Barbara Walters ally was 68
Veteran TV producer Bill Geddie, who launched “The View” with Barbara Walters and served as her longtime collaborator, has died. He was 68.
Geddie’s family attributed his death Thursday to “coronary-related factors.”
“He was a big deal in TV, but at home he was an even ‘bigger than life’ husband and dad,” his family told Variety in a statement.
“He had a genuine love for television and entertainment. He would try everything and did it well — screenwriting, recording podcasts, playing guitar, writing songs, and loved a wide range of music from country to jazz. His favorite band was The Beatles, and he never thought he would have the opportunity to meet one of his personal heroes Paul McCartney in person, but his dream came true. The question wasn’t who did he meet, but rather who didn’t he meet?”
Geddie, a recipient of the Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Award, was executive producer of “The View” from its inception in 1997 to 2014.
Bill Geddie received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in LA in June 2012. Picture Perfect/Shutterstock
During this time, he also wrote, directed, and produced many of Barbara Walters’ specials, including her iconic “Most Fascinating People” presentations.
Walters died in December at the age of 93.
Geddie and longtime collaborator Barbara Walters attend a Time Magazine event in NYC in 2009. Walters died last year. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Born in Texas on July 17, 1955, Geddie was an Emmy-winning producer for “Good Morning America” and executive producer for ABC’s “Tamron Hall” between 2019 and 2020.
The prolific producer oversaw a 2016 celebrity-interview special anchored by Megyn Kelly while she was at Fox News.
He also wrote the 1996 sci-fi movie “Unforgettable” starring Ray Liotta, who died in May 2022 at the age of 67.
Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck are pictured on “The View” set on July 27, 2007. Geddie exited “The View” in 2014. ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Geddie exited “The View” shortly after Walters retired from being a co-host in 2014.
“We are saddened by the sudden death of Bill Geddie,” “The View” co-host Joy Behar tweeted Friday.
“As a producer, he kept us together and was very loyal to his staff. Bill loved comedy and plenty of laughs not to mention a good cigar. I’m forever grateful to him and Barbara for the opportunity to be on the View. RIP “VIEWMASTER.”
“The View” Twitter account called Geddie “one of television’s most well-respected producers” and “a pioneer in television.”
“He was a pioneer in television and greatly beloved by ‘The View’ family, creating the show with Barbara Walters and serving as its executive producer for 17 years,” read the Friday tweet. “‘The View’ wouldn’t exist without Bill Geddie.”
Walters, Geddie and Katherine Oliver, commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting, ring the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on Feb. 2, 2006. WireImage
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Barbara, and their daughters, Allison and Lauren.
Representatives for ABC and “The View” did not immediately respond when The Post reached out for comment.
Source: New York Post
