Australian television executive David Lyle has died at age 67 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
A report by Sky News claimed he died in his Los Angeles home on Thursday.
The TV veteran has been praised for championing unscripted TV, having helped launch American Idol on Fox in 2001.
Australian television executive David Lyle dies in Los Angeles home at 67 after ongoing battle with cancer
David held senior positions at Network Ten, the ABC and the Nine Network during his successful career in Australia.
After relocating to the US, David held senior posts at Fremantle Media, the Fox Reality Channel and the National Geographic Channel.
This year he helped create NPACT, a reality TV organisation.
Career: David held senior positions at Network Ten, the ABC and the Nine Network during his successful career in Australia and helped create NPACT, a reality TV organisation, in the US
‘David Lyle was a rare breed, in our industry and in the world. A true bon vivant, he brought light and life into every room, along with a passion for the creatives of this business,’ NPACT general manager John Ford told Sky News.
‘We will all miss David’s maverick mettle, along with his vitality, brilliant insights and humor,’ he continued.
David had also studied geology and geophysics at university and worked as an exploration geologist and high school chemistry teacher.
‘He brought light and life into every room’: NPACT general manager John Ford told Sky News ‘David Lyle was a rare breed, in our industry and in the world’
While in Australia he also worked on local renditions of popular reality formats, such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Trading Spaces.
David was married to wife Janne, who he shared three children with: Sam, Polly, Joanna.
It’s unclear what type of cancer David was batting.
Family life: David was married to wife Janne, who he shared three children with: Sam, Polly, Joanna