'Quatermass' creator Kneale dead at 84

LONDON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- Nigel Kneale, the creator of the British sci-fi TV series, "The Quatermass Experiment," has died at a London hospital at age 84.

The famed screenwriter -- who spent his career inventing TV series such as the revolutionary 1953 series that brought sci-fi to Britain -- succumbed Sunday to a nagging unspecified illness, the BBC said.

In addition to creating the groundbreaking series and its hero Bernard Quatermass, Kneale was the creative force behind such TV classics as "1984," "The Stone Tape" and "The Year of the Sex Olympics."

Kneale, who is credited with being an influence on both horror icon Stephen King and film director John Carpenter, ended his TV career with work on "Sharpe's Gold" and "Kavanagh QC."

He is survived by his wife, writer Judith Kerr, and two children, author Matthew Kneale and special effects designer Tacy Kneale, the BBC said.