David St. John was a trailblazing TV producer whose work gave voice to underrepresented communities and brought powerful stories to the screen.
After graduating from The Northwest School of the Arts in Seattle, David became a world traveler, backpacking through Mexico & Central America. His love of different cultures and human stories led him to Asia where he worked as an English teacher in Japan.
Eventually DSJ (as he was lovingly called by all who knew him) was drawn to Hollywood where he began his career at MTV, and quickly rose from assistant to story producer on the network’s hit series Taildaters. His keen sense for storytelling and his ability to connect with audiences landed him a job on America’s Next Top Model, where he co-executive produced more than 100 episodes of the reality TV sensation. What defined his career, however, was his passion for creating space for those often left out of the conversation.
St. John was particularly proud of his work on I Am Jazz, which followed the journey of transgender teen Jazz Jennings and earned a GLAAD Media Award. His later work on The Ts Madison Experience further showcased his dedication to amplifying voices that had rarely been seen or heard in mainstream media. His final project, TLC’s Jay & Pamela, follows an engaged couple born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta and stands as yet another testament to his dedication to telling stories that matter.
“To be in David St. John’s orbit meant that you were witness to an astonishingly bright light… all the time, ” said Drew Tappon, Head of Unscripted Development, Programming & Specials at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. “He made everything better. And he made YOU feel better. Simply put, he just made us all better.”
The Jennings family, whose story St. John helped bring to millions through I Am Jazz, shared, “David was more than just the executive producer of I Am Jazz—he was family, and we loved him deeply. In our most challenging moments, he lifted our spirits with his warmth, reassured us that everything would be okay, and gave us the strength to share our family’s journey. His kindness, infectious laughter, and unwavering belief in our story will forever be woven into the heart and legacy of I Am Jazz and remain a cherished part of our lives.”
Fifteen years ago, St. John faced a different illness—one that he turned into an opportunity to help others. As a patient of Dr. Keith Black, the renowned neurosurgeon and head of Cedars-Sinai Neurology, he underwent two craniotomies to remove tumors. Instead of simply moving on, he volunteered for Dr. Black, meeting with patients preparing for brain surgery and offering them comfort, humor, and firsthand reassurance. His ability to calm others in their most vulnerable moments was a testament to his character—one that extended far beyond the world of television.
