Who is Stephanie Leifer? The season 21 premiere of “Grey’s Anatomy” is a tribute

Leifer spent nearly three decades in various roles at Disney TV before leaving in 2022.

Are you wondering who Leifer was? Read on to find out everything you need to know.

Who is Stephanie Leifer?

Leifer was a programming executive and worked for a total of 28 years at ABC, the US network on which the series is broadcast, and its sister studio ABC Signature.

More like that

She most recently served as head of current programming at ABC Signature, which she left in 2022.

She previously spent 12 years climbing the ladder at ABC, starting as an assistant in 1994 and then becoming a senior executive in current programming, drama development and comedy development.

In 2006 Leifer switched to the studio side.

During her long career at ABC, Leifer worked on some of the biggest TV shows in the network’s history, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost” and “Ugly Betty.”

“Stephanie was a beloved member of the Disney Entertainment Television family for nearly three decades, and we are heartbroken by the devastating news of her passing,” a Disney Entertainment TV spokesperson said following the tragic news of her death.

“She was a highly respected leader whose creative influence was only exceeded by the relationships she fostered both within the company and throughout the industry. Our sincere condolences go out to her family, especially her husband and our colleague Jonathan, as well as her two wonderful children Amelia and Noah.”

Before joining ABC, Leifer worked at WGBH-TV in Boston and at Writers and Artists Agency.

Speaking about the decision to dedicate the Season 21 premiere to Leifer, Grey’s Anatomy executive producer and showrunner Meg Marinis, who wrote the episode, told Deadline: “Stephanie Leifer was an incredible person and dedicated advocate for Grey’s. She really believed in us from the beginning.” We supported each other from the beginning and supported our creative vision.

“I started my career as an assistant delivering Grey’s scripts to her office, and I remember her door was always open. She was so encouraging to writers and attended several Grey’s milestone events. It was a heartbreaking loss for this family.”

Seasons 1 through 20 of Grey’s Anatomy are available to stream on Disney Plus Sign up to Disney Plus now for £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year. Season 18 is also available on Sky and NOW, with new episodes airing on Sky Witness in the UK.

Check out more of our drama coverage or visit our TV and streaming guide to find out what’s on. For more on TV’s biggest stars, check out the Radio Times Podcast.