The View co-creator Bill Geddie has died at the age of 68, his family have confirmed.
The news producer, who co-founded the show with the late Barbara Walters in 1997 and left in 2014, reportedly died of “coronary factors.”
The four-time Emmy winner is survived by his wife, Barbara, and two daughters, Allison and Lauren.
A statement from his family read: ‘He was a big deal on TV, but at home he was an even bigger husband and father.
“He had a genuine love for television and entertainment. He would try anything and did it well – screenwriting, recording podcasts, playing guitar, writing songs, and loved a wide variety of music from country to jazz.
His favorite band was The Beatles, and he never thought he would get the chance to meet one of his personal heroes Paul McCartney in person, but his dream came true. The question was not who did he meet, but who did he not meet?’
The View co-creator Bill Geddie has passed away aged 68, his family have confirmed (2019 photo)
RIP: The news producer, who co-founded the show with the late Barbara Walters in 1997 and left in 2014, has reportedly died of ‘coronary factors’ (pictured together 2012)
Devastated: The View co-host Joy Behar tweeted, “We are saddened by the sudden death of Bill Geddie. As a producer, he kept us together and was very loyal to his staff
“He enjoyed interacting with people and we know we are not the only ones who will miss his encouraging way of providing positive guidance.
He did so with enthusiasm mixed with sarcasm. His special style of humor was filled with puns. He believed in honesty. He was a kind man with integrity and always wanted to do the right thing.
‘He lived by example. Even the little things made him happy. He enjoyed a great game of golf, his peppermint ice cream and relaxing with a Bombay gin on the rocks with jalapeno & garlic stuffed olives. We are devastated to lose him, but thankful to have had him in our lives.”
Joy Behar, co-host of The View, tweeted: “We are saddened by the sudden passing of Bill Geddie. As a producer, he kept us together and was very loyal to his staff.
Bill loved comedy and a lot of laughter, not to mention a good cigar. I am eternally grateful to him and Barbara for the opportunity to be on the View. RIP “VIEWMASTER”.’
In addition to co-creating the highly popular morning chat/news show, he also served as the show’s original executive producer from 1997 until his departure in 2014.
Geddie famously had disagreements with several on-air talents during his tenure on the show, including with former hosts Star Jones, Rosie O’Donnell, and guest host Kathy Griffin.
At the helm: In addition to co-creating the highly popular morning chat/news show, he also served as the show’s original executive producer from 1997 until his departure in 2014; pictured in May 2014
Sweet: Geddie is seen with Behar in August 2013
However, he had a very close working relationship with television legend Barbara Walters as they regularly collaborated with ABC News.
They worked together on BarWall Productions for 25 years, as Geddie also produced the television special The Barbara Walter Summer Special from 2002 to 2013, in addition to the television special Barbara Walters: Her Story in 2014.
Walters died at her New York home in December 2020 at the age of 93.
Geddie also served as executive producer of Megyn Kelly Presents in 2016, in addition to taking on the same role in the television series The Preachers that year.
His latest credit was as an executive producer for the Tamron Hall show in 2019.
Close relationship: He had a very close working relationship with television legend Barbara Walters as they regularly collaborated with ABC News; they were seen together in May 2009 in New York
During his career, he was nominated for six Primetime Emmy Award nominations and earned two wins.
He was nominated 13 times for Outstanding Talk Show with The View for the Daytime Emmys, winning once in 2003.
He also received the Daytime Emmy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Geddie was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 17, 1955.
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977 with a major in communications/film.
The Texan’s career didn’t get off to a very glamorous start, as he began polishing the floors of local television station KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
He spoke of that experience earlier Texas monthly: ‘If you cleaned the floors – that’s how informal television was back then – they’d have your cameras running for the local news. What got me off the floor was I went to the news director and said I’d done film before, so he gave me a job doing film.”