Sad news from the world of reality TV.
John Langley — creator of the long-running reality series, “Cops” — has died during a road race in Baja, Mexico, reports The Associated Press.
Langley apparently died of a heart attack while racing in the Coast to Coast Ensenada-San Felipe 250 off-road race on Saturday.
“Cops” was one of the very first reality TV series, debuting in 1989 and running for 32 years.
Originally broadcast on Fox, when the network was still getting a foothold, the show became a huge hit, despite criticisms of exploitation of those arrested and the cops’ sometimes excessive responses.
Every episode would feature a different city, with its cops conversing their way through a boring night patrol until having to track down various 911 calls and their attendant, usually salacious or drug-induced crimes.
Its popularity remained via a move to Spike TV and into syndication, buoyed by its rep for wild scenes and the iconic reggae theme song.
Last seen on the Paramount Network, the station pulled the show last year in lieu of ongoing protests and criticism of police activity during the George Floyd protests.
“Cops” was finally cancelled last fall, though word soon came that the show was being revived, if not for the American market. And repeats still pop up in syndication.
Born in Oklahoma City, OK, John Langley was raised in Los Angeles, where he graduated from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and also served in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s.
As AP noted, he was also a producer on the 2009 film “Brooklyn’s Finest,” starring Richard Gere and Don Cheadle, and on the non-fiction series “Jail,” “Vegas Strip,” and “Anatomy of a Crime.”
Langley’s love of off-road racing matched his passion for developing law enforcement stories.
He is survived by his son and producing partner, Morgan, who oversees their company Langley Productions; another son, Zak; two daughters, Sara Langley Dews and Jennifer Blair; his wife, Maggie, and seven grandchildren.
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