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March 31st, 2010
01:10 PM ET
'Wire,' 'Treme' writer David Mills dies David Mills, a writer and producer for some of the best TV shows of the past two decades - including "Homicide," "Picket Fences," "ER" and "The Wire" - has died, CNN has confirmed through HBO. Mills reportedly died of a brain aneurysm Tuesday in New Orleans, where he was a writer and co-producer of the new HBO series "Treme." The show is scheduled for its premiere April 11. (HBO, like CNN, is a unit of Time Warner.) "HBO is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague David Mills," the network said in a statement to CNN and HLN. "He was a gracious and humble man, and will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved him, as well as those who were aware of his immense talent." Mills was a newspaper reporter when he made the jump into TV writing with "Homicide," a series based on work by his friend and fellow reporter David Simon. The pair won a Writers Guild award for a "Homicide" script. According to TV critic Alan Sepinwall, Mills was responsible for creating the character of Dr. Romano on "ER." He also won Emmys for his work on the HBO series "The Corner," another Simon project. "Treme" has earned a great deal of advance press for its subject matter - a neighborhood in post-Katrina New Orleans - and its pedigree, including Simon and other "Wire" veterans. Simon and the show were the subject of a major New York Times Magazine story earlier in March. Mills was 48.
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Hollywood is known for glorifying Actors, but for me it's the writers who deserve most of the glory. They turn a simple sheet of paper into a magical wonderland that takes your mind on a fantastic journey. David was an amazing writer and in the days of mindless reality TV a talent like his will be greatly missed.
Who?
His works were amazing i never knew certain things about my own city until HBO came to Baltimore and started fliming history his works will never be forgotten and he will be missed my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends although i didnt know u personally I gained a lot from you and u will be missed R.i.p David Mills.
S~
Very sad, and right on the eve of he latest project, "Treme".
Here's a link to an obituary written by David SImon that appeared in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Those of you who have posted inaccurate claims here (Tony, Howard) would benefit from reading it.
http://www.nola.com/treme-hbo/index.ssf/2010/03/david_simon_remembers_his_frie.html
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I just lost my father in law a few weeks ago, I just hope and pray his closest family and friends can find as much comfort as possible in this terrible time. I will say it's nice to see so much love for him on this thread.
Take care, David, wherever you are. We miss you.
If you never saw Homicide, you should check it out. Not hip, flashy, or TV prime time friendly, just incredible writing and acting. Rest well Mr. Mills.
The Wire..Greatest show ever made! RIP,
A GREAT man who will be SORELY missed by even those who don;t understand his contribution.
david mills i feel so hurt broken for you im sure you did so much to help but when its time for you to go it just is and to the family -i am so sorry you guys have had to go through this-
Homicide was the best series I ever watched. I loved it, and it was totally relevant. Too bad current shows can't get that serious, and have to stop at fluff.
"God must have needed a good writer"
-Jordan
I suspect he would have appreciated this immensely or at least have given a sideways grin to it. Thanks, Jordan.
can one of the moderators please remove Willie12345's comment? This isn't the place for partisan rants.
R.I.P. David. You leave behind a legacy of amazing, intelligent, awe-inspiring work. Your work on The Wire (the greatest piece of filmed media – movies, television etc.) alone should cement you as one of the greatest writing talents of this century. You will be missed.
This is a shock that such a talented screen writer has died at a young age. His shows will live on.
Rest in peace
David helped me years ago. He was a generous man with a good heart. He'll be missed.
The Wire is one of the best shows I have ever seen. If you havent seen it, find it.
A talent like David will be missed.
Great writer! ER and Homicide were two of my favs. RIP
The comment about ranchers should be flagged as inappropriate.... but CNN's site doesn't allow it. So congratulations, Teabaggy. You've polluted the heartfelt comments about a wonderful man who has died. Now stop and allow the rest of us to share in some measure of grief. I'm sure you have somewhere important to be.
lol willie12345 your silly. Please dont tell me you really feel that way?
if so bust out a pad and pen and scoot down there to mexico and report away. I cant stand the fact that almost every news story out of mexico these days has to do wit a murder in one way or another. Time to clean that rat hole up and do it quick before more people die.
His insight into charcters was second to none. What a huge loss!!!
Man what a bummer I can just hope he felt no pain I lost a childhood friend to a brain aneurysm we are in our 40's now. I myself had an aortic aneurysm at just 28; my prayers are with him and his family. This is a tremendous loss to the field of creative television writers.
