Ernie Anastos, a longtime television news anchor whose familiar voice and smile were part of New Yorkers’ lives for over 40 years, passed away on March 12, 2026, at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was 82.
Anastos died of pneumonia in the early hours, his wife, Kelly Anastos, told CBS News. The news shocked New York’s journalism community, where he was widely regarded as one of the city’s most trusted and beloved broadcasters.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Ernie Anastos, who died at the age of 82. An Emmy Award-winning journalist and beloved former FOX 5 news anchor, his voice, integrity, and lasting impact on New York journalism will never be forgotten,” FOX 5 wrote when reporting his death.
Born July 12, 1943, in Nashua, New Hampshire, into a Greek-American family, Anastos built a distinguished career that included anchoring evening newscasts at all four of New York’s major stations — a rare achievement. He joined WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News in 1978 and spent 11 years there, anchoring the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts until 1989. He moved to WCBS from 1989 to 1995, worked at WWOR from 1995 to 2000, returned to WCBS from 2001 to 2005, and was at WNYW FOX 5 from 2005 until 2019, anchoring the 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts for 14 years.
“If there was a Mount Rushmore for news anchors in New York, Ernie would be one of the four faces,” Tony Aiello of CBS News New York said, applauding Anastos’ professionalism and his ability to work smoothly with many co-anchors.
Across his long career, Anastos covered many pivotal events. He was on the air Dec. 8, 1980, when WABC-TV confirmed John Lennon’s death outside the Dakota. Years later, he reported on the Sept. 11 attacks at the World Trade Center and later covered New York’s coronavirus outbreak.
His accomplishments included more than 30 Emmy Awards and nominations, a Lifetime Achievement Emmy, and the Edward R. Murrow Award. Beyond honors, Anastos became a larger-than-life regional figure and often appeared at community events, maintaining an active presence on social media.
Before making his name in New York, Anastos sharpened his skills at Boston radio stations WRKO and WROR and at WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, where he first entered television. He graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University with a sociology degree and later received honorary doctorates from institutions including Marist College, New York Institute of Technology, Manhattanville College, Curry College, and Sacred Heart University.
Committed to lifelong learning, Anastos enrolled in courses at Harvard Business School in June 2019 after leaving FOX 5, studying leadership and management. He continued broadcasting through his WABC 770 AM radio show “Positively Ernie” and the nationally syndicated “Positively America.”
Bill Ritter, the Eyewitness News anchor now helming the broadcast Anastos once led, said he received a note from Anastos two weeks ago saying “love watching you” and “stay happy and healthy.” Ritter added, “He was something unique and no matter your politics, Ernie was trusted. Reporting the news, reporting truth and facts, that’s what Ernie believed in. He will be more than missed.”
Anastos’ last social media post, on March 3, 2026, showed him by the Superman Globe at the Daily News Building in Manhattan with the caption: “Now more than ever we need to promote and protect the truth!”
Anastos and his family lived for many years in Westchester County, most recently in Armonk. He was a regular presence at charity events — serving as host and chair for organizations such as Juvenile Diabetes, Variety the Children’s Charity, March of Dimes, Easter Seals, and St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters. In 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared March 21 “Ernie Anastos Day” in New York City.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office in January 2026, honored him on social media: “Legendary and iconic barely begin to capture Ernie Anastos. An Emmy-winning anchor, a trusted voice in New York, and a role model in the craft of journalism. May we remember him with the respect and admiration he so deeply earned.
He most recently appeared on WABC-TV in a 2020 documentary about John Lennon’s death, reflecting on the night 40 years earlier when he covered the shocking news.
His death marks the close of an era in New York TV news, leaving a legacy of credibility, professionalism, and a commitment to accuracy. For many viewers, Ernie Anastos was more than an anchor — he was a trusted presence who delivered news with warmth, clarity, and his signature smile.
He is survived by his wife Kelly, whom he met at a New Jersey church where her father served as priest; the couple shared 57 years of marriage. He is also survived by daughter Nina, son Phillip, and four grandchildren.