Charles Mitchel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Mitchel
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Mitchel on his last news broadcast in 1984
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| Born |
Charles Gerald Mitchel
8 November 1920 Monkstown, County Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 18 August 1996 (aged 75) Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
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| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Trinity College Dublin |
| Occupation | Actor and newscaster |
| Years active | 1961–1984 |
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Notable credit(s)
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RTÉ Nine O'Clock News |
| Spouse(s) |
Betty Stubbs
(m. 1949) |
| Children | 2 |
Charles Gerald Anthony Mitchel (born November 8, 1920 – died August 18, 1996) was a famous Irish actor and TV news presenter. He was best known for reading the news on RTÉ television for almost 23 years. Many people in Ireland knew his voice and face from their TV screens.
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Charles Mitchel was born in Dublin, Ireland. He went to a boarding school called Clongowes Wood College in Clane, County Kildare. After that, he studied forestry at Trinity College Dublin.
While at Trinity College, Charles discovered his love for acting. He became a very important member of the Trinity Players, which was the college's drama group. He left college in 1947 and soon joined the Gate Theatre. This was a well-known theatre company in Dublin. He acted there until 1958. Charles also helped start a group called Irish Actors Equity. This group helps actors with their rights and working conditions.
A Career in Broadcasting
In 1961, Charles Mitchel joined a brand new TV station in Ireland called Telefís Éireann. This station is now known as RTÉ. He became their very first chief newscaster. This meant he was the main person who read the news on TV.
Charles read the first ever news bulletin on Telefís Éireann. This happened on Sunday, December 31, 1961, at 9:15 PM. He quickly became a popular face on Irish television. In December 1962, he was named "television personality of the year." He also won a special award called a Jacobs' Award. He was the first RTÉ presenter to win this honor.
As the chief newscaster, Charles led a team of other news readers. These included people like Andy O'Mahony and Anne Doyle. Charles Mitchel retired from RTÉ on November 8, 1984. His last broadcast was the main Nine O'Clock News.
After retiring from TV, he still worked in radio. In 1989, he joined a local radio station called LMFM in Drogheda. There, he continued to read the news and even answered questions from listeners.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Charles Mitchel cared a lot about animals. For several years in the 1980s, he was the vice-president of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This group works to protect animals from harm.
He also loved basset hound dogs. He even bred them himself and was a judge at dog shows.
Charles Mitchel married Elizabeth ('Betty') Stubbs on May 9, 1949. They had two children, a son named Nicholas and a daughter named Susan. Charles Mitchel passed away on August 18, 1996. He is buried in Glasnevin cemetery in Dublin.
