‘Blue Bloods,’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ TV Director Ralph W. Hemecker Dies at 65
Veteran television director Ralph W. Hemecker died at age 65 on July 10 at his home in Glendale, California. He was known for directing episodes of series such as “Blue Bloods,” “Once Upon a Time,” and “The X‑Files,” among many others. Colleagues remembered him as a kind and passionate professional who contributed significantly to genre television.
- ▪Ralph W. Hemecker passed away on July 10 at the age of 65 in Glendale, California.
- ▪He directed 31 episodes of “Blue Bloods” and 28 episodes of “Once Upon a Time.”
- ▪His career included work on shows like “The X‑Files,” “The Flash,” and “The Vampire Diaries,” as well as directing pilots and TV movies.
- ▪He studied English at Bucknell University and later took filmmaking classes at New York University.
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| Original publisher | Variety |
| Canonical URL | https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ralph-hemecker-dies-blue-bloods-once-upon-a-time-director-1236820745/ |
| Publication time | Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:59:09 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-07-25T01:12:55.855Z |
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Home TV News Jul 24, 2026 3:59pm PT ‘Blue Bloods,’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ TV Director Ralph W. Hemecker Dies at 65 By Michael Schneider Plus Icon Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large franklinavenue Latest ‘Blue Bloods,’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ TV Director Ralph W. Hemecker Dies at 65 4 hours ago Noah Wyle on ‘The Pitt’ Fan Discourse, Saving Hollywood and What’s Coming In Season 3 6 hours ago ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ Co-Creator Bill Prady Explains the Science Behind the Show’s Multiverse 1 day ago See All Courtesy photo 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.
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