Perry Cross Cause of Death

American television producer, Perry Cross has been reported dead by his family. According to his son Larry, The Tonight Show producer died of kidney cancer on March 9, 2023. He was 95 years old at the time of death.

Cross was the first producer on The Tonight Show before he left to join ABC on a program hosted by Jerry Lewis for 13 episodes.

He had been producing the show just after host Jack Paar’s exit on March 30, 1962. He served an integral part by guiding the program in Hollywood and Brooklyn. It featured several guests host until Carson took over.

His career started in 1952 when he began producing Ernie Kovac’s CBS weekday morning show. He also worked on several shows including The Red Skelton Hour, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Soupy Sals Show, Life With Linkletter, The Gary Moore Show, and more. He also worked closely with Jonathan Winters for his specials.

NBC suggested that Cross produces Carson’s show, which was a good move, as they got along very well. He produced Carson’s daytime quiz show, Who Do You Trust?

“We went out every night, we went to different places, we laughed,” Cross shared during an episode on The Carson Podcast.

”We were all drinkers in those days. That didn’t hurt,” he added.

Unfortunately, Cross left because NBC refused to give him a raise in salary. Carson was extremely pained and angry at the network but there was nothing they could do about it. Along with the other staffers who were equally not pleased with the situation, they organized a touching send off party for Cross. Carson raised a glass to toast the producer and said;

”Perry, here’s you. I have one thing to say to you. F*** you.”

After his exit, 40 episodes that were in the pipeline were so disastrous to the extent that they have to cancel it entirely.

However, Cross on the other hand also regretted leaving.

”I’ve often thought back, to tell you the truth, that I made a big mistake by leaving, but that’s hindsight. Who knows what would’ve happened later on if I’d have gotten too cocky and he got mad at me,” Cross said.