the show Emergency!.

In addition to acting in the show, Norell also wrote four episodes of Emergency! which began his career as a screenwriter. Norell commented on the show's writing process, "I would be invited by [executive producer] Bob Cinader to pitch ideas. You'd spend an hour or two throwing out ideas for rescues and hospital stories and firehouse stories and eventually there were enough that he liked and he'd tell you to go to work. A couple of weeks later, you'd turn in a first draft."[5] All rewrites were handled by other writers.[5] During his time as Captain Henry “Hank” Stanley, his most famous phrase/, which live on today, were “Squad 51 KMG365.”, “Engine 51 KMG365.”, and “Station 51 KMG365.”. KMG365 was the call sign for the radio frequency for Station 51 (present-day Los Angeles County Station 127), and LA County Fire Department Station 127 was used for exterior shots for intro sequences, response sequences, and occasional return to quarters sequences at Station 51 while a soundstage built to almost replicate the interior of Station 127 was used for interior shots at Station 51.

After Emergency! ended, Norell turned to screenwriting. He wrote for shows such as The Love Boat, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Nash Bridges, and The Magnificent Seven, among others. His screenwriting credits also include several made-for-TV movies such as Doomsday Rock, Three on a Date, The Covergirl and the Cop, Pals, Barnum, Christmas Comes to Willow Creek, and The Incident for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award.[6] Other films include The Diamond Fleece, Long Gone, and Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore. Norell created and was executive producer for the short-lived Love Boat clone Aloha Paradise.

Norrell died on May 12, 2023, with all details of his death and burial kept private.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Obituary for Michael Alden Norell at Haky/Georgiana Centre County Funeral Home". obits.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  2. ^ "Michael Norell". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2023-05-25. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  3. ^ "Sunday News from Lancaster, Pennsylvania - 25". Sunday News. October 28, 1973. p. 25.
  4. ^ "Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey - Page 11". Courier-Post. October 15, 1973. p. 11.
  5. ^ a b Yokley, Richard; Sutherland, Rozane (2008). Emergency! Behind the Scene. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett. p. 53. ISBN 9780763748968. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  6. ^ "Nominees / Winners 1990". Television Academy. Retrieved June 1, 2021.

External links

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