Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer is a former American television journalist, best known for hosting The Today Show on NBC alongside Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, and Ann Curry. He has also worked with other notable journalists, including Al Roker, Willie Geist, and Savannah Guthrie, on various NBC News programs, such as Dateline NBC and NBC Nightly News. Lauer's career has been marked by interviews with prominent figures, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Oprah Winfrey, on shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He has also covered significant events, such as the Olympic Games, Presidential elections, and Academy Awards, for NBC Sports and E! News.

● Early Life and Education

Lauer was born in New York City and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he attended Greenwich High School. He later enrolled in Ohio University, but dropped out to pursue a career in television, inspired by journalists like Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow. Lauer's early influences also included Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Ted Koppel, who hosted shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Nightline on ABC.

● Career

Lauer began his career in television as a producer for WNBC-TV in New York City, working on shows like Live at Five and News 4 New York. He later became a reporter for WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia, and then an anchor for WNEV-TV in Boston, Massachusetts. Lauer's big break came when he joined NBC as a news anchor for Today in New York on WNBC, alongside Jane Pauley and Bryant Gumbel. He went on to work with other notable anchors, including Tom Brokaw, John Chancellor, and Judy Woodruff, on PBS NewsHour and Meet the Press.

● Personal Life

Lauer has been married twice, first to Nancy Alspaugh from 1981 to 1988, and then to Annette Roque from 1998 to 2018. He has three children, including Jack Lauer, Romy Lauer, and Thijs Lauer, and is a resident of The Hamptons and New York City. Lauer is also a licensed pilot and has flown with the Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds. He has been involved with various charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross, UNICEF, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and has supported events like the Tribeca Film Festival and the US Open (tennis).

● Controversies and Firing

Lauer's career was marred by controversy in 2017, when he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women, including Ann Curry and Savannah Guthrie. The allegations led to his termination from NBC and the cancellation of his contract, which was worth millions of dollars. Lauer's firing was widely covered by the media, including CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times, and sparked a national conversation about sexual harassment and MeToo movement. The incident also led to the departure of other high-profile journalists, including Charlie Rose and Mark Halperin, from CBS News and MSNBC.

● Filmography

Lauer has appeared in several films and television shows, including Land of the Lost, Tower Heist, and Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!. He has also made guest appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, alongside actors like Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Mariska Hargitay. Lauer has also hosted several NBC specials, including Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and has worked with other notable hosts, including Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough, on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and Dancing with the Stars.