Lisa de Cazotte, an Emmy Award-winning daytime television producer whose most recent job was supervising producer at The Young and the Restless, died over the weekend at the age of 58. She lost her life due to an illness she had been battling for a long time, Deadline reports.
De Cazotte had a long history in the soap opera world that began with the role of intern at One Life to Live in 1983 (when she went by her pre-married name of Lisa Hesser). The Fordham University graduate quickly moved up the ranks to become associate and then coordinating producer at the ABC soap opera under then-executive producer Paul Rauch.
When Rauch took over Santa Barbara in 1991, de Cazotte joined him in the role of producer and stayed with the West Coast soap until its cancellation in 1993. From there, she moved back east to take on the position of coordinating producer at All My Children, where she was part of the team that won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama in 1994.
Following her time at AMC, de Cazotte traveled back to Los Angeles to be a supervising producer at Sunset Beach, but in 1999, she was chosen to become the executive producer of the brand-new soap opera Passions. She stayed with the NBC soap opera until 2008, when the zany series created by James E. Reilly came to an end.
After Passions folded, SOAPNet scooped up de Cazotte to EP General Hospital: Night Shift -- but the gig didn't last long, and she ended up returning to All My Children as a producer in 2009 and stayed with the series until 2010. Her next gig didn't come until 2012, when she was chosen to be co-executive producer at Days of our Lives. It was there that the New York native earned her first two Daytime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Drama, in 2013 and 2015.
Lisa de Cazotte's final soap position was that of supervising producer at The Young and the Restless, where she landed in 2017. She was still producing the CBS soap at the time of her death, having taken home a third Daytime Emmy award when the soap opera won Outstanding Drama Series earlier this year.
In 2002, de Cazotte married French filmmaker and Oscar winner Antoine de Cazotte, known for his work on Oceans and The Artist. She is survived by him and her brothers, Michael Patrick Smith, Robert Terence Smith, and Brian Charles Smith, as well as many nieces and nephews in both the US and France.
Following the news of de Cazotte's passing, members of the daytime community began posting about her death on social media.
Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott, Y&R; ex-Patrick Drake, General Hospital), wrote, "We lost a member of the family last night, one of our producers, Lisa De Cazotte. I first worked with Lisa when she produced the 2nd season of 'Night Shift'. Years later and currently on @YandR_CBS She was kind and smart. Our thoughts are with her family."
We lost a member of the family last night, one of our producers, Lisa De Cazotte. I first worked with Lisa when she produced the 2nd season of "Night Shift". Years later and currently on @YandR_CBS. She was kind and smart. Our thoughts are with her family. 💛
- Jason Thompson (@MyJasonThompson) December 8, 2019
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, Y&R; ex-Nina Clay, GH) shared, "Sometimes you recognize those women who are part of 'the tribe'. Whether you know them for 20 years or 20 minutes... they are still part of your tribe. Lucky for me. Godspeed beautiful Lisa"
Priscilla Garita (ex-Gabi Martinez, Sunset Beach; ex-Kathy Wolikowski, Another World; ex-Anita Santos, AMC; ex-Rita, As the World Turns; ex-Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald, Passions; ex-Lupe, GH) took to Facebook with the message, "Sunset Beach holds a special place in my heart. I met so many wonderful people, some of whom became special friends. With a grateful heart to share gatherings like these, my heart is also very sad to learn today of the passing of one of Sunset Beaches gifted producers, Lisa de Cazotte. Blessings to her family and our Sunset Beach family."
Eric Martsolf (Brady Black, DAYS; ex-Ethan Winthrop, Passions), wrote, "The kindness and opportunity this woman furnished me was immeasurable. We have lost one of the hardest working and graceful producers in our genre. I will miss you terribly, Lisa. #RIP"
And former CBS Daytime executive Angelica McDaniel shared, "Last night we lost a light in this world with the passing of Lisa De Cazotte. Lisa was smart, strong, kind, vibrant, an incredible friend and an Emmy winning producer on many beloved shows. I was blessed to know her. Sending love to her family and friends."
Sometimes you recognize those women who are part of "the tribe". Whether you know them for 20 years or 20 minutes... they are still part of your tribe. Lucky for me. Godspeed beautiful Lisa ❤️
- Michelle Stafford (@TheRealStafford) December 8, 2019
The kindness and opportunity this woman furnished me was immeasurable. We have lost one of the hardest working and graceful producers in our genre. I will miss you terribly, Lisa. #RIP https://t.co/4Pk9KsdvMC
- Eric Martsolf (@ericmartsolf) December 8, 2019
Last night we lost a light in this world with the passing of Lisa De Cazotte. Lisa was smart, strong, kind, vibrant, an incredible friend and an Emmy winning producer on many beloved shows. I was blessed to know her. Sending love to her family and friends. 🙏🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/jRfWHhpLtJ
- Angelica Rosas McDaniel (@AngelicaMcD) December 8, 2019
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