Lester Holt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lester Holt
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Holt in 2022
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| Born | March 8, 1959 Marin County, California, U.S.
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| Education | California State University, Sacramento (no degree) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
| Employer | CBS (1981–2000) NBC (2000–present) |
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Notable credit(s)
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NBC Nightly News weeknight anchor (2015–2025) Weekend Today co-anchor (2003–2015) NBC Nightly News weekend anchor (2007–2015) Dateline NBC anchor (2011–present) |
| Television | CBS News (1981–2000) NBC News (2000–present) |
| Term | Anchor of NBC Nightly News and NBC Nightly News Kids Edition |
| Predecessor | Brian Williams |
| Successor | Tom Llamas |
| Political party | Independent (2018–present) Republican (until 2018) |
| Spouse(s) |
Carol Hagen
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 2, including Stefan Holt |
Lester Don Holt Jr. (born March 8, 1959) is a famous American journalist. For many years, he was the main news anchor for NBC Nightly News. He also hosted NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, which helped young people understand the news.
Lester Holt is now the news anchor for Dateline NBC, a popular show that tells true stories. He became the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News in 2015. He was the first Black male solo anchor for a major network newscast, following in the footsteps of Max Robinson. Many people trust Lester Holt to deliver the news.
On May 30, 2025, Lester Holt left NBC Nightly News after ten years. He decided to become the full-time host of Dateline NBC.
Contents
Early Life and School
Lester Holt was born on March 8, 1959, in California. He was the youngest of four children. His family has a diverse background, with roots in Jamaica, India, England, and the United States.
His father was in the Air Force and was stationed in Alaska for four years. Lester's older brother was a disc jockey at a local radio station in Alaska. This is how Lester first became interested in broadcasting.
Lester Holt finished high school in California in 1977. He studied government at California State University, Sacramento. He did not graduate from college at that time, but he received an honorary degree in 2015. He also has honorary doctorates from other universities. Lester once shared that his first job on air was as a disc jockey at a country music station. He said the only way he could get a full-time job was if he also reported the news.
Lester Holt's Career Journey
Lester Holt has had a long and successful career in journalism. He worked for CBS for 19 years as a reporter, anchor, and international correspondent.
Starting in Local News
In 1981, he began his career as a reporter for a TV station in New York City. The next year, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a reporter and weekend anchor. In 1983, he returned to New York. In 1986, Lester Holt moved to Chicago, where he anchored the evening news for 14 years. He didn't just stay at the news desk; he also reported from many places around the world. These places included Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador, and Haiti.
Joining NBC News
Lester Holt joined MSNBC in 2000. By 2003, he started working full-time at NBC News. He became a substitute anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today. He then became a full-time co-anchor of Weekend Today. In 2007, he was named the anchor of the weekend edition of NBC Nightly News. He hosted this show for eight years.
Becoming a Main Anchor
In 2015, Lester Holt became the permanent anchor of the weekday NBC Nightly News. This happened after Brian Williams was suspended. Lester Holt also hosts Dateline NBC. He moderated a presidential debate in 2016. In 2017, he interviewed President Donald Trump. Other journalists praised him for asking tough but fair questions.
Important Moments and Interviews
Lester Holt moderated a debate for Democratic presidential candidates in January 2016. He also moderated the first presidential debate in September 2016. During this debate, he challenged Donald Trump on some statements. For example, he corrected Trump about his stance on the Iraq War. He also clarified that "stop and frisk" was ruled unconstitutional in New York.
In May 2017, Lester Holt interviewed President Trump about the firing of FBI director James Comey. This interview received a lot of media attention.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lester Holt covered the news extensively. His show saw a rise in viewers. He often ended his broadcasts with personal thoughts on the pandemic. He also spoke out after the January 6 United States Capitol attack, criticizing the spread of false information.
In 2022, Lester Holt announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II in a special NBC News report. In 2023, he interviewed Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran. In October 2023, he traveled to Israel to cover the conflict there. In November 2023, he co-moderated a Republican Primary Debate.
Lester Holt often ended his shows by saying, "I'm Lester Holt; please take care of yourself, and each other. Good night." When he left NBC Nightly News in May 2025, he said, "Please take care of yourself, and each other, and I'll do the same."
Other Projects
Besides his news anchoring, Lester Holt has appeared in movies like The Fugitive and U.S. Marshals. He also played himself in TV shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and 30 Rock. He announced the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show for several years. In 2008, he hosted a documentary about crystal skulls. In 2020, he gave a virtual graduation speech for Rutgers University because of the pandemic.
Awards and Recognitions
Lester Holt has received many awards for his excellent work in journalism.
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- 1990: Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
- 2015: Inducted into the California Hall of Fame
- 2016: NABJ Journalist of the Year Award
- 2018: Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism
- 2019: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
- 2023: Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication
Personal Life
Lester Holt lives in New York City with his wife, Carol Hagen. They have two sons, Stefan and Cameron. His son, Stefan Holt, is also a news anchor. Stefan works for a TV station in Chicago.
Lester Holt enjoys playing the bass guitar and upright bass. He performs in a band called Rough Cuts. Most of the band members are video editors from Dateline NBC.
Lester Holt attends the Manhattan Church of Christ in New York.
Images for kids
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Lester Holt in 2022
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Holt hosting Weekend Today in 2005
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Holt reporting on an airdrop mission in Afghanistan in 2010
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Holt interviewing Dr. Holly Bamford in 2013
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Lester Holt receiving an award
