Hugh Downs - Overview

Hugh Malcolm Downs (February 14, 1921 – July 1, 2020) was an American broadcaster, television host, news anchor, TV producer, author, game show host, and music composer. A regular television presence from the 1940s through the 1990s, he had several successful roles on morning television, prime time television, and late night television. Downs served as announcer/sidekick for Tonight Starring Jack Paar from 1957 to 1962, co-host of the NBC News program Today from 1962 to 1971, host of the Concentration game show from 1958 to 1969, and anchor of the ABC News magazine 20/20 from 1978 to 1999. Among other shows during his career, he also hosted the PBS talk show Over Easy, and was the sometime co-host of the syndicated talk show Not for Women Only.