Bill Geddie, co-creator of THE View and longtime producer of Barbara Walters, passed away at the age of 68.
According to his family, the renowned TV producer passed away from heart-related complications.
“He was a big deal in TV, but at home he was an even ‘bigger than life’ husband and dad,” Bill’s family told Variety.
“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?”
One of The View’s anchors, Sunny Hostin, posted her reflections on the producer’s passing on Instagram.
She shared a picture of Bill with his dog and wrote: “Yes, producer extraordinaire, but also one of the most humble people I had ever met. And the first person to believe I could be a national tv host.
“After an audition for The View (which I bombed) he said ‘Sunny you sat there like you were watching the show. You were supposed to be hosting the show. Lean in like I know you can!’ I’ve been leaning in ever since. Best TV advice I’ve received. I will miss you my friend.”
Bill, who was born on July 17, 1955, in San Antonio, Texas, earned a degree in communications and cinema from the University of Texas at Austin.
His first position was as a floor polisher at the ABC station KOCO. He subsequently took a job filming movies and rose through the ranks.
In 1979, he wed Barbara Geddie, and the two of them have two kids: Allison and Lauren.
He served as a co-creator and producer of The View for 17 years, until Barbara quit the program in 2014.
In March 2020, he stepped down as producer of The Tamron Hall Show.
A number of Barbara Walters specials, including The 10 Most Fascinating People, were produced by Bill.
Even the 1996 movie Unforgettable, starring Ray Liotta and Linda Fiorentino, was written by Bill.
He enjoyed playing golf while residing with his wife in Rancho Mirage, California, where he passed away.
He enjoyed viewing movies with his family very much, especially zombie flicks.
