Stephanie Leifer, a longtime executive at ABC and studio ABC Signature, has died following a rapid and aggressive form of cancer; she was 56.
Leifer, whose career spanned 28 years at ABC Signature (and its forerunner, ABC Studios) and ABC, is one of many abrupt and unexpected deaths reported in the media and entertainment world over the last few years.
Disney Entertainment Television responded to Leifer’s death in a statement:
“Stephanie was a beloved member of the Disney Entertainment Television family for nearly three decades, and our hearts are broken by the devastating news of her passing.”
“She was a highly admired executive, whose creative impact was only matched by the relationships she nurtured both within the company and across the industry.”
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“Our sincerest condolences go out to her family, especially her husband and our colleague, Jonathan, and their two beautiful children, Amelia and Noah.”
Leifer held senior positions at ABC, Notelby, in the drama and comedy departments before serving as senior vice president of comedy development from 2002 to 2006.
She later became the head of current programming at ABC Studios, overseeing shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Castle and many others.
She remained in the position until her departure following the Disney 20th Century Fox merger in 2022.
Leifer previously worked at the public television station WGBH in Boston and the Writers and Artists Agency in Los Angeles.
A private funeral is planned, and donations in her memory can be made to CASA of Los Angeles, where she was a court-appointed special advocate for foster children.
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