Jimmy Kimmel has thanked Fred Silverman for giving him his "first shot in TV" in a sweet tribute as the programmer died at 82.
Fred was affectionately known as "the man with the golden gut" after giving the green light to TV shows such as All In The Family, Roots and Hill Street Blues.
After news of his sad death, Jimmy took to Twitter to pay tribute and thank him for helping launch his career.
The 52-year-old wrote: "Fred gave me my first "shot" in TV. He saw something that even I didn't. He was a great character, very kind to me and I am grateful to him always - Rest In Peace Fred Silverman"
Fans of the Jimmy Kimmel Live host left their own tributes.
One wrote: "I watched a lot of the shows he helped get on TV. In the Heat of the Night was one. There were many others."
Another posted: "He was responsible for nearly half my TV viewing growing up, and even to this day watching reruns of the great shows that he created and touched."
Fred was the only executive to ever programme for CBS, ABC and NBC.
He was seen as one of the most influential executives in television history.
Fred died at his home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, on Thursday, his publicist announced.
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