Lester Holt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lester Holt
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Holt in November 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–present) 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 |
| 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 well-known American journalist and news anchor. He is famous for hosting the weekday edition of NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC. He also hosts NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, which explains important news in a way that's easy for younger audiences to understand.
In 2015, Lester Holt became the main anchor of NBC Nightly News. He was the first Black male solo anchor for a major TV network's evening news show. In 2016, he led the first presidential debate, where he was praised for checking facts. Even though NBC Nightly News was a top show for many years, its ratings changed after Holt became the anchor.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lester Holt was born on March 8, 1959, in Marin County, California. He was the youngest of four children. His family has roots in different places, including Jamaica and Michigan.
Lester's older brother was a disc jockey at a local radio station in Anchorage, Alaska. This was Lester's first introduction to the world of broadcasting. He graduated from Cordova High School in 1977. He then studied government at California State University, Sacramento. Even though he didn't finish his degree there, he later received an honorary degree in 2015. He also has honorary doctorates from Rutgers University and Villanova University.
Holt 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 was willing to report the news. He kept working at the radio station while he was in college.
Career in Journalism
Lester Holt spent 19 years working for CBS. During this time, he worked as a reporter, anchor, and even an international correspondent.
In 1981, he started as a reporter for WCBS-TV in New York City. He later worked in Los Angeles before returning to New York. In 1986, Holt moved to WBBM-TV in Chicago. He spent 14 years there, anchoring the evening news. He didn't just sit at the anchor desk; he also reported from many places around the world, like Iraq and Haiti.
In 2000, Holt joined MSNBC. By 2003, he started working full-time at NBC News. He became a fill-in anchor for NBC Nightly News and Today. He also became a full-time co-anchor of Weekend Today. In 2007, he became the anchor for the weekend edition of NBC Nightly News. He held this role for eight years.
In 2015, Lester Holt took over as the permanent anchor of the weekday NBC Nightly News. This happened after Brian Williams was suspended. Holt also hosts Dateline NBC, a popular news magazine show.
In 2016, Holt moderated a very important presidential debate. He was praised for challenging candidates when they made false statements. For example, he corrected Donald Trump about his stance on the Iraq War and about a policy called "stop and frisk."
In 2017, Holt interviewed President Donald Trump. This interview received a lot of attention from the media.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Holt covered the news extensively. His show, like other evening news programs, saw more viewers. He often ended his shows with thoughtful messages about the pandemic. He also shared his thoughts after the January 6 Capitol Attack, speaking out against misinformation. In 2022, he announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II in a special report. In 2023, he interviewed Ebrahim Raisi, the president of Iran. He also traveled to Israel to report on the 2023 Hamas attack and the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. In November 2023, he helped lead a Republican presidential debate. Since 2020, Holt often ends his broadcasts by saying, "I'm Lester Holt; please take care of yourself, and each other. Good night."
Other Projects
Besides his news work, Lester Holt has appeared in movies like The Fugitive and U.S. Marshals. He has also played himself in TV shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and 30 Rock. He narrated a documentary about crystal skulls for the Sci-Fi Channel. In 2020, he gave a virtual graduation speech for Rutgers University because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Awards and Recognition
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Lester Holt has received many awards for his excellent work in journalism:
- 1990: Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award
- 2012: Honorary Doctorate from Pepperdine University
- 2015: Honorary Doctorate from California State University, Sacramento
- 2015: Inducted into the California Hall of Fame
- 2016: Alan B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year
- 2016: NABJ Journalist of the Year Award
- 2018: Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism
- 2019: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
- 2020: Honorary Doctorate from Rutgers University
- 2023: Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication
- 2023: Honorary Doctorate from Villanova University
Personal Life
Lester Holt lives in Manhattan with his wife, Carol Hagen. They have two sons, Stefan and Cameron. His son, Stefan Holt, also became a news anchor. Stefan worked at NBC-owned stations in Chicago and New York, following in his father's footsteps.
Lester Holt enjoys playing the bass guitar and upright bass. He performs in a band called Rough Cuts, which includes many video editors from Dateline NBC. He attends the Manhattan Church of Christ in New York.
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism
