Ernie Anastos has died at the age of 82. The veteran New York City news anchor passed away from pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. His wife Kelly Anastos confirmed his death occurred late Wednesday into early Thursday.
Anastos achieved a rare broadcast sweep during his 40-year run. He anchored the evening news at all four flagship network stations in the country’s biggest media market. He sat behind the desks at WABC, WCBS, WNYW, and UPN 9. He collected more than 30 Emmy Awards along the way. He was also the first Greek-American television news anchor in the United States.
His broadcast journey started in radio in his hometown of Nashua, New Hampshire. He made the jump to New York television in 1978. That year he joined the Eyewitness News team at WABC-TV. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio named March 21 “Ernie Anastos Day” in 2017 to honor his career.
He permanently cemented his internet legacy in 2009. Anastos dropped a famous live verbal flub while bantering with co-anchor Dari Alexander on FOX 5. The unscripted moment survives in modern pop culture.
He pivoted to a different format in his final broadcasting years. Anastos hosted “Positively Ernie” on 77 WABC radio. The program focused exclusively on uplifting stories and positive interviews.