Emmy Nominated Co-Creator of ‘NYPD Undercover’ Dies at 68

A co-creator of one of the most popular and influential shows of the 1990s has died at the age of 68. According to Deadline, "NYPD Undercover" co-creator, TV writer and producer Kevin Arkadie died on Wednesday, December 17.

Arkadie's cause of death has yet to be revealed, but the longtime producer said that he had been dealing with kidney failure in a social media post over the summer. Dick Wolf, who helped create "NYPD Undercover" with Arkadie, gave a tribute to his colleague following his death.

“Kevin brought the voice of the next generation to cop shows and was instrumental in bringing diversity to the forefront of network television," Wolf said, according to Deadline. "We will all miss him."

The Enduring Legacy of 'New York Undercover'

"New York Undercover" ran on FOX for four seasons in the mid-to-late 1990s. It starred Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo as detectives, and was notable for being the first American police procedural with two leads of color.

In a statement following Arkadie's passing, Wolf Entertainment noted that the series "was unapologetically bold in its storytelling, casting, and point of view," and that Arkadie "helped create a series that embraced contemporary culture and told stories that felt real."

"Beyond his creative achievements, Kevin was a trusted collaborator and a generous presence," the company said. "His legacy lives on in the meaningful and memorable stories he helped tell. We remain grateful for his contributions, and he will be deeply missed and always remembered."

Arkadie also worked on ABC's "Knightwatch," NBC's "I'll Fly Away" and "Chicago Hope" for CBS. He also served as a producer for the popular series "NYPD Blue" on ABC and FX's "The Shield."

Arkadie Recognized By Peers, Family Members

Arkadie was nominated for two Emmy awards in his career, and worked on acclaimed shows that were considered for the Outstanding Drama Series category. Recently, Arkadie had worked with Lamar Richardson and Zaire Julion-Richardson for their series "Freeman Ranch."

"Kevin was the first showrunner to sign on to one of our TV projects at Ivy Lion, and we spent a lot of time with him developing and pitching together this year," Lamar Richardson told The Hollywood Reporter while reacting to the news of Arkadie's passing.

"He was a consummate professional, true collaborator and astute researcher. Everything was always in service of telling the best story."

Arkadie's cousin and fellow producer L True Green referred to him as "one of America’s greatest storytellers,” adding that he's served as an inspiration for other artists and entertainers like himself.