Heather Gray, executive producer of 'The Talk', dies at 50

Heather Gray, executive producer of the CBS series 'The Talk' and former supervising producer of 'The Tyra Banks Show', has died. She was 50 years old. No further details of Gray's death are available at this time.

A letter sent to "The Talk" staff and the press by CBS confirmed the news. Although no cause of death was released, the network said Gray was "bravely battling a relentless disease."

The letter was written and distributed on behalf of CBS and signed by George Cheeks (President and CEO of CBS), David Stapf (President of CBS Studios), Kelly Kahl (President of CBS Network Entertainment), Thom Sherman (Vice -Senior President of Programming, CBS Network Entertainment), Amy Reisenbach (EVP of Current Programs, CBS Network Entertainment) and Laurie Seidman (SVP of Daytime Programs, CBS Network Entertainment).

“We want to express our deepest condolences to you on the painful loss of our beloved Heather. She was an inspiration to us all, living and thriving while bravely battling an unforgiving disease. showed us what true courage looks like," the network wrote. "Her genius as an innovative producer was only surpassed by her huge smile and infectious laugh. She was an admired and beloved mother bear to your family and a leader everyone looked up to."

"Her contributions to the success of the show are immeasurable, but more importantly, she was a boss who proved you could lead with kindness, care and friendship. Heather was everyone's friend, the champion everyone's favorite person on set. We will miss her terribly," the letter continues.

Gray, who received multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, joined "The Talk" midway through the first season in 2010 as lead supervising producer. She was promoted to co-executive producer in August 2011, then back to executive producer in August 2019.

For “The Talk,” Gray received a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Entertainment on a Talk Show in 2016 and 2018. The famed producer also received an NAACP Image Award for the show in 2016.

Prior to her time on "The Talk", Gray was a development producer at Endemol USA between 2010 and 2011. She was also the supervising producer of "The Tyra Banks Show" from 2006 to 2010. In this program, she has achieved its first two Daytime Emmy Awards.

Comments