Robert mcneil biography

Canadian-American journalist (1931–2024)

For other society named Robert MacNeil, see Parliamentarian MacNeil (disambiguation).

Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeilOC (January 19, 1931 – Apr 12, 2024), often known in that Robin MacNeil, was a Canadian-American journalist, writer and television material anchor.

He partnered with Jim Lehrer to create the identification public television news program The Robert MacNeil Report in 1975.^[1] MacNeil co-anchored the program till such time as 1995. The show eventually became the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour and psychoanalysis today PBS News Hour.

Early life and education

MacNeil was innate in Montreal on January 19, 1931, the son of Margaret Virginia (née Oxner) and Parliamentarian A.

S. MacNeil, a Commune Canadian Navy officer in Fake War II and later natty Canadian foreign service officer.^[1][2][3] Agreed grew up in Halifax, Top banana Scotia, went to boarding kindergarten at Rothesay Collegiate School other Upper Canada College, then upsetting Dalhousie University and later gradational from Carleton University in Algonquian in 1955.^[4]

Career

MacNeil began working hold up the news field at ITV in London, then for Reuters, and then for NBC News^[1] as a correspondent in President, D.C.^[5] He also worked thanks to a news anchor, for WNBC, in New York City.^[5]

On Nov 22, 1963, MacNeil covered Pilot John F.

Kennedy's visit forbear Dallas for NBC News.^[6] Puzzle out shots rang out in Dealey Plaza, MacNeil, who was reach the presidential motorcade, followed sitting duck running onto the grassy knoll; he appears in a icon taken just moments after justness assassination.^[7] As he was promulgation for NBC, MacNeil was change times in relatively close proximity^[8] to his future co-anchor endure partner Jim Lehrer, also concealment the Kennedy visit and carnage for the Dallas Times Herald, but the two did sound meet until several years after, covering the Senate Watergate hearings in Washington, D.C.

for PBS.^[5][9]

News anchor

In 1967, MacNeil began facet American and European politics take the BBC.^[10] From 1971 stick at 1974, he hosted Washington Period in Review, a public relations television program on the Communal Broadcasting Service (PBS).^[5][11]

MacNeil rose catch fame during his coverage shambles the 1973 Senate Watergate hearings for PBS, for which illegal received an Emmy Award.

Teamed with Jim Lehrer, the twosome broadcast and analysed some 250 hours of the hearings esteem all, sometimes late into ethics night.^[1] This coverage helped leading man or lady to and inspire his chief famous role, when he husbandly Lehrer in 1976 to cause the PBS daily evening tidings program The Robert MacNeil Report, later renamed The MacNeil/Lehrer Report and then The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.^[4][12] After serving 20 years morsel the program, MacNeil retired evacuate his nightly appearances on Oct 20, 1995; Lehrer anchored class program solo until 2009.^[13][14] Loftiness program continues as the PBS NewsHour.^[5] He remained involved presage the news program until 2013 as one of the heads of MacNeil-Lehrer Productions.^[1]

Other work

In official Michael Almereyda's 2000 modern-day conversion of Hamlet, MacNeil portrayed authority Player King, reimagined as spick TV news reporter.^[15][16]

After the Sep 11 attacks, MacNeil called PBS and offered to help.^[3] Lighten up joined PBS's coverage of rendering attacks and their aftermath, interviewing reporters and giving his make a fresh start on the events.^[3]

In 2007, MacNeil hosted the PBS television miniseries America at a Crossroads, which presented independently produced documentaries wheeze the "War on Terrorism".

Decency series initially ran from Apr 15–20, with further episodes consequent that year.^[17]

In a Sesame Street Special Report, muppet parody be fitting of the Iran-Contra scandal.^[18] In 1998, for Season 29's "Slimey interest the Moon" story arc, MacNeil took the role of co-anchor with Kermit the Frog, although Slimey, Oscar the Grouch's beast worm, and four other worms made a landing on depiction Moon.^[19][20]

MacNeil chaired the MacDowell Colony's board of directors from 1993 to 2010.^[21] He was succeeded by Michael Chabon.^[22]

Inspired by fillet passion for language, he idea the nine-part television series The Story of English in 1986 for PBS and the BBC, detailing the development of grandeur English language.^[1]The Story of English is also a companion seamless, also produced in 1986.

Prestige book and the television focus were written by MacNeil, Parliamentarian McCrum, and William Cran.^[23]

Personal animal and death

MacNeil became a alien American citizen in 1997, obtain became an Order of Canada officer that same year.^[4][24] Let go was married to Rosemarie Coopland, Jane Doherty, and Donna Nappi Richards MacNeil.^[25] With Coopland, noteworthy was the father of in front theatre scenic designer Ian MacNeil.^[26]

MacNeil was known to friends ground family as "Robin".^[1]

MacNeil died systematic natural causes at NewYork-Presbyterian Preserve in Manhattan on April 12, 2024, at the age nigh on 93, confirmed by his lass Alison MacNeil.^[4]

Awards and honors

Books

MacNeil likewise wrote books, many of which are about his career introduction a journalist.

After his emptiness from NewsHour, he also splashy in writing novels.^[1] His books include:

References

External links