Nora O'Brien dies at 44

NBC Universal says Nora O'Brien, its executive in charge of drama programming, has died.

Sources said O'Brien, a six-year NBC Universal veteran, died of a brain aneurysm. She was 44.

Spokesman Curt King says O'Brien died Wednesday after collapsing in Berkeley, Calif., on the set of a TV series in development for NBC.

"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," NBC's top execs Ben Silverman, Marc Graboff and Angela Bromstad said in a joint statement. "She'll truly be missed by all of us."

NBC, set to unveil its fall schedule to advertisers Monday, canceled all pilot screenings slated for Thursday. Production on "Parenthood" has been shut down for two days.

O'Brien had been in the Bay Area for the prodction of "Parenthood," a pilot based on the 1989 movie, which has been filming on location in southern Marin County.

O'Brien came to NBC in January 2008, when she was named vp drama programming at Universal Media Studios, which merged with the network in December. At the studio, she worked on the upcoming NBC drama series "The Philanthropist," among other projects.

O'Brien joined NBC from sister cable network Sci Fi, where she was vp original programming for four years. There, she developed episodic and longform programs including the miniseries "The Lost Room" and worked as a programming executive on "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis."

Thursday morning, the news of O'Brien's death quickly spread thorough the creative community.

Hartford, Conn.-born O'Brien, who was single, is survived by her mother, Virginia O'Brien of West Hartford, and her six siblings, their spouses, and 14 nieces and nephews.

Calling hours and funeral services are pending and will be held in West Hartford. A memorial service will be held at St. Monica's Catholic Church with a reception to follow at Sonny McLean's in Santa Monica at a future date.

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