Heather Gray, executive producer and showrunner on CBS’s daytime talk show Conversation, has died. She was 50 years old.
According to CBS, without providing more details, Gray died Saturday in Los Angeles from an “forgivable illness.”
gray joined Conversation, Which started in the middle of season one in 2010 as Senior Supervising Producer. The following season, he was promoted to co-executive producer, then named an executive producer in August 2019.
Gray earned two Daytime Emmy Awards for Best Talk Show, Entertainment in 2016 and 2018, as well as an NAACP Image Award in 2016.
before joining Conversation, Gray was a Development Producer at Endemol USA from 2010-11 and served as Supervising Producer for The Tyra Banks Show from 2006–10, where she received her first two Daytime Emmys.
A letter was sent praising Gray’s contribution to the show. Conversation CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, CBS Studios President David Stapp, CBS Network Entertainment President Kelly Kahl, CBS Network Entertainment Senior Executive VP Programming Thom Sherman, CBS Network Entertainment Executive VP Current Programs Amy Reisenbach and CBS Network Entertainment Senior The staff and crew of VP Daytime. Program Laurie Seidman. Read it in full below.
Dear Talk Family,
On behalf of all of us at CBS, we would like to express our deepest condolences to you for the painful loss of our dear Heather. She was an inspiration to all of us, alive and thriving, bravely fighting an unforgivable disease. He showed us what true courage looks like.
Heather has been the heart and soul of ‘The Talk’ since day one. His talent as an innovative producer was unmatched by his huge smile and infectious laugh. She was an admired, beloved mama bear of your 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 move forward with kindness, care and friendship. Heather was everyone’s friend, everyone’s champion, everyone’s favorite on the set. We will miss her a lot.
We recognize and share the pain and shock you are feeling at this time, as well as the sadness you will feel in the days to come. While the show begins its hiatus from August 1 (Monday), we don’t want you to grieve and grieve alone. The set will remain open, and HR will have staff and bereavement counseling available in person and by phone. There will also be HR support on site. 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