Hugh Downs Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Net Worth, Cause of Death, Son, Daughter, Obituary
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Hugh Downs Biography – Hugh Downs Wiki
Hugh Downs (born Hugh Malcolm Downs) American broadcaster. He worked on NBC’s “Today” and “Tonight” shows, the game show “Concentration,” co-hosted the ABC magazine show “20/20” with Barbara Walters and the PBS series “Over Easy” and “Live From Lincoln Center.”
Downs is best known for his time hosting NBC’s Today Show from 1962-1971. He pushed for Barbara Walters being promoted from writer to on-air after several years, and subsequently anchoring the ABC News magazine 20/20, again joined by Barbara Walters, from 1978-99. Downs hosted the program from the show’s second episode in 1978 until his retirement in 1999.
In 1985, he set the Guinness Book of World Records record for the greatest number of hours on network commercial television at 15,188 hours. He lost the record to Regis Philbin in 2004.
Downs said in a 1986 Associated Press interview: “I’ve worked on so many different shows and done so many shows at the same time. I once said I’d done everything on radio and television except play-by-play sports. Then I remembered I’d covered a boxing match in Lima, Ohio, in 1939.”
Downs also has a school named after him: The Hugh Downs School of Human Communication at Arizona State University.
Hugh Downs Age
He was born on February 14, 1921, in Akron, Ohio, United States as Hugh Malcolm Downs. He died on July 1, 2020, in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States.
Hugh Downs Wife
He had been married to his wife Ruth Shaheen from February 17, 1944, until her death on March 28, 2017, at the age of 95.
Hugh Downs Children
Downs and his wife Ruth Shaheen had two children, Deirdre Downs and Hugh Raymond (H.R.).
Hugh Downs Family
He was born to Edith (née Hicks) and Milton Howard Downs. He is survived by his two children, Deirdre Downs and Hugh Raymond, two grandchildren Cameron Black and Leah Downs, and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruth Shaheen, died on March 28, 2017.
Hugh Downs Death
He died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 1, 2020, at age 99. His great-niece, Molly Shaheen, confirmed the news to the Associated Press.
Hugh Downs Cause of Death
Hugh Downs’ cause of death was heart failure.
Hugh Downs Net Worth
Hugh Downs’ net worth was estimated to be $20 Million.
