David St. John, an executive producer on such popular reality TV series as America’s Next Top Model and I Am Jazz, died December 19 of pancreatic cancer at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle. He was 56.
His death was announced today by UTA.
St. John was the executive producer of TLC’s I Am Jazz for its entire 2015-2020 run, a series that followed the journey of transgender teen Jazz Jennings and won a GLAAD Media Award. In 2021 he exec produced The Ts Madison Experience, a reality series chronicling the career of Black, trans woman talk show host Ts Madison.
St. John launched his career as an assistant at MTV, moving up to story producer on the network’s 2002 series Taildaters. In 2007 he became a supervising producer on America’s Next Top Model and would co-exec produce more than 100 episodes of the Tyra Banks competition series.
His final and current project, TLC’s Jay & Pamela, follows an engaged couple born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
“To be in David St. John’s orbit meant that you were witness to an astonishingly bright light… all the time,” said Drew Tappon, Head of Unscripted Development, Programming & Specials at OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network in a statement. “He made everything better. And he made YOU feel better. Simply put, he just made us all better.”
St. John was particularly proud of the Jazz Jennings series I Am Jazz. Today, the Jennings family released the following statement: “David was more than just the executive producer of I Am Jazz—he was family, and we loved him deeply. In our most challenging moments, he lifted our spirits with his warmth, reassured us that everything would be okay, and gave us the strength to share our family’s journey. His kindness, infectious laughter, and unwavering belief in our story will forever be woven into the heart and legacy of I Am Jazz and remain a cherished part of our lives.”
Fifteen years ago, St. John underwent two craniotomies to remove tumors, later volunteering for Dr. Keith Black and Cedars-Sinai Neurology, meeting with patients preparing for brain surgery.
St. John is survived by husband Scott Darlington; sisters Corrine and Rachel; mother Lynn; and close friends Kirsten and Karen Fenswick.
Details about memorial services are forthcoming.
