Jamie Tarses facts for kids

Sara James Tarses (March 16, 1964 – February 1, 2021) was an American television producer and studio executive. She made history as the first woman to lead ABC Entertainment. She was also one of the youngest people to hold such a high position at a major TV network. Jamie Tarses helped create many popular TV shows.

Early Life and Education

Jamie Tarses was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on March 19, 1964. Her father, Jay Tarses, was a television writer. Her mother was Rachel Tarses.

Jamie had a younger sister, Mallory, who writes fiction and teaches English. Her younger brother, Matt, is also a producer and screenwriter. He worked on shows like The Goldbergs and Scrubs.

In 1985, Jamie graduated from Williams College. She studied theater there.

A Career in Television

Starting as a Casting Director

After college, Jamie Tarses began her career in television. She first worked as an assistant on Saturday Night Live. This was during its 1985–1986 season.

Later, she became a casting director for Lorimar Productions. A casting director helps choose actors for roles in TV shows and movies. She helped find actors for the show Perfect Strangers.

Becoming a Network Executive

In 1987, Jamie joined NBC Productions. She quickly moved up in the company. By 1996, she had become a powerful executive.

At NBC, she helped develop many famous shows. These included Friends, Mad About You, and Frasier. She also worked on NewsRadio and Caroline in the City.

In 1996, Jamie Tarses left NBC. She then became the president of ABC Entertainment. This was a very important job. She held this role from 1996 to 1999. She was the first woman to be president of a major TV network. She was also one of the youngest people ever to do so.

During her time at ABC, she helped develop the show Dharma & Greg. She resigned from ABC in 1999.

Jamie Tarses was also a consultant for the TV show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. A character on that show was partly based on her.

Working as a Producer

After her time as a network executive, Jamie Tarses became a producer. In 2005, she started a production company called Pariah Productions. She later had another company called FanFare Productions.

As an executive producer, she helped create many TV series. She was an executive producer for My Boys from 2006 to 2010. This was a comedy show about a female sports reporter.

She also produced other shows in the 2010s. These included Mr. Sunshine and Happy Endings. She also worked on Franklin & Bash.

Personal Life

Jamie Tarses married Dan McDermott in 1993. He was also a television executive. They divorced in 1996.

Jamie had two children, Wyatt and Sloane. Their father was Paddy Aubrey, a chef and restaurant owner.

She cared about helping young people. She served on the board of directors for Young Storytellers. This group helps kids learn about storytelling. She also volunteered at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Death

Jamie Tarses passed away on February 1, 2021. She was 56 years old. She died in Los Angeles due to complications from a heart event.

Filmography

TV series

• 1985–1986: Saturday Night Live – Production staff (18 episodes)
• 1987–1988: Perfect Strangers – Casting director (12 episodes)
• 2006–2007: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip – Consultant (13 episodes)
• 2006–2010: My Boys – Executive producer (37 episodes)
• 2009–2011: Hawthorne – Executive producer (24 episodes)
• 2011: Mad Love – Executive producer (13 episodes)
• 2011: Mr. Sunshine – Executive producer (6 episodes)
• 2011–2013: Happy Endings – Executive producer (57 episodes)
• 2011–2014: Franklin & Bash – Executive producer (30 episodes)
• 2012: Made in Jersey – Executive producer (6 episodes)
• 2012–2014: Men at Work – Executive producer (31 episodes)
• 2013: Bastards – Executive producer
• 2014: Really – Executive producer (1 episode)
• 2014–2015: Marry Me – Executive producer (17 episodes)
• 2014: Cuz-Bros – Executive producer
• 2015: Your Family or Mine – Executive producer
• 2017: The Mayor – Executive producer
• 2020–2021: The Wilds – Executive producer

TV movies

• 2001: Tikiville – Executive producer
• 2003: Crazy Love – Executive producer
• 2004: Nevermind Nirvana – Executive producer
• 2006: The Angriest Man in Suburbia – Executive producer
• 2006: More, Patience – Executive producer
• 2007: Primeval – Executive producer
• 2007: Backyards & Bullets – Executive producer
• 2008: Held Up – Executive producer
• 2009: Eva Adams – Executive producer
• 2010: Held Up – Executive producer
• 2012: Happy Valley – Executive producer
• 2014: Duty – Executive producer

See also

In Spanish: Jamie Tarses para niños