Stephanie Leifer, Longtime ABC Programming Executive, Dies at 56

Stephanie Leifer, a longtime ABC programming executive of nearly 30 years, died Thursday to cancer. She was 56.

Leifer spent a combined 28 years at ABC and ABC Signature before stepping away in 2022. Her last role at the studio was as head of current programming for ABC Signature.

Leifer joined Disney Television Studios in 2006, but before that she spent 12 years climbing the ranks at ABC, joining the studio back in 1994. She made it all the way from assistant to an executive in current programming, drama development and comedy development.

She had a hand in some of the biggest TV properties ABC put out in the last two decades including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost” and “Ugly Betty.