‘Homeland’ Writer-Producer Henry Bromell Dies of Heart Attack
Mia Russell Homeland executive producer Henry Bromell died Monday of a heart of attack. He was 65.
The acclaimed writer-producer had been part of the Emmy-winning drama’s six-member writing staff since its first season. In addition to a rich résumé, which includes Northern Exposure, Homicide: Life on the Street, Chicago Hope, Rubicon and Showtime’s Brotherhood, Bromell brought with him personal experience as his father had worked for the CIA.
“We were lucky to work with Henry on and off for the past 18 years,” studio Twentieth Century Fox TV and Fox 21 said in a statement Tuesday morning. “He was a supremely talented writer and as kind and warm a person as you could ever meet. He will be deeply missed at the studio and on Homeland. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and children.”
In recent months, Bromell had been particularly involved in luring new staff members to the Homeland’s writers room ahead of the show’s third season. Among the hires: James Yoshimura,who had worked with Bromell on Homicide during the 1990s.
“We are deeply saddened at the loss of our dear friend Henry Bromell, who has been a part of the Showtime family for over a decade,” the premium network said in a statement. “Henry was an immensely talented and prolific writer, director and showrunner, and his work on Brotherhood and Homeland was nothing short of brilliant. His passion, warmth, humor and generosity will be greatly missed. Our hearts and thoughts go out to his wife and family.”
Like much of the Homeland’s pedigreed staff, he had been blown away with the show’s breakout success, which included a string of awards show acclaim for the series as well as its cast.
“When we were writing the first season, we had no idea this would hit the zeitgeist,’” he told The Hollywood Reporter during a 2012 set visit for the fifth episode of the Homeland’s second season, which Bromell had written. “We were trying to write a really good television show. The last time this happened to me was on Northern Exposure. First it was the reviews, and then it was ‘President Obama is watching.’ It’s cool, but then it’s, ‘Oh God, now we’re going to let everyone down.’ ”
He noted at the time that his “secret fantasy” was that the episode — titled “Q&A,” in which Brody (Damian Lewis) is brutally interrogated by Quinn (Rupert Friend) and later Carrie (Claire Danes)— would win Lewis an Emmy.
Bromell shared an Emmy and a Golden Globe last year as a producer of Homeland, which was named outstanding drama series and best TV drama at the respective trophy shows. He also earned a 2012 WGA Award for Homeland. Bromell garnered another drama series Emmy nom for I’ll Fly Away in 1993. That NBC drama earned him a Humanitas Prize in 1992 as well.
“Henry was a profoundly decent and generous man. A great writer and a great friend. No matter how crazy things got, when he was in the room, you knew everything was going to be okay. Everybody here at Homeland is grieving, and we will miss him beyond words,” added Homeland co-creators Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon along with the show’s production.
Bromell is survived by his wife, Sarah, and two sons.
