Hill Street Blues producer dies

Scott Brazil is survived by his wife and two children

US television producer and director Scott Brazil, whose credits included police dramas Hill Street Blues and The Shield, has died aged 50.

Brazil died from respiratory failure after a long illness, a spokesman for The Shield's channel FX Networks said.

He was a producer of Hill Street Blues, winning two Emmys and a Golden Globe.

Brazil was also an executive producer of The Shield, directing 11 episodes, and collected the Golden Globe for best drama in 2002 with creator Shawn Ryan.

'Great guy'

He also directed episodes of Nip/Tuck, CSI: Miami and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The Shield colleague Ryan said Brazil had been at work until 13 April.

He said: "That's what made all this so stunning for us. We're kind of shocked.

"This was really one of the great guys of Hollywood."