Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away
Sunday, March 17th, 2019 2:45PM CDT
Category: People NewsPosted by: william-james88 Views: 29,010
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It is with great sadness that we let you know of the passing of Larry DiTillio, at 79 years old. He was one of the two main story editors for Beast Wars (the other being Bob Forward), the show that saved the Transformers Brand in the 90s and introduced it to a whole new generation. It is very easy to say in this case that if it were not for this man, the brand we all love would not be where it is today. For those curious, here are the episodes he wrote for Beast Wars:
"The Web"
"Power Surge"
"The Spark"
"Spider's Game"
"Other Voices, Part 1" (written together with Bob Forward)
"Other Voices, Part 2"
"Aftermath"
"Other Visits (Part 1)"
"Other Visits (Part 2)"
"Deep Metal"
"Other Victories"
He and Bob Forward also wrote together the Transformers Animated episode "Predacons Rising" (not to be confused with the Transformers: Prime TV movie of the same name).
His passing was announced by an old colleague of his, J. Michael Straczynski. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to Mr. DiTillio's family. May he rest in peace.
"The Web"
"Power Surge"
"The Spark"
"Spider's Game"
"Other Voices, Part 1" (written together with Bob Forward)
"Other Voices, Part 2"
"Aftermath"
"Other Visits (Part 1)"
"Other Visits (Part 2)"
"Deep Metal"
"Other Victories"
He and Bob Forward also wrote together the Transformers Animated episode "Predacons Rising" (not to be confused with the Transformers: Prime TV movie of the same name).
His passing was announced by an old colleague of his, J. Michael Straczynski. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to Mr. DiTillio's family. May he rest in peace.
Credit(s): J. Michael Straczynski
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Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2014983)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:14pm CDT
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:14pm CDT
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2014985)
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:25pm CDT
Posted by AllNewSuperRobot on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:25pm CDT
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2014990)
Posted by Black Bumblebee on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:51pm CDT
Posted by Black Bumblebee on March 17th, 2019 @ 3:51pm CDT
It should also be noted that he wrote quite a bit for He-Man and She-Ra (he actually named her She-Ra, Mattel wanted to call her Hera), as well as being the story editor and writer for Babylon 5 (which is still one of my favorite scifi shows of all time). The guy was talented and shaped many of our childhoods.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015000)
Posted by TulioDude on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:36pm CDT
Posted by TulioDude on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:36pm CDT
Much respect for him.Thank you for all you work,in Beast Wars and other cartoons.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015001)
Posted by o.supreme on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:36pm CDT
Posted by o.supreme on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:36pm CDT
Such sad news indeed... 
. One of the very first e-mails I ever sent was to Larry DiTillio, back in 1996 when I was taking courses in college and getting newly acquainted with the internet. They were silly fan boyish e-mails, probably 2 or 3, but he answered them all quickly, respectfully, and with genuine thought (not just a one-liner, but a couple paragraphs at least). I also had the privateer to meet him and Bob Forward at BC 98. So glad I have those memories. He had a great imagination, and a great talent for writing children's TV during those formative years into my early adulthood. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
. One of the very first e-mails I ever sent was to Larry DiTillio, back in 1996 when I was taking courses in college and getting newly acquainted with the internet. They were silly fan boyish e-mails, probably 2 or 3, but he answered them all quickly, respectfully, and with genuine thought (not just a one-liner, but a couple paragraphs at least). I also had the privateer to meet him and Bob Forward at BC 98. So glad I have those memories. He had a great imagination, and a great talent for writing children's TV during those formative years into my early adulthood. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015002)
Posted by PhunkJunkion on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:58pm CDT
Posted by PhunkJunkion on March 17th, 2019 @ 5:58pm CDT
It's very sad to know he passed. He has, however, certainly left a legacy that will live on after him through his writing. RIP
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015007)
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on March 17th, 2019 @ 6:27pm CDT
Posted by RK_Striker_JK_5 on March 17th, 2019 @ 6:27pm CDT
Without him, without Beast Wars, we probably wouldn't have all this.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015011)
Posted by Decepticon Stryker on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:11pm CDT
Posted by Decepticon Stryker on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:11pm CDT
Wow... This hurts. I don't even know what to say. Thank you, Mr. DiTillio, we'll miss you.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015012)
Posted by Skritz on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:34pm CDT
Posted by Skritz on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:34pm CDT
Well there goes a part of my childhood.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015013)
Posted by steve2275 on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:54pm CDT
Posted by steve2275 on March 17th, 2019 @ 8:54pm CDT
rest in peace and thank you Larry DiTillio
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015016)
Posted by Dominus Prime on March 17th, 2019 @ 9:27pm CDT
Posted by Dominus Prime on March 17th, 2019 @ 9:27pm CDT
Another great lost to us. May his legacy influence and inspire future generations as it did ours. Rest in peace
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015021)
Posted by Hellscream9999 on March 17th, 2019 @ 10:49pm CDT
Posted by Hellscream9999 on March 17th, 2019 @ 10:49pm CDT
My life literally wouldn't be the same without him, I grew up watching beast wars, he was clearly a phenomenal writer, both he and forward were masters of character writing, I will miss him
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015025)
Posted by Sabrblade on March 17th, 2019 @ 11:42pm CDT
Posted by Sabrblade on March 17th, 2019 @ 11:42pm CDT
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Those Mad, Mad Moviemakers
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
Centurions
Galaxy High School
Bionic Six
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
Ruby-Spears' Superman
The California Raisin Show
Captain Power: The Beginning
The Real Ghostbusters
Swamp Thing
Deadly Nightmares
Peter Pan and the Pirates
The Hidden Room
Murder, She Wrote
Conan: The Adventurer
Babylon 5
Hypernauts
Beast Wars: Transformers
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)
Kong: The Animated Series
Transformers: Animated
Whether it was just one episode or many, the man did writing work for all of these shows.
