Television Personality. Born in Schnectady, New York. As a teen, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he earned a degree in Abnormal Psychology at Washington University. In 1938, he traveled to New York where he attended the NBC School for Announcers, after which he became a disc jockey, first in Pittsburgh, and then in Chicago. He first gained notice for his television work as the host of the show, "Garroway at Large," which ran on NBC from 1949 to 1951. A reviewer called him "pleasant, serious, scholarly-looking and...convivial," and that was to be his trademark demeanor. He was then recruited as the host of a new morning news-and-entertainment experiment, the "Today" show, which premiered in 1952, and was credited with making the show a success. Concurrently, he hosted a Friday night variety series, "The Dave Garroway Show," which ran from October 1953 to June 1954, as well as a documentary series, "Wide Wide World," which ran until 1958. In April 1961, his wife died after a prescription drug overdose; he tendered his resignation from "Today" a month later, reportedly suffering from depression. The following year, he hosted a series "Exploring the Universe" and again did some radio work. In 1969, he premiered a daytime talk show called, "Tempo Boston," but it only lasted a year before being canceled. He then moved to California where he hosted a music-and-talk radio show in Los Angeles, and won a bit part in an episode of the television series, "Alias Smith and Jones" in 1972. His final television appearance was as a 30th-anniversary guest of the "Today" show in 1982. Several months later, reportedly suffering from depression and post-operative complications following open-heart surgery, he died following a self-inflicted gunshot. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6230 Hollywood Blvd.
Television Personality. Born in Schnectady, New York. As a teen, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he earned a degree in Abnormal Psychology at Washington University. In 1938, he traveled to New York where he attended the NBC School for Announcers, after which he became a disc jockey, first in Pittsburgh, and then in Chicago. He first gained notice for his television work as the host of the show, "Garroway at Large," which ran on NBC from 1949 to 1951. A reviewer called him "pleasant, serious, scholarly-looking and...convivial," and that was to be his trademark demeanor. He was then recruited as the host of a new morning news-and-entertainment experiment, the "Today" show, which premiered in 1952, and was credited with making the show a success. Concurrently, he hosted a Friday night variety series, "The Dave Garroway Show," which ran from October 1953 to June 1954, as well as a documentary series, "Wide Wide World," which ran until 1958. In April 1961, his wife died after a prescription drug overdose; he tendered his resignation from "Today" a month later, reportedly suffering from depression. The following year, he hosted a series "Exploring the Universe" and again did some radio work. In 1969, he premiered a daytime talk show called, "Tempo Boston," but it only lasted a year before being canceled. He then moved to California where he hosted a music-and-talk radio show in Los Angeles, and won a bit part in an episode of the television series, "Alias Smith and Jones" in 1972. His final television appearance was as a 30th-anniversary guest of the "Today" show in 1982. Several months later, reportedly suffering from depression and post-operative complications following open-heart surgery, he died following a self-inflicted gunshot. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6230 Hollywood Blvd.
Bio by: Iola
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