TORONTO – Guy O’Sullivan, founder and president of Canadian production company Proper Television, passed away suddenly over the weekend at the age of 49.
With a career in the television industry spanning more than 20 years, O’Sullivan began as a print journalist in the U.K. before producing and directing shows for the BBC between 1994 and 2000. He moved to Canada and founded Proper Television in 2004, which had success with original shows such as Don’t Drive Here and Vegas Rat Rods.
Proper Television is also behind CBC’s True North Calling as well as the creation of Canadian versions of major international formats including MasterChef Canada for CTV, Canada's Worst Driver for Bell Media’s Discovery, and OLN’s Storage Wars Canada.
"Guy's passing is a tragic loss to Canada's production community, and everyone here at Bell Media," said Bell Media president Randy Lennox, in a statement. "Guy was an incredibly bright, charming, generous, and well-loved friend to all who knew and worked with him. In addition to his work on CTV's Masterchef Canada projects, he helmed many of Discovery's success stories for the last dozen years – more than half of the network's history – developing personal friendships along the way. His work has made an indelible impact, and he will be dearly missed."
A statement from Proper Television said that the company will honour O’Sullivan’s legacy “by continuing to create television we can all be proud of”.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Guy O’Sullivan, President, Proper Television,” reads the statement on the company's website. “On behalf of everyone at Proper Television, we extend our sincere condolences to his children and family. Guy had a tremendous impact in the Canadian and international television industry, and was adored by his colleagues and staff. Please be assured that the company will continue to operate as usual, and that all our productions and business relationships are able to move forward as planned.”
