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Edward Hume, the Emmy-nominated writer of “The Day After” and creator of “The Streets of San Francisco,” has died, his rep confirmed to Variety. He was 87.

Hume was known for his work on the critically acclaimed, 1983 sci-fi TV movie “The Day After,” which was nominated for a total of 10 Emmys and won two. The nuclear war-centric film is regarded as the most-watched TV movie of all time, being seen by over 100 million U.S. viewers. It notably was the first American film to be released in the Soviet Union, launching in 35 countries in 17 languages.

“There can be no doubt about the size of Earth’s debt to Edward Hume,” said Nicholas Meyer, the director of “The Day After.”

Hume was born in Chicago, Ill., on May 18, 1936. Throughout the course of his career in Hollywood, he was often recognized for his passion for storytelling, winning the Humanitas prize in 1990 and the...

This made-for-television film, based on Nathaniel Benchley's book "Welcome to Xanadu", is a gem among the recently released films from the Warner Brother's archives.

The Setup

Stranded when her truck breaks down, 17-year-old Doris Mae (Linda Blair) accepts a ride from Leonard Hatch (Martin Sheen), unaware he’s an escaped mental patient. Held against her will, Doris Mae is taken to Leonard’s ramshackle hideout, a cabin nestled deep within the woods. Frightened at first, she soon finds her captor to be a kind and caring soul.

Director: Lee Philips

Writer: Edward Hume

Stars: Linda Blair, Martin Sheen and Jeanne Cooper

I was initially skeptical of 'Sweet Hostage' after having recently seen 'Badlands' and wondering how close the two films would actually be to one another -- but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself captivated by this character driven, simple story.

Leonard (Sheen) escapes from a Boston asylum...

What do Linda Blair (The Exorcist), a bunch of hungry dogs, and April Fool's Day all have in common? They are all part a bunch of horror themed titles that are finally being released to DVD through the Warner Archieve label. Titles include the April Fool's themed slasher Killer Party, the when dogs go crazy thriller The Pack, or Linda Blair's followup film after The Exorcist - Sweet Hostage. Talk about Christmas coming early this Halloween season!

From the press release:

The Phantom Of Hollywood (1974) Remastered Worldwide Films was the grandest dame of all the Hollywood studios, until small minded souls eager for quick profits started to dismantle her, dream by dream and lot by lot. Until a mysterious Phantom appears, willing to murder anyone who threatens the studio lot he calls home. Filmed on location on the glorious MGM lots as they were, in fact, being sold off and destroyed,...

Chicago – Linda Blair trades her celebrity for activism. Her WorldHeart Foundation is a literal pet project, as it rehabilitates neglected and abandoned animals on the streets of Los Angeles. Blair, best known for her unforgettable role as Regan in “The Exorcist,” recently appeared in Chicago at the Hollywood Celebrities & Memorabilia Show.

Linda Denise Blair was a child actor in the early 1970s when she beat out 600 applicants for the role of Regan in The Exorcist. Her portrayal of a little girl who was possessed by the devil was the sensation of the 1973 film year. She received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and an Academy Award nomination.

Her career since then has been checkered but has given her steady work. Notable roles after The Exorcist included the TV Movie “Born Innocent,” “Airport 1975” and a sequel that wasn’t as successful as the first, “Exorcist II: The Heretic.