Loren Ruch, the head of content at HGTV and co-host of “HGTV House Party,” died on June 12, 2025, at the age of 55 following a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman Channing Dungey confirmed Ruch’s death in a memo to employees, stating he passed away surrounded by his husband and close friends.
Ruch had served as HGTV’s head of content since January 2023 and was a programming executive with the network since 2008. During his tenure, he oversaw the production of numerous popular shows including “My Lottery Dream Home,” “Celebrity IOU,” “Battle on the Beach,” “A Very Brady Renovation,” and “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.”
Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that affects myeloid cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults and typically requires immediate treatment as it progresses quickly.
In her memo announcing Ruch’s death, Dungey praised his leadership and character. She described him as “the rare leader who lifted everyone around him” and noted his unwavering dedication, endless kindness, and unshakeable integrity. Dungey emphasized that Ruch built not only hit shows but enduring relationships, serving as a mentor, advocate, and true friend to countless colleagues across the television landscape.
Ruch co-hosted the 2021 series “HGTV House Party” alongside Brian Balthazar, a talk show-style program that featured eight episodes with conversations involving HGTV stars such as Alison Victoria, Tarek El Moussa, and Jasmine Roth. Earlier in his HGTV career, he executive produced series including “HGTV Dream Home,” “HGTV Green Home,” “Rose Parade,” and “White House Christmas.”
Before joining HGTV, Ruch spent 10 years at Fox’s “Good Day LA” and the nationally syndicated “Good Day Live,” where he won five Emmy Awards as senior producer of the morning news shows. He began his career in daytime talk shows and game shows, including “Home & Family,” “Love Connection,” and “Family Feud.”
Ruch started his tenure at the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned cable network in 2005, initially supervising programming for multiple channels including Food Network and Fine Living. He later served as Vice President of development and programming for HGTV, DIY Network, and Great American Country before being named head of content.
Several HGTV personalities paid tribute to Ruch on social media following news of his death. Christina Haack, known for “Flip or Flop” and “Christina on the Coast,” called him one of the rare ones and the real ones, expressing that everyone adored him and he would be missed dearly.
Jonathan Scott of “Property Brothers” shared photos of Ruch on his Instagram stories, describing his struggle with the loss of his friend and calling Ruch one of the great ones. Veronica Valencia of “Revealed” thanked Ruch for believing in her and championing many others, describing him as not just a network executive but a mentor, confidant, and protector of creative dreams.
Bobby Berk, formerly of “Queer Eye” and a celebrity judge on “Rock the Block,” shared a photo with Ruch on Instagram, describing him as a warm light in a dark world who would be missed by many. Jasmine Roth of “Help! I Wrecked My House” indicated that to know Ruch was to love him, describing him as having one of those personalities that people gravitate toward and being one of the most creative people she had met.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ruch served as a board member of Live Out Loud, a nonprofit organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth by connecting them with LGBTQ+ professionals in their community. Dungey described him as a tireless champion of inclusivity and representation.
Dungey emphasized that for Ruch, work was never just about ratings or accolades but about people. She noted that he built teams that became families, forged friendships that lasted lifetimes, and left behind a legacy of creativity, compassion, and joy. The executive described Ruch as the connective tissue of every room he entered and the glue that bound teams, departments, and friendships.
Ruch is survived by his husband, David Salas; his mother, Dolly Norris; his father, Larry Ruch; and his brother, Geoffrey Ruch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation or Be the Match in his honor.
