"GMA's" Jack Reilly Dies
Sad news - Jack Reilly, the veteran producer of "Good Morning America," has died. Charlie Gibson sent out a nice note to ABC News staffers this morning: "One of the finest people I ever had the good fortune to work with and for. Modest, shy, self-effacing, not an ounce of inflated ego, and yet a cracker jack producer who understood when he should intrude, and when to stand back and let others do their work." Indeed, Reilly was the Quiet One - a rare presence in columns, and not one to boast about his many accomplishments, most notably (or at least memorably) the turnaround at "GMA." That success certainly had many fathers and mothers - notably David Hartman, Joan Lunden, Charlie (of course), and off camera, Phil Beuth, along with many many others. But Reilly's years there ('86-94) were among the best years of "GMA's" life...huge audience growth and the unseating (however briefly) of "Today." He went on to become an esteemed producer and executive at CNBC. He was 84 and the industry he helped build just got a little poorer.
Meanwhile, if you missed tonight's "World News," Charlie Gibson has a tribute that closes the broadcast. Here's the link, and the Reilly piece cues up after John Berman's story.
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Comments (16)
He was also a brilliant uncle. Gentle, funny, and a superb foil to my father. I will miss him horribly.
He wsa an amazing human being. He loved with his whole heart and he was an amazing person, uncle, father and friend. I will miss him terribly. He joins his brothers and sisters watching over us all. He will always be in our hearts.
So saddened by the news about the death of Jack Reilly at 84. A great exec. producer and colleague at Good Morning America, and a better person to call a friend. He was one of a kind. A decent, caring, lovely man in a business where that - sadly -is a rarity. Universally loved and admired. A loss to all who knew him, worked with him, admired him and will never forget him......RIP, Jack...
Uncle Jack, I will miss you dearly for so many reasons. I could listen to you talk for hours. Your brilliance, humor and humble grace made you one of a kind. We were so lucky to have you as long as we did. I will miss seeing you at Dad's house, and thank you for your love, guidance, and adive you've given me over the years. God bless you, and keep you safe.
Jack was a true inspiration to me through my years at "Entertainment Tonight" and ABC. I think it's safe to say that Jack was the most thoughtful, appreciative, dynamic and funniest boss any of us have ever had. Whether it was 5:00 AM or a Sunday afternoon, he was always thinking and planning out shows, all to raise the bar, make our jobs more interesting, and ultimately to inform and entertain the audience. And through it all, he was the best practical joker I ever knew. I will miss Jack every day, but that's been true since the last we worked together years ago. However, now more than ever, I promise to keep all the lessons he taught me -- about life, people and television -- both front of mind and part of what I share with everyone else.
Jack was the best. We were producer/directors together at KMTV in Omaha in the 1960s. In fact we shared a desk. He was the most creative, funny and terrific person I ever had the pleasure to know.
Jack always kept in touch as our television careers took different paths.
I will always remember Jack.
God bless.
I am sad ti hear this news. He was my Great Uncle and a nice man. He lived a very good life. Rest in Peace
I can only echo what Tom and Gary have written. Jack was a mensche in a business populated by polar opposites of that. Always calm and always collected, Jack was a great colleague, and outstanding friend and oh yes, a terrific producer.
Uncle Jack, You were the most humble and talented person I have ever known. I will forever be grateful to you for being such a wonderful brother to my Mom. I have always been proud to call you my Uncle and will forever miss you. God Bless you.
To me, Jack was a mentor, and a friend as he was to so many.
He was a fun practical joker and had the best sense of humor.
I learned so much from him and I am grateful for having the opportunity
to have known him and worked with him. Knowing him made a difference
in the quality of my life, as it did to so many others. He will be greatly
missed. Rest in peace and G_d bless you!
To me, Jack was a mentor, and a friend as he was to so many.
He was a fun practical joker and had the best sense of humor.
I learned so much from him and I am grateful for having the opportunity
to have known him and worked with him. Knowing him made a difference
in the quality of my life, as it did to so many others. He will be greatly
missed. Rest in peace and G_d bless you!
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During the time I worked with Jack at GMA I learned so much
from him, he was a friend and always there with good advice. He
was so caring and I too am grateful for having had the opportunity
to have known him. God bless you.
During the time I worked with Jack at GMA I learned so much
from him, he was a friend and always there with good advice. He
was so caring and I too am grateful for having had the opportunity
to have known him. God bless you.
During the time I worked with Jack at GMA I learned so much
from him, he was a friend and always there with good advice. He
was so caring and I too am grateful for having had the opportunity
to have known him. God bless you.
During the time I worked with Jack at GMA I learned so much
from him, he was a friend and always there with good advice. He
was so caring and I too am grateful for having had the opportunity
to have known him. God bless you.