TV Director Ralph W. Hemecker Dies at 65

Ralph W. Hemecker, a veteran television director, writer, and producer whose career spanned more than three decades, has died. He was 65. Hemecker died at his home in Glendale, California, on July 10, 2026, his family confirmed. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Hemecker was a prolific director whose work included episodes of numerous popular series, most notably directing 31 episodes of the CBS police drama "Blue Bloods" and 28 episodes of the ABC fantasy series "Once Upon a Time." His extensive list of credits also includes "The X-Files," "Millennium," "Ghost Whisperer," "Numb3rs," "The Vampire Diaries," "Nikita," "V," "The Flash," "Legends of Tomorrow," "Quantico," and "Body of Proof."

Born Ralph William Hemecker on June 12, 1961, he studied English at Bucknell University, where he began making short films. He later took filmmaking courses at New York University. He started his professional career in production and post-production before moving into directing. Some of his earliest directing work was on Fox's "America's Most Wanted," where he helmed dramatic reenactments. He also worked on the syndicated series "Silk Stalkings" and on "Renegade," created by Stephen J. Cannell.