Peter Jennings

Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM (July 29, 1938 – August 7, 2005) was the lead news anchor for the ABC network from the 1980s to the 2000s. He had anchored ABC World News Tonight since 1978 and was the sole anchor from 1983 through April 2005. Jennings died of lung cancer on the evening of August 7 2005 at the age of 67.

Leaving the chair

On April 1, 2005, Jennings anchored World News Tonight for the last time. Four days later, on April 5, Jennings informed viewers through a taped message that he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and was starting chemotherapy treatment the following week. (According to his sister Sarah, Jennings reportedly started smoking when he was 11 years old but quit in 1988, then briefly resumed following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.) Though he said he would continue to host World News Tonight when possible, April 5 would prove to be his final broadcast. ABC News' Charles Gibson, co-host of the network's Good Morning America program, and Elizabeth Vargas, co-host of the network's 20/20, served as temporary anchors until his death.

Related Topics:
April 1 - 2005 - April 5 - Lung cancer - Chemotherapy - Smoking - 1988 - September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks - ABC News - Charles Gibson - Good Morning America - Elizabeth Vargas - 20/20

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Jennings died from his bout with lung cancer. Married four times, he is survived by his wife, producer Kayce Freed, and his two surviving children, Elizabeth and Christopher (who were from his third marriage, to Kati Marton). He had also been married to Valerie Godsoe, followed by Annie Malouf. Charles Gibson announced Jennings' death at 11:41 PM (Eastern Time) on August 7, 2005, with an ABC News special report that included the reading of his life story. Barbara Walters gave her comments during this, as did fellow ABC anchors Diane Sawyer and Ted Koppel. Later on during the day, former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and former CBS News anchor Dan Rather spoke fondly of him. In the days that followed ABC would run a number of memoriam showings saying, "The American Broadcasting Company and ABC News mourn the death of Peter Jennings, Anchor, Journalist, Leader, Friend." ABC News followed up their special report on August 10 with a two-hour special entitled "Peter Jennings: Reporter" consisting of interviews with colleagues and friends and clips from his reports. The special was hosted by Charles Gibson, who ended it standing in front of Jennings' empty anchor chair, giving way to a trumpeter, playing the ABC News division's theme music in the manner of a military bugler playing Taps; he did not play the final phrase, leaving the piece unresolved.

Related Topics:
Kayce Freed - Kati Marton - Charles Gibson - August 7 - 2005 - Barbara Walters - Diane Sawyer - Ted Koppel - NBC News - Tom Brokaw - CBS News - Dan Rather - ABC - August 10 - Trumpet - Bugle - Taps - Unresolved

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The Jennings family held a private service in Manhattan in which the anchor's cremated remains were split in half. Half of his ashes will be in his home in Long Island and the other half in his summer home in Gatineau Hills.

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