Darrell Ewalt, vice president and executive producer of event programming and production at Mark Cuban’s AXS TV, has died. He was 58.
Ewalt died Sunday in Miami of complications from a choking incident, a company spokesman told The Hollywood Reporter.
A 15-year veteran of the company, Ewalt oversaw AXS TV’s sports and live event programming production. He also served as executive producer of AXS TV Fights, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Inside MMA, which aired for 10 seasons.
The company, a partnership of Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, CAA and CBS, noted that Ewalt “was a superb creative producer with a rolodex full of contacts” and skilled in engineering and broadcasting technology. His most recent project was spearheading the design and engineering for the network’s new live broadcast production truck.
“AXS TV is forever indebted to Darrell’s tireless service,” Cuban, CEO of AXS TV, said in a statement. “He left his imprint on every aspect of this company, both as a producer, engineer and as a person.”
A resident of Denver, Ewalt was one of the company’s original hires when it launched 15 years ago as HDNet, the first HD network to cover television broadcasts in HD.
Ewalt, who spent more than 35 years as a producer and director, won an Emmy Award for helping to produce the first high-definition broadcast from the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. He also produced HD broadcasts of MLB, NHL and MLS games during his career.
Survivors include his wife Vicky, sons Kyle and Blair, brother Steve, and parents Merritt and Mareda. The family has designated Craig Hospital Foundation and Freedom Service Dogs of America as memorial contributions in his name.
