The communications executive Jason Shumaker, who played key roles at MTV and VH1 early in his career, has died at 55.
Advertisement
Shumaker died on February 16 from from complications of acute myeloid leukemia, according to Deadline.
Before rising up the ranks, Shumaker served as the lead publicist on RuPaul's Drag Race.
He played a key role in helping the drag competition flourish, and the series — which premiered in 2009 — has so far produced 18 seasons.
Shumaker's tenure with the show saw its eponymous host, RuPaul, become a household name, and the series has expanded with numerous spinoffs.
Advertisement
Shumaker also managed communications for MTV and its sibling networks MTV2, MTV Live, MTV Classic and mtvU.
Communications executive Jason Shumaker (L), who played key roles at MTV and VH1 early in his career, died at 55 on February 16 from complications of acute myeloid leukemia, according to Deadline; pictured in 2010 in NYC with RuPaul's Drag Race star Pandora Boxx
Before rising up the ranks, Shumaker served as the lead publicist on RuPaul's Drag Race; RuPaul is pictured in 2021 in LA
During his time with MTV, Shumaker oversaw publicity for major MTV events, including the network's Video Music Awards and the MTV Movie & TV Awards.
He also handled publicity for the network's priciest scripted series so far, the fantasy adaptation The Shannara Chronicles, and he worked as the lead publicist for MTV's scream adaptation, as well as the performance series Unplugged and the reality shows Fear Factor, Floribama Shore, Are You The One? and Siesta Key, among others.
Advertisement
Shumaker first became a force in the world of publicity while working for Logo, which originally aired RuPaul's Drag Race.
That series later moved up to VH1 in 2017, before transferring to MTV in 2023, with all three networks being part of the basic cable empire of Viacom (now Paramount Skydance).
After a promotion, Shumaker began handling publicity for multiple unscripted VH1 shows, including Celebrity Rehab, VH1 Divas and VH1 Storytellers.
Following his time at Viacom, Shumaker became the US communications director for the entertainment- and travel-focused startup The Culture Trip, though he soon moved on to work in executive communications for Verizon, according to The Wrap.
He made another move in 2022, when he jumped to Google.
Advertisement
He held the position of executive communications manager for platforms and ecosystems marketing as he continued moving away from his earlier entertainment roots.
Shumaker handled communications at multiple Viacom (later Paramount Skydance) channels, including Logo, VH1 and MTV; pictured (R) in 2010 in NYC withRuPaul's Drag Race star Raven (L)
Shumaker played a key role in helping RuPaul's Drag Race flourish, and the series — which premiered in 2009 — has so far produced 18 seasons and multiple spinoffs
He also handled publicity for major MTV live events, including the Video Music Awards and the MTV Movie & TV Awards; Lady Gaga is pictured at the MTV VMAs in September in Elmont, New York
In that role, he managed communications for high-profile events, including the Cannes Film Festival and tech events such as Mobile World Congress and CES.
Advertisement
Shumaker left the entertainment industry completely in 2024 when he joined CRH, an international supplier of building materials based in Dublin, as its director of internal communications.
Shumaker is survived by his parents, Lew and Cathie Shumaker, as well as his sister Tammy Golden, brother-in-law Patrick Golden and his three nephews.
He will be honored with an upcoming celebration of life ceremony and a mass in New York City, before his burial in Delaware in upcoming months.