Eric Overmyer

Eric Ellis Overmyer (September 25, 1951 – March 16, 2026) was an American writer and producer. He wrote and/or produced numerous television shows, including St. Elsewhere, Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order, The Wire, New Amsterdam, Bosch, Treme, and The Man in the High Castle.

Life and career Overmyer was born in Boulder, Colorado, on September 25, 1951, and grew up in Seattle. He credited his time at the college with helping him find and claim his identity as a writer.

Overmyer joined the crew of Law & Order as a consulting producer and writer for the twelfth season in 2001. He became a co-executive producer for the later part of the season. He remained in this role until he was promoted to executive producer for the fifteenth season in fall 2004. He left the show after the conclusion of the fifteenth season.

He joined the crew of The Wire as a consulting producer and writer for the fourth season in 2006. Overmyer wrote the teleplays for the episodes "Margin of Error" and "Misgivings". from stories he co-wrote with producer Ed Burns. Overmyer was hired to replace George Pelecanos as a full-time writer and producer.

Overmyer collaborated with Simon again on the HBO drama Treme. They co-created the series which is about post-Katrina New Orleans. Overmyer lived part-time in New Orleans and used his experience in navigating the "ornate oral tradition" of the city's stories.

Published plays His plays have been published by Broadway Play Publishing Inc. and include:

Alki (adaptation of Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen) Amphitryon (adaption of the plays by Giraudoux and von Kleist respectively) Dark Rapture Don Quixote de La Jolla Figaro/Figaro The Heliotrope Bouquet by Scott Joplin and Louis Chauvin In a Pig's Valise In Perpetuity Throughout the Universe Mi Vida Loca Native Speech On the Verge

Awards