Bryant Gumbel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bryant Gumbel
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Gumbel in 2013
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| Born |
Bryant Charles Gumbel
September 29, 1948 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Bates College |
| Occupation | Television personality, sportscaster |
| Years active | 1972–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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The Today Show The Early Show Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel |
| Spouse(s) |
Hilary Quinlan
(m. 2002) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Greg Gumbel (brother) |
Bryant Charles Gumbel (born September 29, 1948) is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is well-known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's Today show. His older brother, Greg Gumbel, is also a sportscaster. From 1995 to 2023, Bryant Gumbel hosted HBO's investigative series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. This show was called "TV's best sports program" by the Los Angeles Times. It even won a Peabody Award in 2012.
Gumbel started at NBC Sports in 1975. He co-hosted the National Football League pre-game show GrandStand. Before joining The Today Show in 1982, he hosted many sports events for NBC. These included Major League Baseball and college basketball. He returned to sports broadcasting for NBC in 1988. He covered the 1988 Summer Olympics from Seoul and the PGA Tour in 1990.
Bryant Gumbel became the main anchor of Today on September 27, 1982. He broadcast from many places around the world. These included Vietnam, Vatican City, and various parts of Europe and the United States. His work on Today earned him several Emmy Awards. He is the third longest-serving co-host of Today. He left the show on January 3, 1997, after 15 years.
After NBC, Gumbel moved to CBS. He hosted different shows there. On November 1, 1999, he became co-host of The Early Show. Gumbel was hosting The Early Show on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was the first to tell CBS viewers about the September 11 attacks. Gumbel left CBS and The Early Show on May 17, 2002.
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Early Life and Education
Bryant Gumbel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, Rhea Alice, was a city clerk. His father, Richard Dunbar Gumbel, was a judge. His family moved north when he was a child. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago. He went to and graduated from De La Salle Institute in Chicago. He then attended Bates College. In 1970, he graduated with a degree in Russian history.
Career Highlights
In 1971, Bryant Gumbel became an editor for Black Sports magazine. He left the magazine the next year. His television career began in October 1972. He started as a sportscaster for KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.
Working at NBC
NBC Sports
Gumbel was already a local sports anchor for KNBC in Los Angeles. He began appearing on NBC Sports shows in 1975. He co-hosted GrandStand, an National Football League pre-game show. He worked with Jack Buck. From 1975 until 1982, he hosted many sporting events for NBC. These included Major League Baseball and college basketball. He also covered the National Football League.
He returned to sports broadcasting for NBC later. He hosted the prime time coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics from Seoul. He also covered the PGA Tour in 1990. One famous moment was during an NFL playoff game in 1981. He told viewers, "If you didn't like this football game then you don't like football!" This was one of his last sports assignments before joining Today.
Hosting Today
Gumbel first joined Today as a sports reporter. He contributed features twice a week. In 1981, NBC was looking for a new co-anchor for Today. Gumbel filled in for co-anchor Jane Pauley one day. He impressed the producers so much that he became a top choice.
Gumbel became the main anchor of Today on September 27, 1982. Pauley was his co-anchor. They worked well together as a team. Today started traveling for live broadcasts. Gumbel went to the Soviet Union in 1984. He also broadcast from Vietnam, Vatican City, and other parts of Europe and the United States. By 1986, Today was the top-rated morning show again.
Gumbel's work on Today earned him several Emmy Awards. He also gained many fans. He is the third longest-serving co-host of Today. He left the show on January 3, 1997, after 15 years. Since then, he has made a few special appearances on Today.
Moving to CBS
Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel
After 15 years on Today, Gumbel moved to CBS. He hosted a new news show called Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel. This show aired during the 1997–1998 TV season. One episode won a Peabody Award in 1998. The show lasted for one season.
The Early Show
After Public Eye ended, Gumbel hosted other shows for CBS. On November 1, 1999, he became co-host of The Early Show. Gumbel was hosting The Early Show on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was the first person to announce the September 11 attacks to CBS viewers. Gumbel left The Early Show and CBS on May 17, 2002.
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
Gumbel has spent most of his recent career hosting HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He has hosted this acclaimed investigative series since 1995. HBO's website says Real Sports has been called "TV's best sports program" by the Los Angeles Times. It won a Peabody Award in 2012 for its excellent reporting.
Movie and TV Appearances
Gumbel has made cameo appearances in movies and TV shows.
- In 2005, he appeared in the movie The Weather Man. He played a co-host of a morning show.
- He also appeared on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. He interviewed Jerry Seinfeld on Today in the episode "The Puffy Shirt".
- Gumbel also made a cameo on the sitcom The Nanny. He gave Fran Fine an audition for a TV job.
NFL Network
In 2006, NFL Network announced that Gumbel would comment on their NFL games. Unlike his brother Greg, he had not called live sports games before. He called the 2007 New England Patriots-New York Giants game on three networks at once: NFL Network, CBS, and NBC. This was the first time an NFL game was shown on three networks at the same time. Gumbel had worked for all three networks during his career. He left his role as play-by-play announcer in April 2008.
Brain Surgery Live
In 2015, Gumbel hosted a special two-hour show for National Geographic. It was called Brain Surgery Live with Mental Floss. This show was the first live televised brain surgery. Viewers got to see an awake deep brain stimulation surgery up close. Cameras showed the brain being operated on in real time.
Personal Life
Bryant Gumbel has two children. He lives with his wife, Hilary Quinlan, whom he married in 2002. In 2009, he had surgery to remove a tumor near one of his lungs.
Awards
Bryant Gumbel has received many awards for his work:
- 4 Emmy Awards
- Frederick D. Patterson Award from the United Negro College Fund
- Martin Luther King Award from the Congress of Racial Equality
- Three NAACP Image Awards, including the President's Award
- Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Foreign Affairs work (1984)
- Edward Weintal Prize for diplomatic reporting
- Peabody Award for his reporting in Vietnam
- International Journalism Award from TransAfrica
- Africa's Future Award from the U.S. Committee for UNICEF
- Leadership Award from the African-American Institute
- Best Morning TV News Interviewer, Washington Journalism Review (1986)
- National Association of Black Journalists, Journalist of the Year Award (1993)
- Trumpet Award of the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
- Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for outstanding broadcast journalism for Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (HBO) (2005)
