Greg Evans
·5 min read
Refresh for updates… Pioneering TV executive Jamie Tarses is being remembered in Hollywood today as a “fun, funny, brutally honest” and a “driving force” in some of the most beloved television series of a generation.
“She changed my life,” tweeted Kristen Johnston, star of NBC’s 3rd Rock from the Sun who said Tarses was a “huger early network supporter” of the 1996-2001 sitcom, adding that the exec “became 1 of my dearest friends. A trailblazer for women in the TV industry & an all-around beautiful, fun, brilliant person.
Chances are, she was the driving force behind your favorite show.”
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Tarses died today from complications following a cardiac event last fall. She was 56.
Adam Pally, who starred in the Tarses-produced Happy Endings on ABC, tweeted, “Jamie Tarses was an asskicking beauty who beat up TV so bad that she was running NBC by age 32, IN THE 90’s!!! She was fun, funny, brutally honest, stylish as all hell, took no sh*t and fought crazyhard for the things she believed in, me included thanks Jaime.”
Constance Zimmer, the Shameless actress who played movie exec Dana Gordon on HBO’s Entourage, credited Tarses as “one of the inspirations” for the character. “She was a force and broke some of the first glass ceilings,” Zimmer tweeted.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our longtime friend and client,” Tarses’ longtime agency WME said in a statement. “Jamie was a pioneer in every sense, breaking the glass ceiling of the television industry, and embodying the passion and tenacity that made her someone who was always ahead of her time. She unabashedly loved television and was an executive who made writers feel safe and heard. We will miss her greatly.”
Deadline will update this post as additional tributes arrive.
I was lucky to know Jamie. I was lucky to laugh with her. She put me on a path I’m still on today. What an incredible life she lived. Like… standing ovation levels of awesome. https://t.co/QVpV54pXgE
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) February 1, 2021
We are saddened by the passing of Jamie Tarses, an architect of NBC’s Must See TV era. She was a trailblazer for women in entertainment with an unmatched vision for the potential of TV. Her legacy will endure as generations discover those legendary shows.
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) February 1, 2021
This one’s not fair. Jamie Tarses was the most beautiful, bad ass. Produced hit shows, mentored young writers (incl. me), then kicked your ass in running charades. Every writer crushed on Jamie’s brain & wit. AND she was an incredible mother. Just the f*cking coolest. #RIPJT
— Breckin Meyer (@breckinmeyer) February 1, 2021
What is happening?! 💔
@hall_m_brandon @mrmarcelspears, @BernardDJones and I were blessed to work w/Jamie on @TheMayorABC. She was lovely. This feels so wrong.#JamieTarses Dies: Trailblazing TV Executive & Producer Was 56 https://t.co/3oQ9yBhlNs
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) February 1, 2021
Very sad to hear about the passing of trailblazer Jamie Tarses. She was very supportive of me back when I was starting #nypdblue at ABC, and I’ve always appreciated it. I remember her as a vital, charismatic force. My sincere condolences to her family. A terrible loss. https://t.co/8HHvegwMsK
— Bill Brochtrup (@BillBrochtrup) February 1, 2021
RIP #jamietarses! She was instrumental in bringing the world THE MAYOR! This is crazy! This is sad! She is a trailblazer that will never be forgotten! @YNB @mrmarcelspears @hall_m_brandon
— Bernard David Jones (@BernardDJones) February 1, 2021
My heart is broken for everyone that knew&loved Jamie. She was a trailblazer, yes. But she was an incredible person-anyone who was lucky enough to know her, knows how deeply she will be missed. I’m so grateful I was lucky enough to know her as a friend. https://t.co/StDLHH1A7X
— Busy Philipps (@BusyPhilipps) February 1, 2021
Jamie Tarses was an asskicking beauty who beat up TV so bad that she was running NBC by age 32, IN THE 90’s!!! She was fun, funny, brutally honest, stylish as all hell, took no sh*t and fought crazyhard for the things she believed in, me included thanks Jaime. Love to Paddy & fam
— adam pally (@adampally) February 1, 2021
She changed my life (huge early network supporter of 3 Rock) & became 1 of my dearest friends. A trailblazer for women in the TV industry & an all-around beautiful, fun, brilliant person.
Chances are, she was the driving force behind your favorite show. https://t.co/RLkjl20FA0— kristen johnston (@thekjohnston) February 1, 2021
Very sad to hear about the passing of #JamieTarses as she was one of the inspirations for #DanaGordon! She was a force and broke some of the first glass ceilings…sending love to her family and friends.
— Constance Zimmer (@ConstanceZimmer) February 1, 2021
RIP Jamie Tarses. We worked together years ago in my former life as an exec at Lorimar and NBC. She was ambitious and shrewd, smart and creative. She didn’t hire me 3 times, probably bc she was a better judge of my exec talents than I was. My condolences to her family.
— David Zuckerman (@David_Zuckerman) February 1, 2021
RIP Jamie Tarses. So many great memories of Jamie, including countless hours of running charades. She was always so nice to me & so very supportive. She was also responsible for the only time (so far) that my dad & I ever got to work together. I'll always be grateful for that. ❤️
— David Pressman (@DavidPressman) February 1, 2021
We are saddened by the passing of Jamie Tarses, an architect of NBC’s Must See TV era. She was a trailblazer for women in entertainment with an unmatched vision for the potential of TV. Her legacy will endure as generations discover those legendary shows.
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) February 1, 2021
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