- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHugh Malcolm Downs
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Hugh Downs was born on February 14, 1921 in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Live from Lincoln Center (1976), Car 54, Where Are You? (1961) and Over Easy (1977). He was married to Ruth Shaheen. He died on July 1, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
- SpouseRuth Shaheen(February 17, 1944 - March 28, 2017) (her death, 2 children)
- ChildrenDeirdre Lynn DownsHugh Raymond Downs
- ParentsEdith Elizabeth HickMilton Howard Downs
- He was the son of Edith (Hicks) and Milton Howard Downs, who worked in business. He was a descendant of Davy Crockett, the 19th century frontiersman and later congressman from Tennessee.
- The Guinness Book of World Records holder for greatest number of hours on network commercial television (1985).
- Got his start in network TV in 1949 when he won the job as announcer on the children's show Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947).
- He had a post-Masters degree in gerontology from Hunter College.
- He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society, Chairman of the Board of US Committee for UNICEF, and Trustee of the Menninger Foundation. He also served as a member of the NASA Advisory Council.
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