Brian Williams (news anchor)

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This article is about the American news anchor. For other people named Brian Williams, see Brian Williams.

Brian Williams (born May 5, 1959) is the anchor and managing editor of the most watched news program in the United States, NBC Nightly News, the flagship evening news program of the NBC Network. Williams succeeded anchor Tom Brokaw on December 2, 2004. Previously, Williams was the network's chief correspondent at the White House and then anchor of The News with Brian Williams on CNBC and MSNBC cable networks.

Williams was raised in Elmira, New York, where he attended Hendy Avenue Elementary. Later, Williams moved with his parents to Middletown, New Jersey where he was a volunteer fireman, worked at a pancake restaurant and local Sears store. After graduation from Mater Dei High School, Williams attended George Washington University and transferred to Catholic University of America, both schools in Washington, DC.

Upon leaving college without a degree, a decision that he terms "one of my great regrets" [1], Williams began his broadcasting career at KOAM-TV in Pittsburg, Kansas and later moved back to Washington, DC to work at WTTG-TV as general assignment correspondent. After his stint there, Williams was hired at WCBS-TV in New York where he won his first Emmy for his reporting of the stock market collapse. Williams regards WNBC's Chuck Scarborough as a mentor.

It was at WCBS-TV where Williams was discovered by national network executives. In March of 1993, Williams began work at NBC News where he climbed the ranks to his current position.

In 2004, just after taking the helm, he had to apologize several times for saying television news has "bigger problems" than diversity. (See: http://www.reddingnewsreview.com/newspages/2004newspages/hemispheres_article_on_brian_wil.htm)

In the past, some viewers held the perception that Williams was stiff and lacked charisma during his broadcasts. After the announcement that he would succeed Brokaw, Williams was a guest on various television entertainment programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart where he showed a more jovial and charismatic side of his personality which largely eliminated this perception.

Williams was the honored guest at the 2005 Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation Fall Gala.

Brian lives with his wife Jane and two children in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Preceded by: Tom Brokaw

NBC Nightly News anchorman December 2, 2004 -

Succeeded by: Current Incumbent