John Masius dead: TV writer dies at 75 as family share cause of death

John Masius, the Emmy-winning writer and producer known for his work on St. Elsewhere and Touched by an Angel, has sadly passed away at the age of 75 following a nine-month battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), as announced by his ex-wife, actress Ellen Bry.

Masius had a long and illustrious career in television, creating network dramas including Providence and working alongside stars such as Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Vartan on Hawthorne.

His significant contributions to St. Elsewhere, which ran from 1982 to 1987, earned him two Emmys out of 14 nominations for his work on the show.

Over the years, Masius' talent was recognised with multiple Writers Guild Awards, Humanitias Prizes, a People's Choice Award and the prestigious Peabody Award.

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However, according to his ex-wife, he "never measured success by trophies", stating: "What mattered most to him was whether his stories touched people, whether they gave comfort, sparked laughter or inspired compassion."

He leaves behind his three children, Hannah, Max and Sam, and his former wife Ellen.

ALS is a rare motor neuron disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis and ultimately death due to respiratory failure.

The condition disrupts signals from the brain to the muscles, affecting movement, speech, breathing and swallowing. While there is currently no cure, symptoms can be managed with therapies to improve quality of life.

Stephen Hawking lived with ALS for 55 years, and Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane also disclosed his diagnosis in April 2025.

Masius first broke into Hollywood in the 1980s as a writer on CBS’ The White Shadow. His breakthrough came with St. Elsewhere, earning Primetime Emmy Awards in 1984 and 1986 and amassing 14 nominations overall for his work on the acclaimed medical drama.

In 1994, he introduced audiences to Touched by an Angel, the inspirational CBS hit led by Roma Downey as a heavenly messenger. The show went on to run for nine seasons, though Masius later stepped aside when executives judged his vision “too dark” for network audiences.

He continued to explore medical storytelling with NBC’s Providence (1999–2002) before creating the TNT drama Hawthorne (2009–2011), starring Jada Pinkett Smith.

His varied résumé also included the short-lived Ferris Bueller sitcom, Showtime’s Dead Like Me - where he succeeded Bryan Fuller after creative conflicts with MGM Television - and the legal powerhouse L.A. Law.

Recognition for his career extended far beyond Emmys. Masius collected Writers Guild Awards, Humanitas Prizes, a Peabody, and even a People’s Choice Award.

He is survived by his children Hannah, Max, and Sam, along with his ex-wife Bry - his partner from 1986 to 1999 - who also appeared as Shirley Daniels on St. Elsewhere.

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