Kevin Arkadie, a screenwriter who was one of the creators of the popular police drama “New York Undercover” and a champion of representation for actors of color in the television industry, died on Wednesday. He was 68.
His death was confirmed by his cousin and producer, L. True Green, on Facebook, and also by Wolf Entertainment, the entertainment company led by Dick Wolf, the producer who created “New York Undercover” with Mr. Arkadie.
The cause of Mr. Arkadie’s death and where he died were unknown on Sunday. His representatives could not be reached for comment.
In July, Mr. Arkadie shared a video on Instagram about his failing kidneys and provided an update to his followers. He asked for help to find a potential living donor, as family and friends were not a match.
“With a living donor, my quality of life is supposed to be so much better,” he said.
Mr. Arkadie was best known for creating “New York Undercover,” a pioneering police drama that ran for 89 episodes on Fox for four seasons starting in 1994. The show, which follows two undercover detectives in New York City, was one of the first prime time police dramas to feature two actors of color in the lead roles.
“At a time when television rarely reflected the lived experiences of many communities, Kevin helped create a series that embraced contemporary culture and told stories that felt real,” Wolf Entertainment said in a statement on Friday.
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