A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (November 2023) |
Bill Kurtis | |
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Born | William Horton Kuretich September 21, 1940 |
Education | Juris Doctor |
Alma mater | University of Kansas (BS) Washburn University School of Law (JD) |
Occupation(s) | Broadcast journalist, producer, narrator |
Years active | 1966–present |
Employer(s) | WBBM-TV, A&E (TV network), AT&T Mobility Decades |
Notable credit(s) | WBBM-TV, The CBS Morning News, CBS Early Morning News, Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files |
Board member of | Kurtis Productions |
Spouses | Helen Kurtis
(m. 1963; died 1977)Donna La Pietra (m. 2017) |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Jean Schodorf (sister), Frank Kurtis (first cousin once removed) |
Website | kurtis |
Bill Kurtis (born William Horton Kuretich; September 21, 1940) is an American television journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor.
Kurtis was studying to become a lawyer in the 1960s, when he was asked to fill in on a temporary news assignment at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. His reporting on a devastating tornado outbreak led to a position as on-air news reporter and, later, a successful career as a news anchor in Chicago. He has been noted for his sonorous voice throughout his career.[1][2] In the early 1980s, he anchored The CBS Morning News in New York City and became especially interested in investigative in-depth reports and documentaries. When he returned to Chicago and for a time resumed his anchor duties, he also founded a production company, Kurtis Productions.[3]
Kurtis hosted or produced a number of crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files. Kurtis is currently the scorekeeper/announcer for National Public Radio (NPR)'s news comedy/quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and the host of Through the Decades, a documentary-style news magazine on Decades (now Catchy Comedy).