Scott Brazil, ‘Shield,’ ‘Hill Street Blues’ Producer, Dead at 50

James Joyner @ Gone Hollywood | Thursday, April 20, 2006

Scott Brazil, an Emmy-winning television producer, died Monday after a long bout will several illnesses.

Emmy-winning producer-director Scott Brazil, whose television shows included “The Shield” and “Hill Street Blues,” has died. He was 50. Brazil died Monday 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, and a Golden Globe in 1983 for TV drama series.