The People's Court creator Stu Billett dies at 85

Deadline

The ex-Marine and former producer on the Johnny Carson-hosted Who Do You Trust? created The People's Court with Ralph Edwards in 1981 with Judge Joseph Wapner as star. The People's Court, which originally ran from 1981 to 1993, pioneered the reality/court television genre as the first arbitration-based reality court show and the first long-running hit in the space. The People's Court returned in 1997 and is still airing today with Judge Marilyn Milian.