Kit Hood, co-creator of the Degrassi franchise has passed away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 01-22-2020, 10:22 PM

https://cultfaction.com/2020/01/22/d...d-passes-away/

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One of the main creators of the Degrassi franchise, Kit Hood, has passed away at the age of approximately 76 years old. Kit created Playing With Time productions, along with Linda Schuyler, and went onto produce The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High (where Kit appeared as an angry parent in the episode “Censored” in 1988), Degrassi Talks, Degrassi: School’s Out and Degrassi: The Next Generation.

The sad news was broken by the De Grassi Tour Instagram page:

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“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I have been tasked with sharing the news of the passing of an incredible man.

On Sunday January 19th co-creator and award winning director Kit Hood passed away at his home in Nova Scotia.

Kit Hood was fundamental in laying the foundation of the Degrassi legacy as we know it today. From its humble beginnings with The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi Jr. High, Degrassi High and the series finale School’s Out in 1992.

This small Canadian series entertained generations of fans worldwide. I’ve personally heard countless stories from fans about how Degrassi comforted them when no one else understood what they were going through. Even after 40 years fans fondly look back at old episodes and can still feel connected to the characters and stories as if reconnecting with an old friend.

Kit Hood started the careers of so many actors, crew members and writers with his production company Playing With Time. For the past 25 years Kit has been living a quiet life in Nova Scotia with his wife Agnes. Kit is the proud father two daughters and a grandson.

We were so lucky to have the opportunity this summer to honour Kit at Degrassi Palooza. It was for Kit the event was created. It was important that I showed him the lives he had touched and the difference he made. He was celebrated by 300 fans that travelled from all over the world to attend the event. Thank you to all those who did attend and showed your love and appreciation for Kit. He left that weekend feeling so blessed and proud of what he had created. I’m now humbled to have been able to give Kit that gift after all he has given us.

I wish I could have given more, he deserved more.”

Degrassi co-creator Christopher "Kit" Hood dies at 76

Hood and Linda Schuyler were responsible for 1980s Canadian teen series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, which they began as The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979. "As Kit and I created Kids of Degrassi Street in the early 1980s, he shifted his focus to directing and brought his influence to the world of Degrassi," Schuyler said in a statement. "He added his trademark impish charm, and a kid’s-eye view, never letting the camera look down on our young protagonists. Kit’s intimate and respectful style of directing, small of scale and richly layered, was integral to the success of the series through Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. To this day, his style is deeply imbedded in Degrassi’s DNA." Degrassi High star Pasquale "Pat" Mastroianni, who played Joey Jeremiah, praised Hood on Twitter for being "fundamental in laying the foundation of the Degrassi franchise."