Ben Feigin,
the Emmy-winning producer of the popular Canadian television sitcom Schitt’s
Creek, died of cancer aged 47, Los Angeles Times reported citing the United Talent
Agency, Feigin’s former employer. Feigin was executive producer for Schitt’s Creek
alongside Dan and Eugene Levy. He had also worked for Friends – the sitcom with
a near-cult following, The West Wing and ER.

Feigin’s
Emmy for Schitt’s Creek came in 2020, the year when Schitt’s Creek made a
massive sweep at the Emmy’s winning lead actor, lead actress, supporting actor,
supporting actress and series. Ben Feigin also won a Producers Guild Award for
his work which ran six seasons from 2015 through 2020.

Who was
Ben Feigin?

Ben Feigin
was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He graduated from University of California
Santa Barbara. Feigin’s first job in the industry was as an agent trainee at
William Morris, a talent agency. This was where he met his wife Heidi Feigin,
in the mailroom. The couple went on to have a daughter, Ellie, who is now 11
years old.

After
William Morris, Feigin joined United Talent Agency (UTA). He subsequently transitioned
to the production end of the entertainment business. Feigin worked for some
time at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and then joined the television
department at Warner Bros.   

It was at
Warner Bros. that Feigin oversaw massive projects such as Friends and The West
Wing.

Also Read | Watch: ‘Schitt’s Creek’ hilarious reunion at the 2021 Emmys

In 2006, Ben
Feigin joined Anonymous Content, where he represented actors, filmmakers,
writers and authors along with founding the company’s comedy and entertainment
divisions.

Beyond
Hollywood, Feigin was part of other artistic projects, such as facilitating art
commissions for former United States President Barack Obama and other
influential figures, curating an exhibition for the Grammy Museum that
showcased leaders and musical instruments of the Chicano Art Movement. Feigin
went on to create a streetwear clothing line and collaborated on a series of
children’s books in English and Spanish.  

Ben Feigin
was a member of the Producers Guild and Academy of Television Arts &
Sciences and taught classes at UCLA, NYU and UC Santa Barbara. He also worked
with charitable organisations such as Stand Up to Cancer and Gilda’s Club
Worldwide, an organisation that provides free care and resources to patients of
cancer and their loved ones.