Anita W. Addison(1952-2004)

Producer/director Anita Addison was one of the first African-American, female TV executives. She began her career as a director, directing episodes of "Knots Landing," "Quantum Leap," "Freddy's Nightmares," "ER," "Sirens" and "Judging Amy." She also directed made-for-TV movies, including "There Are No Children Here" starring Oprah Winfrey and Keith David and "Deep in My Heart" starring Anne Bancroft. Ms. Addison held executive positions at CBS, Lorimar and Warner Brothers Television and was the executive producer or producer of the TV series "Sisters," "It Had to Be You," "That's Life" and "St. Michael's Crossing."

Addison died at 51 years of age of undisclosed causes. The Academy Award winning film Crash (2004) was dedicated to her by friend, writer and director Paul Haggis.