Jamie Tarses, first female TV network entertainment head, dies at 56 Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times Feb. 1, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 13: Jamie Tarses attends the Women In Film 2018 Crystal + Lucy Awards presented by Max Mara, Lancôme and Lexus at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Women In Film)Emma McIntyre / Getty Jamie Tarses, who helped bring "Friends" to NBC and broke the glass ceiling in network TV when she became the top entertainment executive at ABC, died Monday after suffering complications from a cardiac event last fall. She was 56.