Stan Rogow, the Emmy-award-nominated producer who worked on the comedy series Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004), The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), and the original NBC series Fame (1982) passed away on Thursday.
The Brooklyn, New York native died at the age of 75 while at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to The Hollywood Reporter, but at last check officials had not released the official cause of death.
Rogow served as an executive producer for the Hilary Duff-led Lizzie McGuire show from 2001 to 2004, where he was nominated for Emmys two times for his work on the show.
Upon learning the tragic news of his passing, Duff has since taken to her instagram page to share her condolences to his family and give thanks to him for helping pave out her career in Hollywood.
‘Writing this right now is bringing back so many distant memories of what feels like a completely different lifetime,’ she began in her lengthy post. ‘One where I had absolutely no clue where I was heading or how I was getting there, but where I had that eagerness and blind optimism that accompanies youth and your first opportunities to step up.’
Hilary Duff paid tribute to Stan Rogow, who was an executive producer on her breakout show Lizzie McGuire, following his death on Thursday at the age of 75; they are pictured together at The Lizzie McGuire Movie premiere in April 2003
Duff, now a 36-year-old mother of three, went on to credit Rogow with being that ‘special’ first person to believe in her as a performer, despite her being just a recently turned teenager at the time.
‘You heavily cherish the people who first believe and see something in you, and for me there was a very special person who fought for me to land a role that would change the entire course of my life,’ she said of Rogow, before adding, ‘And I’m so very sad to hear of his passing today.’
The actress and singer ended her tribute by showing an over abundance of thanks and gratitude to the man who served as a mentor to the then young star.
‘Stan – thank you for thinking I had ‘that special thing’. Thank you for all of the Lizzie adventures. Thank you for helping create a reality I could never have dreamed of,’ she wrote, before sharing, ‘Thinking of your family and your son Jackson at this time, Rest easy Stan x HD.’
During her initial acting years, Duff primarily played minor roles and did extra work until she landed her first major role in Casper Meets Wendy (1998).
From there, she was touted to star in the NBC comedy series Daddio with Michael Chiklis but was dropped from the cast prior to the airing of the show.
But just a week later Duff landed the title role of a newly developed Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire.
Along with being an executive producer, Rogow is credited with conceiving the high-concept version of the Lizzie McGuire script in which an animated version of the character would be featured to convey these thoughts, according to Wikipedia. This concept became known the ‘animated Lizzie’ persona, and was also voiced by Duff.
In an Instagram post, Duff credited Rogow with being that first ‘special person’ to believe in her talents, who fought for her to land the role of Lizzie McGuire
The actress and singer would also thank Rogow for ‘thinking I had that special thing’
Along with the series, Rogow also worked with Duff on The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003); the writer, producer and music manager is seen in 2007
Duff is now a 36-year-old mother of three, who married to Matthew Koma, 36; the couple are pictured with son Luca, 11, whom she shares with ex-husband Mike Comrie, and their daughters Banks, five and Mae, two, during Christmas holidays
The writer, producer and music manager’s Hollywood credits also include such TV shows as Shannon’s Deal (1990-1991), Nowhere Man (1995-1996), State of Grace (2001-2002), Darcy’s Wild Life (2004-2006), Flight 29 Down (2005-2007) and Valemont (2009).
He also produced a number of films that includes Duff reprising her role as Lizzie in The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003).
As a producer Rogow earned three Emmy nominations: one for his work of Fame and two more for working alongside Duff on Lizzie McGuire.
The father of one leaves behind family members that includes his son, Jackson Rogow, who starred on the live-action Cartoon Network series Dude, What Would Happen (2009-2011), his grandson Vega, and his sister Marian.
Variety is reporting that a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at Mount Sinai Memorial Park And Mortuaries in Los Angeles.