God must have needed a good writer.
What a shock. My deepest sympathies to his friends, co-workers and family. I am a big fan of the shows he worked on and he was a very talented writer.
The Wire. Best television series EVER. I always thought the show was severely underrated. The man was a genius with this work...and will be terribly missed.
I can't believe he's gone. I just spoke to him a few weeks ago. I know everyone will talk about what a great writer he was. But, I remember him as someone who took the time to meet with me (an unknown writer), took me to eat at Itana Bahia restaurant, take me to the set of The Corner when I was visiting Maryland, introduce me around, give me advice, become my friend, and stay in touch with me over the years because I was the proverbial young, gifted and black writer. And during a time when he could just have insulated himself in his success in a white male dominated world, David's hand and heart was continually stretched out to other blacks. Even when his mom was terminally ill, he returned my calls and continued to encourage me. David's success was on a level beyond that of most writer-producers in Hollywood. But, I will always remember him for the heart and courage he displayed in regularly being there for people of color on much lower levels, when he didn't need to be. I guess that says it all. David took the time to do things that maybe he didn't need to do, but things that someone ought to have. A successful man with a sense of ethics. Can't find many of those in Hollywood. I will miss you, David.
Todd Leopold:
Re: your story on David Milch...not David Mills.He wrote LA Law,NYPD etc.
Grew up in Buffalo N.Y. His father Elmer Milch was a leading surgeon in Buffalo.David has a brother in Buffalo who is a physician.
Unless I have the wrong person but I don't think I do....his name is David Milch
Why no pic of the young man that passed? Tragic loss.
David Mills was a great writer, and this is a tremendous loss for television.
The banner line read "NYPD Blue writer dies". I think they confused Mr. Mills with David Milch. I don't believe David Mills wrote for NYPD Blue, but I may be mistaken.
Much too young – he was a fantastic and gritty writer – all of those shows were amazing and stand on their own.
Condolences to his family.
The Wire is one of the masterpieces of television. A terrible loss.
I am a huge fan of David's shows, especially The Wire, he will be missed. My condolences to his family.
So a WRITER dies, but CNN shows a picture of an ACTRESS?!!
His writing made us better in the way we deal with our real worlds. We are better for his having been with us for such a short period of time. May his soul find peace.
Sad to hear. Prayers to his family. Maybe Khandi will return to CSI Miami. It's just not the same without her.
What a terrible loss for his family. Much too young to die- and so suddenly.
What a sad loss for the public. We have benefited by enjoying his talent for years. ER and NYPD Blue are two of the best shows I've ever seen.
When will they release the next season of NYPD Blue on DVD? What a tribute it could be for us to enjoy the rest of his awesome work.
Wow, what a loss. The Wire to me, is the best show that has ever been on TV. His writing was gritty, honest and simply the best on TV. You could always tell when he wrote something. My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Bless his Spirit, and his life.
R. I. P
one damn good writer and person!!
This is a horrific loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to David's family.
Dumb Picture. What about a picture of the guy who died instead of some chick? Bad taste.
This man was an amazing writer. All the shows mentioned were brilliant and to know that he was responsible for the majority of that, makes it even more sad. The world has lost a touch of Brilliance.May
he rest and smile that because of DVD, his work will live on forever.
The Wire is an incredible show. Like watching literature on the screen. Everyone should get the DVDs and watch the first seasons. I've never seen a more accurate depiction of urban American life.
David was dearly loved by family and friends. He has a great spirit and we will miss him so. Thank you all for your condolences.
I don't see how the picture is inappropriate as it's a depiction of his latest work. His picture on the IMDB link to his name in the article was taken in 2004. Maybe there were no current pictures of him available.
He certainly was a great writer. The actors on NYPD Blue accredited the grit of it's characters to Mills. He had his demons that I hope he conquered. As a person, artist and talent, he will be missed.
I agree Jack!
I'm sorry to hear about this, he was a great writer.
I agree with Jack, should have been a picture of David. I'm sorry to hear about this, he was a great writer.
Why not a picture of David? Inappropriate picture..
May you Rest in Peace/ Paradise. My prayers go out to the family and friends.
Love, Melissa
The Wire is one of the most underrated tv shows in history. And it is my favorite show of all-time.
My condolences go out to your family.
Just as a factual correction, it's "Alan Sepinwall." Not David.
What a terrible loss. You will be missed David