He is probably best known as the producer of the television series The White Shadow and St. Elsewhere. He also worked on the critically-acclaimed Homicide: Life on the Street. His last production was the film Duets, which starred his daughter, Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
Bruce Paltrow died at age 58 while vacationing in Rome to celebrate his daughter's 30th birthday. He had suffered from throat cancer for several years, and his death was apparently due to complications from pneumonia. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son Jake Paltrow, also an actor.