David Mills, Award-Winning TV Writer, Dies at 48

David Mills, the award-winning writer and producer of TV shows including "NYPD Blue," "The Wire," and "The Corner," died from an apparent brain aneurysm on Tuesday. He was 48.

Mills died in New Orleans while overseeing a shoot on his new HBO series, "Treme." His longtime friend and co-writer David Simon said Mills passed away in his director's chair, according to the New York Times. “He was talking to someone who turned away for a minute, and when he turned back, David was just, well, gone,” Simon said. Mills was taken to Tulane Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Washington-born journalist and Emmy Award winner began his career as a reporter for The Washington Post and The Washington Times. He got his first television-writing job when he was hired by David Milch to write scripts for "NYPD Blue." Mills was critically acclaimed for his depiction of racial tension and personal power struggles. He teamed with Simon to produce "The Wire," an award-winning series on HBO.

Mr. Mills is survived by a brother, Franklin Mills, and two sisters, Blanche Carroll and Gloria Johnson.