Veteran TV director, writer and producer Ralph W. Hemecker, known for his work on shows including “The X-Files,” “Blue Bloods,” “Once Upon a Time” and “The Flash,” has died. He was 65.
According to an obituary notice, Hemecker died July 10 at his home in Glendale, Calif. Hemecker’s credits over the years also include “Millennium,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Numb3rs,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Nikita,” “V,” and many more. He directed the Fox pilot “Roar,” starring a then-unknown Heath Ledger, as well as pilots for “Lawless” and “Dead at 21.”
Ralph William Hemecker was born on June 12, 1961, and studied English at Bucknell University, where he was already making short films. He later took filmmaking classes at New York University.
Hemecker started his career in production and post-production, and early on was a director on Fox’s “America’s Most Wanted.” He also got early experience on the syndicated series “Silk Stalkings,” which he later directed episodes for, as well as Stephen J. Cannell’s “Renegade.”
Another big break came in 2000, when he directed the TNT TV movie adaptation of the comic “Witchblade,” executive produced by Dan Halsted and Oliver Stone. That turned into the “Witchblade” TV series, which he served as showrunner, executive producer and writer for two seasons, from 2001 to 2002.
Among his busiest gigs were directing 31 episodes of “Blue Bloods” and 28 episodes of “Once Upon a Time.”
“Some losses are impossible to put into words,” “Once Upon a Time” star Lana Parilla wrote on Instagram. “Ralph Hemecker was one of the kindest, most generous souls I’ve ever known. One of ‘Once Upon a Time’s’ defining directors. A truly passionate, beautiful man and my dear friend. I was lucky enough to shadow Ralph as a director as he knew ‘Once,’ behind the camera, best. He was always carrying a camera in hand, staying up all night in the director’s office putting his shots together, studying the scripts and endlessly visiting sets in preparation. His passion was infectious. We always knew if Ralph was directing, we were in good hands.”
Wrote “Once” exec producers Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis: “Ralph Hemecker was a great friend, partner, and a true artist. His contribution to ‘Once Upon a Time’ was immeasurable and he will be missed more than words can express.”
Hemecker also directed feature films and television movies such as “Dead On,” “Blade Squad,” “Haunting Sarah,” “Fatal Desire,” “Nora Roberts’ Angels Fall,” “Nora Roberts’ Midnight Bayou” and “Skyrunners.” He launched Mythic Films in 2000.
Hemecker is survived by two stepdaughters, as well as his father, sister, brother, three nephews, one niece and a great-nephew. Services will be announced at a later date.