Colleagues at NBC Universal have been stunned by the sudden death of 44-year-old Nora O’Brien. The Los Angeles Times reported that O’Brien was playing basketball with some other people during a break on the set of the NBC series pilot “Parenthood” on Wednesday when she collapsed and died.
O’Brien had been an NBCU exec for over six years and since January 2008 had served as Vice President of Drama Programming for NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. Before taking that position she had been VP of Original Programming for NBCU’s Sci Fi Channel.
“Parenthood,” a TV series remake of the 1987 Steve Martin film, is being shot in Berkeley, CA.
A joint statement issued from Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios; Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, and Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, said:
“Nora O’Brien, a veteran programming executive who has worked at NBC Universal for the last six years (most recently in the network/studio drama department), passed away last night while on the set of NBC’s drama pilot “Parenthood” in Berkeley, California. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of our beloved colleague Nora, who was respected and cherished by so many people in the entertainment community. She’ll truly be missed by all of us.”
