Ernie Anastos, the legendary and beloved New York City news anchor whose career spanned more than four decades, died on March 12, 2026, at the age of 82. The news of his passing was first reported by ABC7 and confirmed by his wife, Kelly, who shared that he died of pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York. Anastos leaves behind a legacy that touched countless viewers, colleagues, and the very fabric of New York journalism itself.
Born on July 12, 1943, in Nashua, New Hampshire, Anastos’s journey into broadcasting began after he graduated from Northeastern University with a degree in sociology. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he started his career as a reporter for Boston radio stations WRKO and WROR before moving to WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, where he landed his first television anchor job. His unmistakable voice and warm presence soon found a home in New York City, where he would become one of the most recognizable faces on local television.
In 1978, Anastos joined WABC-TV as an anchor for Eyewitness News, a post he would hold for 11 years. During his tenure, he covered some of the most significant events of the era, including interviews with Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, and reporting on the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy Jr. As Page Six reported, his compassion and fairness set him apart, earning the admiration of colleagues and viewers alike.
Rosanna Scotto, his former co-anchor at WNYW and Fox 5 New York, shared with Page Six a heartfelt tribute: “He was a terrific newsman—compassionate and fair.” Scotto recalled meeting Anastos as a college student, asking him for advice on breaking into television. “He was very gracious with his time and advice,” she said, adding that working alongside him years later was an honor. “I loved working with him. We are all heartbroken to hear that he’s passed.” On social media, Scotto posted, “He was a good man and someone we really looked up to. We are all heartbroken.”
After leaving WABC in 1989, Anastos moved to WCBS-TV, where he anchored through the mid-1990s. He took a brief hiatus to focus on his Anastos Media Group, a company that purchased and invested in several local radio and TV stations in upstate New York and New England. By 1997, he was back on the air at WWOR, and by 2001, he had returned to WCBS as lead anchor, where he helped guide the city through the harrowing days of September 11, 2001. As ABC7 and CBS News reported, his steady presence and calm demeanor were a source of reassurance during one of the city’s darkest times.
In 2005, Anastos joined Fox5 WNYW, anchoring the 5 and 10 O’Clock News. He remained with the station for 15 years, becoming a fixture of New York’s evening news. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio honored Anastos’s contributions by declaring every March 21 “Ernie Anastos Day” in New York City in 2017, a testament to the anchor’s impact on the city’s culture and civic life. As FOX 5 NY noted, Anastos’s career was marked by a deep commitment to journalistic excellence and to the community he served.
Throughout his career, Anastos received more than 30 Emmy Awards and nominations, including the prestigious Lifetime Emmy and the Edward R. Murrow Award for broadcast excellence. He was also recognized with “Best Newscast in New York” and held honorary doctoral degrees from several institutions, including Marist College, New York Institute of Technology, Manhattanville College, Curry College, and Sacred Heart University.
But it wasn’t just his accolades that made Anastos a standout figure in journalism. As CBS New York and ABC7 both highlighted, he was known for his boundless positivity and optimism. Colleagues described him as someone who “never lost his passion, and he never was cynical. He treated every day like it was his first day on the job.” In recent years, he launched the program “Positively Ernie” and the nationally syndicated radio show “Positively America,” both aimed at sharing uplifting stories and inspiring audiences across the country.
Even after leaving the Fox5 anchor chair in 2019, Anastos’s commitment to learning and leadership continued. He enrolled at Harvard Business School, completing courses in leadership and management by 2021. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he also authored children’s books, including Twixt: Teens Yesterday and Today and Ernie and the Big Newz, further demonstrating his passion for education and storytelling.
Of course, no career as long and storied as Anastos’s would be without a few memorable moments. In 2010, during a lighthearted exchange with a weatherperson on air, Anastos inadvertently used an obscenity, later apologizing and reflecting, “It certainly was an unusual chapter in my life and career.” The incident, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, became a footnote in a career defined by professionalism and integrity.
His final broadcast, posted on social media on March 3, 2026, saw Anastos speaking about the enduring importance of truth in journalism—a fitting message from a man whose career was built on trust and credibility. As ABC7 and FOX 5 NY noted, his legacy is one of unwavering integrity, kindness, and service to the public.
Anastos is survived by his wife Kelly, his children Nina and Phillip, and four grandchildren. The outpouring of tributes from across the industry—spanning former colleagues, city officials, and viewers—reflects the profound mark he left on New York and the world of journalism. As Fox 5 News said in a statement, “His voice, integrity, and lasting impact on New York journalism will never be forgotten.”
For decades, New Yorkers welcomed Ernie Anastos into their homes each evening, trusting him to deliver the news with clarity and compassion. His passing marks the end of an era, but his example endures—a reminder of what journalism can and should be at its very best.