Karen Glass obit

Karen Glass Dies: Former Disney Exec & ‘A Pickleball Christmas’ Producer Was 63

 

She was not on the list.

Karen Glass, a former Disney studio exec who helped develop The Princess Diaries and Tuck Everlasting before she began producing holiday TV movies, died Monday, December 22, at UCLA Medical Center from complications with pancreatic cancer. She was 63, and undergoing a surgical procedure at the hospital.

A sister of radio host Ira Glass, Karen Glass most recently exec produced this year’s Lifetime holiday movie A Pickleball Christmas starring James Lafferty and Zibby Allen. She reportedly was already working on a new mahjong-themed holiday movie.

Her death was announced by family in an obituary. A cause was not disclosed.

“Karen’s incredible creativity, her tenacity with getting her film projects off the ground and produced, were fueled by her love for the film business,” said friend Ed Connolly, senior producer of Live With Kelly and Mark. “But her greatest love of all was her son, Zachary Barry.”

According to previously published reports, Glass joined the Walt Disney Co. in 1989 as a member of the marketing team at Buena Vista Television. The following year she began a five-year association with Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, where she was a manager of sales administration before being promoted to director of theatrical strategy and planning. In 1995, she joined Buena Vista Pictures Marketing as a director of national promotions and in 1996 served as exec director on national promotions.

During her tenure at Disney – she left in 2006 – Glass helped spearhead The Princess Diaries (she bought the book for the studio and insisted on hiring Julie Andrews for the film), Tuck Everlasting, and Herbie Fully Loaded, among many others.

After leaving Disney, Glass became a prolific producer of TV holiday movies, including such films as Ice Princess starring Michelle Trachtenberg (2005) and Same Time, Next Christmas starring Lea Michele (2019). Glass’ other holiday-themed TV credits include, among others, Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (2020), Christmas Class Reunion (2022) and Leah’s Perfect Gift (2024).

Glass, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the UCLA Anderson School of Business, recently started a business, Glassworks College Advising, to counsel high school students applying to college.

In addition to brother Ira Glass, Karen Glass is survived by son Zachary Sean Barry; sister Randi Glass Murray; in-laws David Meckel and Susanna Fogel; stepmother Sandy Glass; nephews Sam and Ben Murray; and uncle Bennett Politzer.

 

roducer

Battle of Versailles

executive producer

ScriptTV Movie

 

James Lafferty and Zibby Allen in A Pickleball Christmas (2025)

A Pickleball Christmas

5.4

TV Movie

executive producer

2025

 

Emily Arlook and Evan Roderick in Leah's Perfect Gift (2024)

Leah's Perfect Gift

6.0

TV Movie

executive producer

2024

 

Karen David and Tyler Hilton in When Christmas Was Young (2022)

When Christmas Was Young

6.2

TV Movie

executive producer

2022

 

Maya Ford, Aimee Teegarden, Tanner Novlan, Marshall Williams, Dejan Loyola, Stephanie Bennett, and Dylan Archambault in Christmas Class Reunion (2022)

Christmas Class Reunion

6.1

TV Movie

executive producer

2022

 

Marc Blucas and Lauren Lee Smith in Doomsday Mom (2021)

Doomsday Mom

5.4

TV Movie

executive producer

2021

 

Ashley Williams and Niall Matter in Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (2020)

Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater

6.7

TV Movie

executive producer

2020

 

Lea Michele, Bryan Greenberg, and Charles Michael Davis in Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)

Same Time, Next Christmas

6.1

TV Movie

co-executive producer

2019

 

Jennette McCurdy, Noah Crawford, Noah Munck, Ciara Bravo, Ariana Grande, and Chris O'Neal in Swindle (2013)

Swindle

6.3

TV Movie

executive producer

2013

 

Michelle Trachtenberg in Ice Princess (2005)

Ice Princess

6.1

executive producer

2005

 

Additional Crew

Lindsay Lohan and Herbie in Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)

Herbie: Fully Loaded

4.9

production executive

2005

 

Michelle Trachtenberg in Ice Princess (2005)

Ice Princess

6.1

production executive

2005

 

Julie Andrews, Hector Elizondo, and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

5.9

production executive

2004

 

Raising Helen (2004)

Raising Helen

6.0

production executive

2004

 

Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday (2003)

Freaky Friday

6.4

production executive

2003

 

Jonathan Jackson and Alexis Bledel in Tuck Everlasting (2002)

Tuck Everlasting

6.6

production executive

2002

 

Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries (2001)

The Princess Diaries

6.4

production executive (uncredited)

2001

 

Self

When Isabel Met Aviva (2023)

When Isabel Met Aviva

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2023

1 episode