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William H. Wisher Jr., Co-Writer of The Terminator and T2, Dies at 71

His family said he passed away peacefully at home, a reminder of his long influence on modern action and science‑fiction cinema.

Overview

  • William H. Wisher Jr. died at age 71 on July 14, 2026, and the news was first posted by journalist David Poland before being confirmed by Wisher’s brother and a family statement.
  • The family said Wisher “passed away peacefully at home” and praised his kindness, humor, imagination, and the way he believed stories connect people across generations.
  • Wisher received an additional dialogue credit on The Terminator and a full co‑writing credit on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and he also wrote novelizations and made small on‑screen cameos in Cameron’s films.
  • Beyond the Terminator films, his credited work includes Judge Dredd, The 13th Warrior, Exorcist: The Beginning/Dominion, Live Free or Die Hard (executive producer) and I.T., and he often served as an uncredited script doctor on major action pictures.
  • Colleagues and outlets have issued tributes noting his early friendship with James Cameron, his quiet but wide‑ranging influence on blockbuster filmmaking, and that no cause of death has been disclosed.