Hugh Downs, television pioneer at ‘Today’ and ‘20/20,’ dies at 99

Hugh Downs, a television pioneer whose career spanned over five decades that included serving as Jack Paar’s late-night announcer-sidekick, hosting NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s news magazine “20/20,” died on July 2nd in Scottsdale, Arizona.

More than three decades later, the Guinness Book of Records certified that Downs held the Guinness Record for on-air national commercial television time, with nearly 10,000 as of 1985. His total of more than 15,000 hours was surpassed by Regis Philbin in 2004.

Hugh Downs on The Today Show.  

Downs worked for five years on the “Tonight” show, 10 years hosting the game show “Concentration,” nine years hosting the “Today” show, four years hosting “Over Easy", and the first seven of his 21 years hosting “20/20.” 

Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters on the show 20/20.

To read entire Obit article written by Dennis McLellan, Stephen Battaglio of The Los Angeles Times, please click HERE.

Jack Paar, Hugh Downs and Jose Melis on the Tonight Show in 1960.

 

 
Hugh Downs on the show Concentration.