Jamie Tarses, one of the TV executives credited with developing Friends, has died at the age of 56.
A trailblazer for women in the industry, Tarses joined NBC in 1987 and steadily rose up the ranks, helping to bring shows including Friends, Frasier and Mad About You to TV.
In 1996 she became the first woman to run an entertainment division of a major network when she was appointed as head of entertainment at ABC, a role she held for three years.
According to Deadline, Tarses suffered a stroke last year but never regained consciousness and died in the early hours of Monday morning.
"Jamie was a trailblazer in the truest sense of the word," said friend Karey Burke, president of 20th Television. "She shattered stereotypes and ideas about what a female executive could achieve, and paved the way for others, at a cost to herself.
"She was a mentor and friend, and many of us owe so much to her. Her talent and contribution to our community will be solely missed."
Tarses, whose last project was producing the Amazon series The Wilds, is survived by her partner and their two children.
Neil Wilkes
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