A mainstay of the television world is receiving love and tributes after succumbing to ALS following a brave battle. The Hollywood Reporter says John Masius died Saturday, September 20 at the age of 75. The story says the producer’s ex-wife, Ellen Bry, confirmed his death took place at his Los Angeles home. He experienced a nine-month decline related to his illness, per the report.
GettyMasius won his first Primetime Emmy Award in 1984 for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for the episode “The Women” from “St. Elsewhere,” which ran on NBC from 1982 to 1988. Two years later, his writing on the show won him another trophy in the same category for the episode “Time Heals.” The Scarsdale, New York native has also won two Humanitas Prize Awards.
Masius was also known for creating shows such as “Providence,” “Ferris Bueller,” and “Hawthorne,” per his IMDb profile.
‘St. Elsewhere’ Gave Denzel Washington Major Break
The NBC medical drama that gave Masius his two Emmys was a major career breakthrough for “Man On Fire” star Denzel Washington. His role as Dr. Philip Chandler made him a household name. The year after the series wrapped, he scored the role of Private Trip in “Glory,” which won him his first Academy Award.
In a 1984 interview about “St. Elsewhere,” Washington said he had been giving the writers some input on his character, and hoping to “loosen him up a little bit.” The star explained, “I think I’ve had some real ideas about what I wanted him to be. I was very adamant about presenting a good image.” He went on to say his character had become “almost too stiff” due to his initial fear of stereotypes. “He’s from Yale, he’s educated, and I wanted to appeal to those types of people. Now I’m kind of interested in just showing the human side of the guy. You know, he trips and falls down, he stubs his toe, he cracks jokes, he makes mistakes,” he finished.
John Masius Died of Same Illness Eric Dane Is Currently Battling
Masius is not the only person in Hollywood who has been struck by ALS. Beloved “Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane, who played Mark “Dr. McSteamy” Sloane from 2006 to 2012, announced in April 2025 through a People exclusive.
Dane, who had a mainstream resurgence with the role of Cal Jacobs in “Euphoria,” told the magazine at the time, “âI am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.â He also said he was planning to be on the “Euphoria” set the next week. The HBO streaming hit is set for a Spring 2026 release, per Elle.
Last week, Dane spoke in an Instagram video about partnering with Push for Progress, which is described as “a groundbreaking campaign to accelerate ALS research, expand access to treatments, and secure $1 billion in federal funding for ALS over the next three years.” The group is also trying to renew the Act for ALS law.
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