MacGyver's No-Gun Maverick: Stephen Downing Dies at 87: Stephen Downing, LAPD deputy chief who as MacGyver showrunner ditched guns for Swiss Army knives and social justice plots, died November 20, 2025, from sepsis at 87.Rising through LAPD ranks amid Watts riots and War on Drugs, he secretly scripted anti-violence episodes for Dragnet and Kojak under aliases, later helming Knight Rider, T.J. Hooker, and RoboCop for 500+ TV hours.Downing's family show featured wife Adrienne as publicist and daughter Julie acting; post-Hollywood, he exposed Long Beach PD scandals with ACLU. Story By Dr Donnell Ballard #AnthonyMackie #JamesGunn #Mavericks #RickSteves