David Mills, TV writer, dies at 48

David Mills, a veteran TV writer associated with some of the great dramas of the medium, died Tuesday night while working on a new program for HBO. He was 48.

According to the network, he died in New Orleans where he was working on the new series, "Treme." The network provided no further information, but a report in the New Orleans Times-Picayune said he had suffered from an aneurysm while on set.

News of his death sent shock waves through the TV industry. He worked on, wrote for, or creatively guided "The Corner," "The Wire," "ER," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Kingpin," a show he created for NBC. He was also a writer for "NYPD Blue," as well as a protege of David Milch and Steven Bochco.

"Treme" - pronounced "TREM-ay" - is expected to be a major prestige vehicle for HBO, which has been in something of a prolonged "quality drama" drought since shows like "The Wire" and "The Sopranos" left the air. Mills was co-executive producer of "Treme," along with David Simon, who created "The Wire."

In a report in The Associated Press, Wendell Pierce, who played Det. William "Bunk" Moreland on "The Wire," and portrays a musician in "Treme," said Mills - a former writer with The Washington Post and Washington Times - collapsed on the set Tuesday.

"He was carrying on a conversation and just fell over," Pierce said. "They called the medics, but there was nothing to be done."

In a statement, HBO said the network is "deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend and colleague. 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. David has left us too soon but his brilliant work will live on."