Jim Paratore
James "Jim" Paratore (August 13, 1953 – May 29, 2012) was an American television producer whose credits included The Tyra Banks Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show.[1][2] Paratore co-founded the TMZ web site, and the company ParaMedia in 2005 and its companion television show, TMZ on TV, in 2007.[1]
Biography
Early life
A native of Louisiana, Paratore earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans.[2]
Career
Paratore began his career as a programming director for several Florida television stations before joining Telepictures.[3]
Paratore was the President of Warner Bros. Telepictures Productions from 1992 to 2006.[1] He developed Telepictures' slate of daytime syndicated and prime time reality shows, including ABC's The Bachelor.[1] As President of Telepictures, Paratore oversaw the creation of some of the studio's most prominent shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Bachelor.[3] Paratore remained the executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the syndicated daytime talk show which debuted in 2003, even after departing his Telepictures in 2006.[1][3]
He also served as the Vice President of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution from 2002 until his death in 2012.[1]
Death
Paratore died of a heart attack while bicycling in France on May 29, 2012, at the age of 58.[3] He was survived by his wife, Jill Wickert, and daughter, Martinique.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Deaths of note: Edgar 'Buddy' Freitag, Michael O'Neill, Jim Paratore". Washington Post. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
- 1 2 "Jim Paratore Passes Away - Longtime Telepictures, Warner Bros. exec produced 'TMZ,' 'Ellen DeGeneres,' 'Rosie O'Donnell' and many other programs". Broadcasting and Cable. 2012-05-29. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Flint, Joe (2012-05-29). "Jim Paratore, prominent TV executive, dies at 58". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-18.