Heather Gray, the executive producer and showrunner of the CBS talk show The Talk, has died. she was 50
Gray died Saturday in Los Angeles of an “unforgivable illness,” according to CBS, without giving further details.
Gray joined The Talk, which debuted in 2010, as Senior Supervising Producer midway through its first season. She was promoted to co-executive producer the following season and was named executive producer in August 2019.
Gray received two Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Talk Show, Entertainment in 2016 and 2018, as well as an NAACP Image Award in 2016.
Before joining The Talk, Gray was a development producer at Endemol USA from 2010-2011 and a supervising producer for The Tyra Banks Show from 2006-2010, where she received her first two Daytime Emmys.
A letter praising Gray’s contributions to the show was sent to the staff and crew of The Talk by CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Studios President David Stapf, CBS Network Entertainment President Kelly Kahl, CBS Network Entertainment Senior Executive Vp Programming Thom Sherman, CBS Network Entertainment, Executive Vice President Current Programs Amy Reisenbach and CBS Network Entertainment Senior Vice President Daytime Programs Laurie Seidman. Read it in full below.
Dear Talk family,
On behalf of all of us at CBS, we would like to offer our deepest condolences for the loss of our beloved Heather. She was an inspiration to all of us, alive and thriving while bravely battling an unforgiving illness. She showed us what true courage looks like.
Heather has been the heart and soul of The Talk from day one. Her brilliance as an innovative producer was matched only by her big smile and infectious laugh. She was an admired, beloved mother bear of her family and a leader everyone looked up to. Her contribution to the show’s success is immeasurable, but more importantly, she was a boss who proved that you can lead with kindness, caring and friendship. Heather was everyone’s friend, everyone’s champion, everyone’s favorite person on set. We will miss her terribly.
We recognize and share the pain and shock you are feeling at this moment and the sorrow you will feel in the days to come. As the show begins its hiatus on August 1st (Monday), we don’t want you to mourn and grieve alone. The set will be open, and Human Resources will provide staff and grief counseling in person and by phone. The HR department will also be there. We understand how difficult this will be for all of you and want you all to know that we are here for you.
George, Kelly, David, Thom, Amy, Laurie