Those Mad, Mad Moviemakers
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
Centurions
Galaxy High School
Bionic Six
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
Ruby-Spears' Superman
The California Raisin Show
Captain Power: The Beginning
The Real Ghostbusters
Swamp Thing
Deadly Nightmares
Peter Pan and the Pirates
The Hidden Room
Murder, She Wrote
Conan: The Adventurer
Babylon 5
Hypernauts
Beast Wars: Transformers
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)
Kong: The Animated Series
Transformers: Animated
Whether it was just one episode or many, the man did writing work for all of these shows.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015027)
Posted by Bumblevivisector on March 18th, 2019 @ 12:18am CDT
Posted by Bumblevivisector on March 18th, 2019 @ 12:18am CDT
Wow, I'd have to do some serious homework to know exactly how much joy this man brought to my childhood and adolescence...and he's already gone.
I remember when the G2 comic ended and I thought TF might really be finished before long, but the Swarm reforming and going off to start new life elsewhere struck just the right note of hope that things might work out, even if no one had any clue how at the time. Well, Mr. DiTillio must have read that book too, since the Vok were initially supposed to be what the Swarm turned into. Maybe that's why Beast Wars' story ultimately won me over despite my initial negative reaction to the toyline: he picked up on that final note and wove it into something I never could've imagined.
Well, here's hoping his creative legacy never stops being passed to new generations of storytellers.
I remember when the G2 comic ended and I thought TF might really be finished before long, but the Swarm reforming and going off to start new life elsewhere struck just the right note of hope that things might work out, even if no one had any clue how at the time. Well, Mr. DiTillio must have read that book too, since the Vok were initially supposed to be what the Swarm turned into. Maybe that's why Beast Wars' story ultimately won me over despite my initial negative reaction to the toyline: he picked up on that final note and wove it into something I never could've imagined.
Well, here's hoping his creative legacy never stops being passed to new generations of storytellers.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015036)
Posted by GeekyGamer Gal on March 18th, 2019 @ 8:01am CDT
Posted by GeekyGamer Gal on March 18th, 2019 @ 8:01am CDT
There will be a Beast Wars marathon in your honor Mr.DiTillio.
Thank you for helping to shape my childhood.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015047)
Posted by o.supreme on March 18th, 2019 @ 9:58am CDT
Thank you. I knew he had quite a prolific career. I've heard of all/ watched or partially watched all of these but 4. I own 10 of them on DVD, and while positive terms are certainly objective. IMHO, he definitely wrote some of the best episodes of the series that he was involved in.
Posted by o.supreme on March 18th, 2019 @ 9:58am CDT
Sabrblade wrote:Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Those Mad, Mad Moviemakers
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword
She-Ra: Princess of Power
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling
Centurions
Galaxy High School
Bionic Six
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
Ruby-Spears' Superman
The California Raisin Show
Captain Power: The Beginning
The Real Ghostbusters
Swamp Thing
Deadly Nightmares
Peter Pan and the Pirates
The Hidden Room
Murder, She Wrote
Conan: The Adventurer
Babylon 5
Hypernauts
Beast Wars: Transformers
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)
Kong: The Animated Series
Transformers: Animated
Whether it was just one episode or many, the man did writing work for all of these shows.
Thank you. I knew he had quite a prolific career. I've heard of all/ watched or partially watched all of these but 4. I own 10 of them on DVD, and while positive terms are certainly objective. IMHO, he definitely wrote some of the best episodes of the series that he was involved in.
Re: Larry DiTillio, the Writer of Beast Wars, has Passed Away (2015129)
Posted by Zeedust on March 18th, 2019 @ 8:22pm CDT
Posted by Zeedust on March 18th, 2019 @ 8:22pm CDT
Larry DiTillio was an integral part of several shows that meant so much to so many people, an no words can suffice to mark the passing of such a man. Rest in peace, you will be missed.
Beast Wars is what brought me into Transformers, and will always hold a special place in my heart.
Beast Wars is what brought me into Transformers, and will always hold a special place in my heart.
