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'Brian's Song,' 'Roots,' 'Purple Rain' writer dies at 83
Read full article: 'Brian's Song,' 'Roots,' 'Purple Rain' writer dies at 83LOS ANGELES โ William Blinn, a screenwriter for the landmark TV projects โBrianโs Songโ and โRootsโ and the Prince film โPurple Rain,โ has died. Blinn died Thursday of natural causes at an assisted living community in Burbank, California, his daughter, Anneliese Johnson, said Saturday. He won Emmy and Peabody honors for the 1971 TV movie โBrian's Song," which dramatized the friendship of Chicago Bears players Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. Last month, Hall of Fame running back Sayers died at age 77. Blinn and Albert Magnoli wrote 1984โฒs โPurple Rain,โ which Magnoli directed.