Harold Greene, a familiar presence on Los Angeles television news for decades, has died at 82. His daughter, Courtney Greene, shared the news in a Facebook post, saying that family members were with him when he died.
“Our beloved husband, father, uncle and friend has signed off for the last time,” she wrote, adding that she and her mother were by his side. She described the room as filled with love and said he would be missed by many.
Greene spent more than 18 years at KABC, where he co-anchored the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. He left the station in 2000 and joined KCBS/KCAL the following year, reuniting with former KABC co-anchor Ann Martin. Greene and Martin were among the staff members let go in 2008 during station-wide budget cuts.
He began his television career with the launch of news programming at KCST in San Diego, then worked at rival station KGTV. He also spent time at KPIX in San Francisco before joining KABC, where he co-anchored the 5 p.m. broadcast with Jerry Dunphy. Greene returned to KGTV before rejoining KABC in 1982.
In addition to anchoring, Greene hosted KABC programs including “Hollywood Close-Up” and “A.M. Los Angeles.” His honors included Golden Mike Awards, Los Angeles local Emmys, Los Angeles Press Club awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Greene has often been described as an inspiration for Will Ferrell’s “Ron Burgundy” character in “Anchorman,” though the filmmakers have not confirmed the connection.
Sources: Variety.