Harold Greene, the likeable longtime news anchor for many of L.A.’s local news stations, died last night. His passing was announced by family. Greene was 82.
At various junctures in his career, Greene worked for ABC7 Eyewitness News, KCAL 9 News and CBS 2 News. Greene also worked in San Diego for a period, and legend has long had it that his on-air look at the time (including an impressive mustache) inspired elements of the Ron Burgundy character in Anchorman. Will Ferrell has denied this, however.
Greene got his first job in L.A. as a reporter and producer for KABC. Shortly thereafter, he left for the San Diego affiliate, KCST-TV (now KNSD). He then jumped to the NBC affiliate at the time, KGTV, to co-anchor the news.
In 1978, he co-anchored the news in L.A. with Eyewitness News legend Jerry Dunphy. He became ABC7’s weekend anchor with Joanne Ishimine in 1982 before taking over the anchor chair for the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. weeknight editions of Eyewitness News after Dunphy left. He later moved to the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. slots. At ABC, Greene also hosted locally produced light-news programs such as Hollywood Close-Up and A.M. Los Angeles.
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In 2001, he moved to CBS 2 and was part of a formidable on-air lineup that included L.A. TV News stalwarts Ann Martin and sportscaster Jim Hill. Later, Laura Diaz and weatherman Johnny Mountain joined the crew, reuniting members of KABC’s Eyewitness News team from the 1980s and early 1990s. Greene and Martin were laid off by KCBS/KCAL in 2008.
Greene received 10 Golden Mike awards, the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism Award, two Emmys, three Edward R. Murrow Awards and twelve L.A. Press Club Awards.
His daughter Courtney announced the news, writing that her father had “signed off for the last time” on Tuesday. She added that she and her mother were with Greene when he passed.
‘We have a feeling he’s already settling into the great newsroom in the sky, no doubt with a few suggestions on how things should be run.”
A memorial is being planned for after the holidays.
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