Appeared in several commercials for AT&T's 3-G Internet network. Also appearing are Andy Roddick and Floyd Mayweather Jr.. [2009]
William “Bill” Kurtis is an American television journalist, producer, narrator, and news anchor. He is currently the host of The Bill Kurtis Show on WGN Radio in Chicago. He is also the host and executive producer of Through the Decades on the cable television network Decades.
Kurtis was born in Pensacola, Florida, on September 21, 1940, to parents William E. Kurtis Sr. and Gladys Kurtis (née Johnson). He has two older sisters, Barbara and Beverly. He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1958. He then attended the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1962.
Kurtis began his broadcasting career as a reporter and anchor at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. He then moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he worked as a reporter and weekend anchor at KAKE-TV. In 1965, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he joined WBBM-TV as a reporter and weekend anchor.
In 1981, Kurtis left WBBM-TV to join CBS News as a correspondent. He was also the anchor of The CBS Morning News from 1982 to 1985. In addition to his work at CBS News, Kurtis also served as the host of A&E’s Investigative Reports from 1991 to 2011.
Kurtis has won six Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award for his work in television journalism. He was inducted into the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2006.
Kurtis has been married twice. His first marriage was to Donna La Pietra, with whom he has two children, Ashley and Will. His second marriage is to Marion Jolliffe, with whom he has two stepdaughters, Kate and Lauren.
Kurtis is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences.
General Info
Net Worth
$15 million
Date Of Birth
September 21, 1940
Profession
Journalist, Television producer, Film producer, Voice Actor, Newscaster, Spokesperson
Education
University of Kansas, Washburn University School of Law, Washburn University
Nationality
American
Family
Spouse
Helen Kurtis
Children
Scott Kurtis, Mary Kristin Kurtis
Parents
William A. Kuretich, Wilma Mary Horton
Siblings
Jean Schodorf
Partner
Donna La Pietra
Accomplishments
Nominations
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-fiction Series
Movies
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
TV Shows
Parking Wars, Ebert Presents: At the Movies, American Justice, Cold Case Files, Investigative Reports, The New Explorers, CBS Morning News, Investigating History
Appeared in several commercials for AT&T's 3-G Internet network. Also appearing are Andy Roddick and Floyd Mayweather Jr.. [2009]
2
Several scenes in independent filmmaker Kevin Willmott's upcoming feature The Battle for Bunker Hill (2008) were filmed at Kurtis' Red Buffalo Ranch near Sedan, Kansas.