Denise Cramsey, a Primetime Emmy-winning producer of reality television programs, died November 23, 2010. She was 41.
According to news reports, Cramsey suffered a brain aneurysm while exercising.
Cramsey won Emmys for Outstanding Reality Program in 2005 and 2006, both for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. She earned four other nominations — two for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and two for Trading Spaces.
Most recently, she served as executive of the reality series School Pride, which airs Fridays on NBC.
The Pennsylvania native began her career at Channel 69 in Allentown and then moved on to Medstar Television, where she worked on the show Medical Detectives.
She then relocated to Philadelphia, where she worked for Banyan Productions as executive producer of Trading Spaces for two years.
In 2003 she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for USA’s House Wars and Bravo’s Manhunt before Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Cramsey, who had a first-look deal with Warner Horizon, also created and executive produced the ABC series True Beauty and executive produced the Jeff Probst/Mark Burnett special Live for the Moment.
Her agency, William Morris Endeavor, released the following statement upon her passing:
“It is with tremendous sadness that the immediate and extended family of Denise Cramsey is confirming her death yesterday due to a brain aneurysm suffered in the morning. At Denise’s side were her fiancé Scott, best friend Risa and brother Billy. Continuing the spirit of charity and kindness that embodied Denise, her organs will be donated. We thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers and words cannot express our sadness with the loss of Denise.”
Warner Horizon released the following statement:
“Denise was an amazing and deeply committed producer, an Emmy winner who passionately cared about all the projects she worked on. She was an inspiration to many, whether it was from her professional work to improve public schools, help those in need or raise money for breast cancer research, or her personal love of scaling the mountains of the world."
NBC released this statement to the Hollywood Reporter:
“NBC is deeply saddened to hear of the loss of School Pride executive producer Denise Cramsey. Denise was not only a friend and colleague, she was a respected producer and passionate about her craft. Our condolences go out to her family during this time.”