| Jim Paratore | |
| Birth Name: | James Paratore |
| Birth Place: | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Paris, France |
| Education: | Loyola University New Orleans |
| Occupation: | Television producer, television executive |
| Notable Works: | Vice president for Domestic TV Distribution at Warner Brothers |
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.[1] [2] Paratore co-founded the TMZ web site, and the company ParaMedia in 2005 and its companion television show, TMZ on TV, in 2007.[1]
A native of Louisiana, Paratore earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Loyola University New Orleans.[2]
Paratore began his career as a programming director for several Florida television stations before joining Telepictures.
Paratore was the president of Warner Bros. Telepictures Productions from 1992 to 2006.[1] He developed Telepictures' slate of daytime syndicated and prime time reality shows, including ABC's The Bachelor.[1] As President of Telepictures, Paratore oversaw the creation of some of the studio's most prominent shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show[3] 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.[1] [3]
He also served as the vice president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution from 2002 until his death in 2012.[1]
Paratore died of a heart attack while bicycling in Paris, France, on May 29, 2012, at the age of 58.[3] He was survived by his first wife (Michele Richie) of 13 years and mother of his only daughter Martinique (Martini) Paratore, and his second wife Jill Wickert.[3]