Charles Osgood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Osgood
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Osgood in 1972
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| Born |
Charles Osgood Wood III
January 8, 1933 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | January 23, 2024 (aged 91) Saddle River, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Fordham University |
| Years active | 1952–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
Theresa Audette
(divorced)Jean Crafton
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 5 |
| Career | |
| Show | The Osgood File |
| Network | CBS News Radio |
| Country | United States |
Charles Osgood (born Charles Osgood Wood III; January 8, 1933 – January 23, 2024) was a famous American radio and TV person. He was a commentator, writer, and even a musician! People knew him best as the host of CBS News Sunday Morning. He hosted this show for over 22 years, from 1994 to 2016. He also hosted The Osgood File, a daily radio show, from 1971 to 2017.
Charles Osgood was also the voice of the narrator in the 2008 animated movie Horton Hears a Who!. This movie was based on the popular book by Dr. Seuss. In 2004, he wrote a book about his own childhood.
Contents
Growing Up: Charles Osgood's Early Life
Charles Osgood was born in Manhattan, New York City, on January 8, 1933. When he was a child, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. He went to St. Cecilia High School in Englewood, New Jersey.
He wrote a book about growing up in Baltimore during World War II. It was called Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack (2004). In the book, he shared what it was like from his perspective as a nine-year-old.
Osgood went to Fordham University and graduated in 1954. He earned a degree in economics.
Starting Out: Charles Osgood's First Jobs
Radio Days at WFUV
While at Fordham University, Osgood volunteered at the school's radio station, WFUV. He often played the piano between songs on his shows. He worked with other students who later became famous, like actor Alan Alda.
Serving in the United States Army Band
After college, Osgood got a job as an announcer at a classical music radio station in Washington, D.C.. But soon after, he joined the military. He became the announcer for the United States Army Band. He explained in an interview that he got the job because he could pronounce difficult classical music names!
He spent three years with the Army Band. He was the main host for their performances. He also played piano and sang with the United States Army Chorus.
While in the Army, he worked with John Cacavas, who wrote music for the band. They worked together on many songs. In 1967, they even won a Grammy Award with U.S. Senator Everett Dirksen. Their song, Gallant Men, was a patriotic poem read by Dirksen with music by Osgood and Cacavas.
Working at Other Radio Stations
While serving in the Army, Osgood also worked at other radio stations in Washington. He used different names, like "Charlie Woods" and "Chuck Forest," to earn extra money and gain more experience.
In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had a heart attack. Osgood hosted a special classical music program just for the President. This program was sent directly to his hospital room to help him relax.
Back to WGMS Radio
After his time in the Army, Osgood returned to WGMS radio full-time in 1957. He was an announcer and later became the program director.
In 1960, he helped create a six-record album called FDR Speaks. It featured speeches by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Osgood provided the introductions and commentary for the album.
First TV Job at WHCT
In 1962, Osgood moved to Hartford, Connecticut, for his first TV job. He became the general manager of WHCT, a TV station. This station was special because it used a system called Phonevision. This system scrambled the TV picture and sound. Only people who paid a subscription could watch, using a special box. The station showed movies and live events without commercials.
However, the station lost a lot of money. Osgood later joked about it, saying, "They left me off the hook very gently. They said, 'you're fired.'"
Joining ABC Radio
After losing his TV job, Osgood joined ABC in New York in 1963. He became a writer and host for Flair Reports, a radio show about interesting human-interest stories. He joked that he went "from being the world's youngest station manager to being the world's oldest cub reporter." He also became friends with Ted Koppel, who later became a famous journalist.
Why "Charles Osgood"?
While at ABC, he started using the name "Charles Osgood." This was because there was already another announcer named "Charles Woods." He used his middle name, Osgood, as his last name. He said it "worked out well and is a little more distinctive and professional."
A Long Career at CBS
Osgood moved to CBS Radio in 1967. He ended up working in both radio and television for CBS.
Radio Success
Osgood worked as a reporter and anchor for WCBS radio. He became the host of The Osgood File, which was heard four times every weekday morning on radio stations across the country. Each three-minute Osgood File focused on one story. It could be about important national news or a fun, heartwarming story. He was known as CBS's "Poet in Residence" because he often delivered his commentaries in rhyme. He continued these broadcasts until December 29, 2017.
Television Highlights
Osgood joined CBS News on television in 1971. He was a reporter and also anchored several news shows. He hosted CBS Sunday Night News from 1981 to 1987. He was also a co-anchor for CBS Morning News and often read the news on CBS This Morning.
His most famous role was hosting CBS News Sunday Morning. He took over from the original host, Charles Kuralt, on April 10, 1994. Osgood hosted the show for 22 years, which was even longer than Kuralt's 15 years.
Charles Osgood had a few trademarks. He often wore a bow-tie. At the end of his weekly TV show, he would say, "Until then, I'll see you on the radio." He also loved to deliver his commentaries in funny poems. For example, when the government created a term for people living together who weren't married ("Person(s) of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," or "POSSLQ"), Osgood turned it into a poem:
- "There's nothing that I wouldn't do
- If you would be my POSSLQ."
He even used this as the title of one of his books!
Retirement from Broadcasting
On December 21, 2017, it was announced that Osgood would retire from his radio show because of health issues. His final broadcasts were on December 29, 2017, ending his long career in broadcasting.
Other Creative Works
In 1956, Osgood wrote a play called A Single Voice. As mentioned, he was the narrator's voice in the 2008 animated movie Horton Hears a Who!.
Osgood also wrote a newspaper column that appeared every two weeks. He wrote six books, including:
- Nothing Could Be Finer Than a Crisis That Is Minor in the Morning (1979)
- There's Nothing That I Wouldn't Do If You Would Be My POSSLQ (1981)
- Osgood on Speaking: How to Think on Your Feet Without Falling on Your Face (1988)
- The Osgood Files (1991)
- See You on the Radio (1999)
- Defending Baltimore Against Enemy Attack (2004)
Charles Osgood's Family Life
Charles Osgood's first marriage ended after 16 years. He then married Jeanne Crafton in 1973. They had five children together and raised them in Englewood, New Jersey. Later, when their children grew up and moved out, Charles and Jeanne moved to an apartment in New York City.
A road in Altoona, Pennsylvania, called Osgood Drive, is named after Charles Osgood.
Charles Osgood passed away at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey, on January 23, 2024. He was 91 years old and died from complications related to dementia.
Awards and Recognition
Charles Osgood received many honors for his work:
- 1990: Inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame (radio division).
- 2004: Received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
- 2005: Awarded the Paul White Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association.
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism
