Les Crystal Cause Of Death: 'PBS NewsHour' Executive Producer Dies At 85

On Wednesday, Les Crystal, a former executive producer of "PBS NewsHour" and president of NBC News, died at the age of 85 after battling brain cancer and pneumonia. The respected PBS staffer had become beloved by many over the years and had played a pivotal role in keeping the show afloat in the years after its 1975 premiere.

For more than 20 years, Crystal worked in the field of broadcast journalism. Prior to his PBS introduction, the Minnesota-born Crystal had earned two journalism degrees from Northwestern University’s Medill School. Upon graduation, he then transitioned into the position of executive producer at "NBC Nightly News" from 1973 to 1976 and president of NBC News from 1977 to 1979, according to PBS. While at the network, he supervised coverage on a variety of topics, ranging from election night results to President Richard Nixon's visit to China.

Then in 1983, he arrived at NewsHour at what the publication calls a "critical moment." That year, he joined Jim Lehrer and Robin MacNeil to work on the MacNeil/Lehrer Report as it expanded to an hour, which made it the first national broadcast to take that step. From there, he reportedly went on to "steer the show’s new model for telling more stories in depth each night."

During a segment of "PBS NewsHour" that aired on Wednesday night, which can be seen below, Crystal's contributions were highlighted as the program looked back on the man who was described as "a font of singular kindness, fortitude and grace in the hectic business of daily news."

As he worked on the show, he used his talents and commitment to public media to help journalists "tell the most important stories." It was also said that he specifically worked to "tell stories from across the globe that were often ignored." After stepping down as executive producer, he then went on to become president of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, where he continued to ensure the financial backbone of "NewsHour."

Even though his accomplishments spoke for themselves, those who knew him also offered kind words on his behalf following his death, which highlighted his impact on the lives of those who he had previously worked with over the years.

Linda Winslow, who had been the show's deputy executive producer and later successor, discussed Crystal during the "PBS NewsHour" segment.

"He had an amazing ability to relate to other people as human beings, not as whatever their job description said they were," she said, adding that he viewed the entire "NewsHour" staff as one big family.

Elizabeth Farnsworth, a former chief executive correspondent on "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," echoed the kind sentiments. "How would I describe Les Crystal? Sweet, calm, supportive, determined. Les expected the best from us. And, because of his own kindness and skill, we wanted to give him the best."