Writer Edward J. Lakso dies

Wrote for 'Star Trek,' 'Charlie's Angels'

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

TV writer Edward J. Lakso, who wrote for "Star Trek," "Charlie's Angels" as well as feature films and numerous other series, died of complications of Parkinson's disease on May 23 in Beverly Hills. He was 76.

Lakso also worked as a producer, composer and lyricist, wrote musical theater productions and was a licensed pilot.

He wrote 25 episodes for "Charlie's Angels," produced 28 and composed the music for two. His other TV series credits include "Combat!," "The Rockford Files," "Adventures in Paradise," "The Fall Guy," "Airwolf," "Starsky and Hutch," "Barnaby Jones, "Hawaii Five-O," "Mannix" and "My Three Sons."

Lakso served in the Air Force, where he teamed with orchestra leader Tommy Oliver to write an original musical, and years later paired with Oliver to write "Watergate: A Musical."

He started out writing while still at UCLA with the film "Operation Dames," in which he also appeared. Also in 1959, he co-wrote one of Russ Meyers' first films, "The Immoral Mr. Teas."

Among his other feature film credits were blaxploitation pic "Brother on the Run" "Gentle Giant," "Operation Dames," "The Broken Land" and "Womanhunt."

Lakso is survived by his wife, actress Lee Travis, two daughters, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a sister and two brothers.