Jim Paratore

James Paratore (August 13, 1953 – May 29, 2012) was an American television producer and longtime Warner Bros executive whose credits included The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tyra Banks Show, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Paratore co-founded the TMZ web site, and the company ParaMedia in 2005 and its companion television show, TMZ on TV, in 2007. Paratore remained the executive producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the syndicated daytime talk show which debuted in 2003, even after departing his Telepictures in 2006.

In 2005, he partnered with Harvey Levin to create the entertainment web site TMZ and its daily television show.

He also served as the vice president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution from 2002 until his death in 2012.

Death Paratore died of a heart attack while bicycling in Paris, France, on May 29, 2012, at the age of 58. He was survived by his wife Jill Wickert, and daughter, Martini Paratore.