Harold Greene, Longtime Los Angeles Television News Anchor, Dies at 82

Harold Greene, whose television news career included lengthy tenures at Los Angeles stations KABC and KCBS, has died at 82. His daughter, Courtney Greene, announced his death on Facebook, writing that he had died the previous night with her and her mother beside him.

In her tribute, Courtney described the family’s grief and the affection surrounding her father at the end of his life. “Our beloved husband, father, uncle and friend has signed off for the last time,” she wrote. She also imagined him finding his place in a newsroom in the sky, already offering suggestions about how it should operate.

Greene spent more than 18 years at KABC, the ABC-owned station, where his assignments included co-anchoring the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. news broadcasts. He left in 2000. The following year, he moved to KCBS/KCAL and again worked alongside Ann Martin, who had previously been his co-anchor at KABC.

His broadcasting career began in San Diego, where he was part of the team that established news programming at KCST, Channel 39. He subsequently moved to another station in the city, KGTV. His career also took him to KPIX in San Francisco before he joined KABC in Los Angeles.

During his earlier stint at KABC, Greene shared the anchor desk with Jerry Dunphy for the station’s 5 p.m. newscast. He later went back to San Diego to work at KGTV before returning to KABC in 1982. His work for KABC extended beyond the news desk, with hosting roles on programs including “Hollywood Close-Up” and “A.M. Los Angeles.”

Over the course of his career, Greene received multiple Golden Mike Awards, along with local Los Angeles Emmys, Los Angeles Press Club awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards. His honors also included a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Greene has frequently been cited as one of the inspirations for Ron Burgundy, the television anchorman played by Will Ferrell in “Anchorman.” The filmmakers, however, have never confirmed that connection.

His time at KCBS/KCAL ended in 2008, when he and Martin were among the employees dismissed during station-wide budget cuts. In announcing his death, Courtney wrote: “He was so very loved, and we know he will be missed by many.”