Television Personality. He was a broadcaster and commentator for BBC Radio and Television in Great Britain, and is best remembered for his "Letters from America" series for BBC World Service, and for hosting the "Masterpiece Theatre" television series from 1971 to 1992. He received four Emmy Awards, three George Foster Peabody awards for broadcasting, and was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Born in Manchester, England, he earned an honors degree from Cambridge University, and in 1932, came to the United States to study at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. In 1934, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as a film critic, and began reporting for them in 1937 from the United States. Remaining as a BBC World Service correspondent, he became an American citizen in 1941. In 1946, he began a series "Letters from America," giving a weekly snapshot of life in the United States. Over the next sixty years, he provided listeners with insightful reports of American's cultural and political affairs, producing over 2,800 shows, one of the longest running shows in radio history. He retired in 2004, at the age of 95. During the 1950s, he had his own television show, "Omnibus" and later, "Alistair Cooke's America." He published 12 books, including "Alistair Cooke's America" which was a best seller in 1973.
Television Personality. He was a broadcaster and commentator for BBC Radio and Television in Great Britain, and is best remembered for his "Letters from America" series for BBC World Service, and for hosting the "Masterpiece Theatre" television series from 1971 to 1992. He received four Emmy Awards, three George Foster Peabody awards for broadcasting, and was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Born in Manchester, England, he earned an honors degree from Cambridge University, and in 1932, came to the United States to study at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. In 1934, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as a film critic, and began reporting for them in 1937 from the United States. Remaining as a BBC World Service correspondent, he became an American citizen in 1941. In 1946, he began a series "Letters from America," giving a weekly snapshot of life in the United States. Over the next sixty years, he provided listeners with insightful reports of American's cultural and political affairs, producing over 2,800 shows, one of the longest running shows in radio history. He retired in 2004, at the age of 95. During the 1950s, he had his own television show, "Omnibus" and later, "Alistair Cooke's America." He published 12 books, including "Alistair Cooke's America" which was a best seller in 1973.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
See more Cooke memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
