Didi OHearn, Longtime A+E Networks Executive, Dies at 63

September 2024 · 4 minute read

Deirdre “Didi” O’Hearn, who worked as an executive at A&E Networks, died Aug. 12 in hospice care in St. Augustine, Florida of lung cancer. She was 63.

O’Hearn, a longtime cable executive who also worked for WeTV and other channels, served as senior vice president of programming and development for the Food Network and Cooking Channel from 2014 until 2017, where she oversaw existing programming and the creation of new shows.

The exec was nominated for six Emmys throughout her career, and served as vice president of nonfiction and alternative programming at A&E Television Networks. There, she developed “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,” a reality series which followed Simmons, his wife Shannon Tweed and their two kids.

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O’Hearn worked at the network for 16 years, and served as an executive producer and supervising producer on the series “Biography,” where she produced episodes exploring the lives of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone, Val Kilmer and plenty more. While at the network, she served as director of programming for the Biography Channel as well as producer of programming for the A&E Network and History Channel.

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Chairman Emeritus of A+E Networks Abbe Raven, who worked closely with O’Hearn over the years, said in a statement: “Didi was an invaluable part of the A&E and History programming teams, producing our high profile Biography series with the golden touch and warmth that allowed her subjects to open up. She was a beautiful soul—modest , caring , kind and loved by all those who knew her. She loved this industry and we were all blessed to have called her a friend and colleague.”

She served as vice president of development and talent at WeTV, and created original series and specials. During her time there, she helped develop shows like “Mary Mary,” “Kendra on Top” and “L.A. Hair.” Before working at WeTV, O’Hearn served as vice president of non-fiction media producer Darlow Smithson Productions.

O’Hearn is survived by her husband Richard, her children Ian and Michael as well as her four brothers William, Robert, Michael and Tierney. Donations can be made to the NYU Langone Health Perlmutter Cancer Center.

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