TV producer and The View Co-creator Bill Geddie died on July 20. His daughter Allison confirmed to PEOPLE on July 21. She revealed that the 68-year-old passed away at his Rancho Mirage, California, home as a result of a coronary-related problem.
After hearing the tragic news of Bill Geddie’s passing, several well-known TV personalities expressed their sorrow on social media. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Geddie, and his two children, Allison and Lauren.
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Joy Behar, 80, who has co-hosted The View off-and-on for decades, was one of the first to post a tribute for Bill on Jul. 21.
“We are saddened by the sudden death of Bill Geddie. 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 ‘VIEW MASTER.’
When Sunny Hostin, Joy’s co-host, learned that Bill had passed away on Friday, the 54-year-old made sure to post a tribute as well.
Sunny wrote “My friend & mentor Bill Geddie has transitioned at 68. Bill was the 1st person to believe that I could be a national talk show host. He told me after an audition for The View ‘you were sitting there watching the show instead of being on the show. Lean in like I know you can’.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a journalist and TV personality, shared a photo of Bill on Instagram on July 21 to express her sorrow over his passing. The occasionally hosting The View captioned the post with support for Bill and his family.
In her words “Bill Geddie was an authentic supporter of the voices of women on television and challenged us daily to think and speak independently for the decade we worked together’.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity that both Bill Geddie and Barbara Walters gave me. He will be missed and my heart goes out to his family.”
Sherri Shepherd an actress, comedian, and former co-host of The View wrote “I am completely devastated at the passing of #BillGeddie the co-creator of @TheView,” her caption began.
“Bill took a chance and cast me – a standup comic with no talk show experience – as a co-host on ‘The View.’ Bill completely changed my life because he believed in me”.
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Maria Shriver, 67, collaborated with Bill while they both worked in local news, even though she did not co-host The View.
Her tribute read “Bill Geddie was my producer for several years when we both worked in local news,” her tweet read. “He was supremely talented, kind beyond words, a lovely man, and a great friend. I’m so sad about this and my heart goes out to Barbara.”
