The HGTV family is mourning one of their most beloved members.

Loren Ruch, who served as the network’s head of content and co-hosted the 2021 series HGTV’s House Party alongside Brian Balthazar, died at age 55, according to an internal memo from Warner Bros. Television Group chairman Channing Dungey.

“It is with incredible sadness that I write to tell you about the loss of one of our beloved colleagues,” Dungey said in the memo obtained by Today.com. “Loren Ruch passed away this morning, June 12, 2025, surrounded by his husband and dear friends, following a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia.”

Dungey went on to highlight Ruch’s career of more than 30 years, describing him as “the rare leader who lifted everyone around him.”

“Loren built not only hit shows but enduring relationships, serving as mentor, advocate and true friend to countless colleagues across the television landscape,” she continued. “His impact stretched far beyond the screen. Loren was the connective tissue of every room he entered—the glue that bound teams, departments and friendships.”

According to the American Cancer Society, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a leukemia that starts in the bone marrow and typically moves into the blood. The disease, which is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults, tends to progress quickly and usually requires immediate treatment.

In the wake of Ruch’s passing, several HGTV personalities have honored his memory on social media including Christina Haack, who called him “one of the rare ones and the real ones.”

“Everyone adored you,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of herself and Ruch. “You are loved by so many and will be missed dearly.”

Jonathan Scott also shared a pic of himself and fiancée Zooey Deschanel having dinner with Ruch and his husband David Salas, along with emotional tribute to the late TV executive.

“Struggling with the loss of my friend tonight,” he wrote in an Instagram Stories post. “Loren, you’re one of the great ones.”

(E! News and Today.com are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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