John Vlahos, 87; Won Emmy for Script of ‘The Defenders’

John Vlahos, 87, a scriptwriter who earned an Emmy for “The Defenders,” died April 8 of natural causes at his home in Westport, Conn.

A native of Springfield, Ohio, Vlahos grew up working in the family restaurant, playing violin and acting in school plays and local theater.

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, he moved to New York City to become an actor, but segued into writing instead.

Vlahos served as a Navy lieutenant in the South Pacific during World War II, and then returned to New York, where he wrote sketches for a Broadway musical review called “New Faces.”

During an extensive career, Vlahos amassed credits for screenplays on 17 films, 70 radio shows and about 52 network television live and film dramas, including episodes of “The Philco Television Playhouse” in 1948 and the oft-replayed 1969 television movie “Silent Night, Lonely Night.” In addition to “The Defenders,” he wrote for such series as “Route 66,” “The Nurses” and “Marcus Welby, M.D.”