Kevin Arkadie, the acclaimed television writer and producer who co-created the groundbreaking police drama New York Undercover, has died at the age of 68, his family and colleagues confirmed. Arkadie passed away on December 17, 2025.
Arkadie’s death was announced by relatives on social media and later confirmed by Wolf Entertainment, the company co-founded by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, with whom Arkadie developed New York Undercover in the early 1990s. Wolf led tributes to his longtime collaborator, saying Arkadie brought “the voice of the next generation to cop shows” and was pivotal in bringing diversity to primetime television.
A Trailblazer in Television
New York Undercover, which debuted on Fox in 1994, became a cultural touchstone by featuring two people of color — detectives J.C. Williams and Eddie Torres — as its lead characters. The series ran four seasons and was celebrated for its authentic portrayal of urban life, including hip-hop and R&B music woven into its narrative.
Born December 10, 1957, in Washington, D.C., Arkadie grew up in a creative environment and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from Southern Methodist University before pivoting to writing and production. He began his television career in the early 1990s and quickly established himself as a versatile storyteller.
Over his more than three-decade career, Arkadie worked across genres and networks on acclaimed shows including NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, and The Shield. He earned two Emmy nominations for producing Chicago Hope and NYPD Blue, and his credits spanned other series and miniseries, including The Temptations, Soul Food, Ambitions, The Quad, and BET’s Sacrifice.
Health and Final Years
In mid-2025, Arkadie shared publicly that he was coping with kidney failure, posting on Instagram about his health struggles and efforts to seek a donor. Some reports indicate complications, including pneumonia, following a kidney transplant, though official causes have varied in early coverage.
Legacy and Tributes
Peers, collaborators, and family members have remembered Arkadie as a generous mentor, a passionate creative force, and a storyteller who helped shift television toward more inclusive and nuanced narratives. Wolf Entertainment described his work as “meaningful and memorable,” and many say his influence will endure through the writers and producers he inspired.
Arkadie is survived by his wife, family, and extended creative community. Plans for a celebration of his life are expected in 2026.
