Daisha Riley, producer of “Good Morning America,” died, co-host Michael Strahan told viewers Tuesday morning. She was 35 years old.
“One of our stars, Daisha Riley, a young and talented producer, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. She rose in rank over the years on our show, working on stories that have made many of you, our viewers, smile and cry. Her legacy lives on with a powerful voice that she shared through storytelling, ”Strahan said on the broadcast.
The ABC show had a segmented video dedicated to Riley, who worked on “Good Morning America” for 14 years, showing photos from her life and interviews she had worked on.
“You may not have known the name Daisha Riley, but if you’ve seen ‘GMA’ for the past 14 years, trust us, you saw her amazing work because Daisha loved nothing more than telling a story to America,” Strahan said in the segment. Daisha Riley could write a breaking news story at the speed of light. As for the features, it could make you cry with its exquisite words.
Strahan said Riley helped make a mini version of the Iron Throne from “Game of Thrones” during interviews with the cast and host Amy Robach. During the clip, actor Liam Cunningham is impressed with the set he designed.
“As a colleague said, Daisha had courage and grace. She took pride in her work and fought for it. Because for Daisha, there was no greater privilege than helping her start her day at home. And trust us when we say that for all of us at ‘GMA’, there was no greater privilege than meeting Daisha Riley. It was never the loudest voice in the room, but it was always the smartest. Fun and bright, and above all, friendly, quick with a smile and a kitty meme just when you needed it the most, ”Strahan said.
The “GMA” host added that Riley won multiple Emmy Awards for his work.
Host Robert Roberts also shared a tribute to Riley on Twitter.
Daisha Riley was a remarkable woman … talented, creative, kind, a soul beautiful in every way. Condolences to her beloved family, ”wrote Roberts. “Our ‘GMA’ family loved her and will always be grateful to have experienced Daisha’s grace and determination.”
