Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM (July 29, 1938 - August 7, 2005) was a Canadian-American journalist and news anchor. He was the sole anchor of ABC's World News Tonight from 1983 until his death in 2005 of complications from lung cancer. A high-school dropout, he transformed himself into one of television's most prominent journalists.
Jennings started his career early, hosting a Canadian radio show at the age of nine. In 1965, ABC News tapped him to anchor its flagship evening news program. His inexperience marred his first short stint in the anchor chair, and Jennings became a foreign correspondent in 1968, honing his reporting skills in the Middle East.
He returned as one of World News Tonight's three anchors in 1978, and was promoted to the role of sole anchor in 1983. Jennings formed part of the "Big Three" news anchors who dominated American evening news in the 1980s and 1990s. Having always been fascinated with the United States, Jennings became a dual citizen of Canada and the United States in 2003. His death, which closely followed the retirements of Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather, marked the end of the "Big Three" era.
Children: Elizabeth and Christopher
Dropped out of high school in Grade 10 in Canada, and failed to attain the equivalent of a GED. His father owned/managed a TV station, however, and he got his foot in the door that way.
News anchorman
(1990) Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world
Attended Carleton University, Rider College and the University of Ottawa.
(May 30, 2003) Became a U.S. citizen.
(April 5, 2005) Diagnosed with lung cancer. He had given up smoking for at least 10 years before September 11, 2001 attacks happened, after which he admittedly started smoking again.
Owned a chinchilla farm.
He had a sister named Sarah.
After failing as a 27-year-old anchorman for ABC News, he left the country and lived abroad as a foreign correspondent in Europe and the Middle East for ten years where he made a name for himself as an investigative journalist. He then returned to the anchor desk as a mature newsman.
Son of pioneer Canadian broadcaster Charles Jennings.
Accepted an honorary doctor of law degree from Rider University, then Rider College on January 21, 1968
He was awarded the C.M. (Member of the Order of Canada) on June 29, 2005 for his services to journalism.
Became the sole anchor of "ABC Evening News" (1953) (aka "World News Tonight") on September 5, 1983, following the death of Frank Reynolds (III).
The only national news anchor to host specials for and with children on a regular basis. They were usually titled "Peter Jennings Answering Children's Questions." Topics included drugs, crime, prejudice, war, and 9/11.
