RIP David Odell (1943 - 2026)

Screenwriter David Odell has died. 

While you may not be familiar with his name, you're probably very familiar with his work. 

Odell joined the writing staff of The Muppet Show in it's third season, received a "special thanks" credit on The Muppet Movie, and wrote the screenplay for The Dark Crystal and it's unproduced sequel Power of The Dark Crystal. 

He made appearances in the behind the scenes documentaries Of Muppets and Men: The Making of The Muppet Show and Reflections of the Dark Crystal.

Odell's non-Henson credits include the screenplays for Running Scared, Supergirl (1984), Masters of the Universe (1987), and the television series Tales from the Darkside and Monsters. He also directed 1990's Martians Go Home.

According to his obituary "he often said that Henson was the only true genius he ever worked with."

David Odell was 83.