Emmy award-winning ‘GMA’ producer Daisha Riley dies at 35

Riley's sudden passing marks the fourth death for the GMA staff

Daisha RIley, 35, has passed away, GMA co-host Michael Strahan announced on Tuesday, July 21. (Photo: Twitter)

Good Morning America is mourning the loss of a beloved colleague who shockingly passed away at just 35, the show announced on Tuesday.

Daisha Riley was an Emmy award-winning producer on the number one morning show, delivering the news to its more than three million daily viewers.

Her cause of death has not been publicly shared.

Read More: Robin Roberts reveals ‘GMA’ cameraman Tony Greer died of coronavirus

GMA co-host Michael Strahan announced on Tuesday morning the tragic news, describing Riley as “funny and brilliant, but above all kind.”

“You might not have known Daisha Riley’s name, but if you watched ‘GMA’ for the past 14 years, trust us, you saw her incredible work,” Strahan said.

“Because Daisha loved nothing more than telling America a story. Daisha Riley could write a breaking news piece with lightening speed. On features, she could make you cry with her exquisite choice of words.”

He added, “She was never the loudest voice in the room, but she was always the smartest.”

In a tribute segment dedicated to Riley, Strahan recalled the young producer’s work over the years. One standout was when she made sure that a GMA set for an interview with HBO’s Game of Thrones had the show’s signature ‘throne,’ which impressed the series’ cast and crew.

GMA co-host Robin Roberts also paid tribute to Riley on Twitter.

“Daisha Riley was a remarkable woman….talented, creative, kind, a beautiful soul in every way. Condolences to her beloved family. Our @GMA family loved her and will be forever grateful to have experienced Daisha’s grace & grit,” Roberts wrote.

As noted by Riley’s colleague Tony Morrison, a fellow GMA producer, her passing marks the fourth death for the show’s staff.

“Absolutely devastated tonight to learn that Emmy-winning journalist, producer and friend, Daisha Riley, passed away last night. She was a force, full of talent and powerful perspective,” Morrison tweeted.

“Daisha is the 4th GMA staffer we’ve lost in 2020.”

In April, Robin Roberts announced that Tony Greer, a cameraman for Good Morning America, had died from coronavirus complications.

“He was such a bright light working at our studio for more than six years…You could just feel Tony’s beautiful spirit, you could feel it from a mile away,” Roberts said at the time during the live-taping.

“He loved GMA, he loved meeting all the people who would walk through studio doors. Actors, singers, stars, Tony got to see them all and he took pictures with many of them, and they were gracious to take a picture with him.”

theGrio’s Cortney Wills contributed to this report.

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