Hal Fishman

Hal Fishman
Born	August 25, 1931 Brooklyn, New York
Died	August 7, 2007 (aged 75) Los Angeles, California
Occupation	TV news anchor
Spouse(s)	Nolie Fishman
Children	David Walsh
Notable credit(s)	KTLA News (10PM) anchor (1975–2007)

Hal Fishman (August 25, 1931 – August 7, 2007) was the longest-running news anchor in the history of American television, having served on-air for Los Angeles television stations continuously between 1960 until his death in 2007. He was also a record-holding aviator.

Biography

A Brooklyn, New York native, he received his Bachelor's degree from Cornell University where he worked at the campus radio station. He also received a master's degree in political science from UCLA in 1956, and planned for a career in academia (he actually worked as an assistant political science professor at California State University, Los Angeles for two years).

However, after Los Angeles independent station KCOP approached him to teach an on-air course, the station invited him to anchor his own segment. Fishman had been on the air continuously since June 20, 1960, moving from KCOP to KTLA in 1965. That same year, Fishman had major exposure as a field reporter for KTLA when he helped cover the Watts Riots live from the Los Angeles Police Department command center. Fishman also worked at KTTV and KHJ-TV (now KCAL-TV) during the early 1970s, returning to KTLA on January 8, 1975, to anchor NewsWatch (later to become News at Ten).

Notable events covered

As a news anchor, Fishman covered numerous events in Los Angeles and the world, ranging from the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, to the Sylmar and Northridge earthquakes, to Pope John Paul II's 1987 visit to Southern California. He, along with KTLA, was credited for being the first to air footage of the police beating of Rodney King in 1991, an event that sparked riots a year later when the officers were acquitted. In 2000, KTLA dedicated its newsroom in Fishman's honor, commemorating his 40 years in television and his years of service and commitment to the region.

Honors

Fishman had won numerous awards, including the Associated Press Television-Radio Association's first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award. He received a "star" on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame," and KTLA named its television news studio after Fishman. He also authored two novels, Flight 902 is Down (co-authored with aviation writer Barry J. Schiff) and The Vatican Target. Hal was also an accomplished pilot and set 13 records for speed and altitude. In 1969, he was awarded the Louis Blériot medal by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Death

Fishman died August 7, 2007 at home, just eighteen days before he would have turned 76, following recent treatment for a liver infection, which had detected cancer in his liver and colon. That morning the station interrupted its regular news schedule and dedicated much of the Morning Show and Prime News broadcasts to Fishman. The reporters on Prime News did not break for commercials that evening. Hal Fishman's last broadcast was on July 30, 2007, eight days before his death. On July 31, 2007, the night before Hal became ill and after his last broadcast, KTLA celebrated Hal's 47 years in television with a special gala at the Autry National Museum in Los Angeles, an event attended by such dignitaries as Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles County sheriff Lee Baca. The event was emceed by Morning Show anchor Michaela Pereira. During the gala, Hal spoke to the audience about his time in television. Fishman appeared somewhat fatigued but little would be known about his health until the day after.

Filmography

Fishman played a television news anchor or reporter in numerous films during his career:

• Black Sunday (1977) - Reporter
• When Hell was in Session (1979)
• Maximum Overdrive (1986) - Anchorman Voice (voice)(uncredited)
• Wisdom (1986)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Jimmy Hollywood (1994)
• Joe Dirt (2001)
• Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles (2001)
• National Security (2003)
• Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
• One Six Right (2005)
• Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Sources/Links

• In Loving Memory - Hal Fishman
• Hal Fishman at the Internet Movie Database (URL last accessed July 5, 2007)
• Hal Fishman, Newsman / UCLA Spotlight