Bill Kurtis
Bill Kurtis (born William Horton Kuretich; September 21, 1940) is an American television journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor.
Bill Kurtis | |
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Kurtis in 2003 | |
| Born | William Horton Kuretich September 21, 1940 Pensacola, Florida, US |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas (BS) Washburn University School of Law (JD) |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcast journalist, producer, narrator |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Employer(s) | WBBM-TV, A&E (TV network), AT&T Mobility Decades |
| Notable credit(s) | WBBM-TV, The CBS Morning News, CBS Early Morning News, Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files |
| Board member of | Kurtis Productions |
| Spouses | Helen Kurtis
(m. 1963; died 1977)Donna La Pietra (m. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Jean Schodorf (sister), Frank Kurtis (first cousin once removed) |
| Website | kurtis |
Kurtis was studying to become a lawyer in the 1960s, when he was asked to fill in on a temporary news assignment at WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas. His reporting on a devastating tornado outbreak led to a position as on-air news reporter and, later, a successful career as a news anchor in Chicago. He has been noted for his sonorous voice throughout his career. In the early 1980s, he anchored The CBS Morning News in New York City and became especially interested in investigative in-depth reports and documentaries. When he returned to Chicago and for a time resumed his anchor duties, he also founded a production company, Kurtis Productions.
Kurtis hosted or produced a number of crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files. Kurtis is currently the scorekeeper/announcer for National Public Radio (NPR)'s news comedy/quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and the host of Through the Decades, a documentary-style news magazine on Decades (now Catchy Comedy).