Posted on 04/19/2006 5:29:27 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Emmy-winning producer-director Scott Brazil, whose television shows included "The Shield" and "Hill Street Blues," has died. He was 50.
Brazil died Monday at Sherman Oaks Hospital of respiratory failure due to Lou Gehrig's disease and lyme disease complications, FX Networks spokesman John Solberg said Wednesday.
Brazil was executive producer of "The Shield," the first original drama series on FX Networks, and he directed 11 episodes. Brazil and "Shield" creator and executive producer Shawn Ryan won the 2002 Golden Globe for drama series.
Although his condition had worsened, Brazil used a motorized wheelchair to go about his duties as "The Shield" producer-director, Ryan said.
"He worked (last) Thursday, working to the very last day talking to the writers, doing casting and prepping our next episode," Ryan said Wednesday. "That's what made all this so stunning for us. We're kind of shocked."
Shooting on the set of "The Shield" continued on schedule Tuesday in tribute to Brazil.
"I think everyone would have felt lost if they went home and had to deal with this and had nothing to do," Ryan said.
"This was really one of the great guys of Hollywood," he added.
Brazil also directed episodes of "Nip/Tuck," "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI: Miami," "NCIS," "JAG," "Nash Bridges" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He also directed the pilot of "Playmakers" for ESPN.
As a producer on NBC's "Hill Street Blues," Brazil won two Emmys for drama series in 1983 and 1984, received two nominations in that category, won a Golden Globe in 1983 for TV drama series and received two Golden Globe nominations.
Brazil was developing series for several networks, including the drama "Kill Pit" with James DeMonaco for Spike TV.
Brazil graduated from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School of Journalism and was a member of the Directors Guild and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
He is survived by his wife, Marie; daughter Lindsay, 15; son Mark, 11; his father David; his mother Barbara; and brother Griff. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the television academy's Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre in North Hollywood.
Wow. this is one of the best shows on TV.
a big loss for Shield fans.
My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
"He worked (last) Thursday, working to the very last day talking to the writers, doing casting and prepping our next episode,"
I haven't got a clue about his politics, though I appreciate the talent involved in all of the shows mentioned in this article. But totally ignoring that aspect, the man had virtues that I admire, greatly.
Kind of reminds me of Bill Bixby, directing TV episodes while lying on his back during a bad episode. One has to honor folks like this.
I happen to really enjoy the stuff he did and have not assigned any political "pro or con" to it. His work was provocative and VERY interesting.
He will be missed.
As for all, I say a prayer that he be reconciled with his Creator.
Very unfortunate. Next to 'The Sopranos', 'The Shield' is one of the best shows on television (I haven't seen '24' at all). Didn't Michael Chiklis, aka Vic Mackey, produce most of the shows recently though?
Scott was a very important part of the show. In addition to directing several episodes himself, he also hired the directors and oversaw them.
A shock and a sad loss of a good man. May God rest his soul.
Geez, he must've been pretty darn young, directing Hill St Blues...
RIP.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Brazil. You've earned it.
Hill Street Blues was monumental; watching it was like peering intently at the top of the mixing bowl while spilling the contents of your refrigerator door over the spinning metal spirals attached to your Sunbeam Mix Master.
'The Shield' is one of my favorite shows, actually overtaking '24' to some extent. "24' is getting too cliched, too predictable, too far-fetched. These are things I would never say about 'The Shield'. If anything, 'The Shield' keeps getting better, and this past season they really stepped it up a notch by adding Forest Whitaker.
really stepped it up a notch by adding Forest Whitaker.
______________
He's so almost creepy in this show
(although I was a little disappointed in the season finale)
One of my favorite shows as well!
I clicked onto this story in mild interest and finished with tears streaming down my face.
Lou Geherigs is a horrible way to die and worse for the family to witness.
I pray Mr. Brazil is at peace.
Amen.
I have decided that every time someone asks me to support them in one of the myriad marches and walkathons for so many different diseases and causes I will demur but thank them for reminding me to send a donation to the ALS Foundation. And then I will give them a thumbnail description of this horrid disease that seems to have no reason for striking persons and no treatment to mitigate the awful symptoms. Trapped in one's own body,unbelievably sad.
He's so almost creepy in this show
Whitaker is an interesting actor. To me, there's an undercurrent of menace even when he's playing good guys. I think of him as that neighbor of whom everybody says, "Yes, we all knew he'd snap one day."
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