Deborah Barak, a longtime TV executive who helped shape CBS during a time of change, has died at the age of 65. She had cancer for a long time and died on Saturday at her Studio City home, surrounded by her family and friends.
Barak was thought to be one of the most famous and well-liked executives on TV. She was known for being a good negotiator, and she helped the network make several important deals.
How Did Deborah Barak Die?
Amy Reichenbach, who was in charge of CBS Entertainment, sent an email to the staff of the network to tell them that Barak had died. “I know that not everyone who got this email knew her well or at all, but those who did know that she was a truly wonderful person. “She was an amazing and loving mom and grandma,” the email said.
“And she was a good friend to a lot of people.” As a business executive, she was the smartest person I’ve ever met. Debby was hard to deal with, but she was always fair and kind. She also taught a lot of people at CBS, including me,” it said.
David Stapf, the president of CBS Studios, also made a statement after her death. It said, “Debby was a mentor and close friend to so many of us at CBS. Everyone turned to her for advice and help, both at work and in their personal lives.”
“Every time you left her office, you felt smarter and more emotionally strong. “There was no one at CBS or in our business who was more loved, admired, and respected by everyone,” he said.
How Did Deborah Barak Rise to Fame?
In 1985, Deborah Barak began working at CBS as a broadcast counsel in the law department for the West Coast. She worked in talent and production deal management and programme licencing agreements in the many jobs she had over the years.
During her career, she helped The Late Show with David Letterman, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The Grammys, and the Country Music Awards get their licences renewed. Barak was also known for bringing the idea of programme ownership to CBS’s prime time.
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As the popularity of streaming platforms grew, the executive oversaw the expansion of programming to CBS All Access. At the time, she also had a lucrative deal with Netflix that helped bring the Star Trek franchise back to life. After five years as President of Business Operations of CBS Entertainment, she left the network in 2020.
Barak’s Colleagues Pay Tributes to Him
Nina Tasler, who used to be the head of CBS Entertainment, said that Barak was “wise, tough, and fair-minded toward everyone.” She also said, “Her business savvy and sophisticated negotiating skills were matched by her humanity and decency.” Working with the same people for more than 20 years was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“Debby was world-class because she was smart and had a lot of respect for artists. She also had a lot of unique skills that not many people had. She was quiet and didn’t want to talk to the press, but her staff and the creative executives in the company and the industry loved her,” Tasler said.
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Barak’s husband, Paul, her son Jonathan, her daughters Sarah Buchsbaum and Hannah Milgrom, her mother Beverly, her sister Sherri Cunningham, and four grandchildren are the people who will remember her.
We are sorry for Deborah Barak’s friends and family. May her soul rest in peace!
