Ernie Anastos, the longtime television news anchor whose voice and smile were known to New Yorkers for more than four decades, died on March 12 at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was 82.
Anastos succumbed to pneumonia in the early hours of March 12, 2026, his wife Kelly told CBS News. The news surprised New York’s journalism community, where he was widely seen as one of the city’s most trusted and cherished anchors.
“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, to a Greek-American family, Anastos crafted a notable career that included anchoring evening newscasts at all four of New York’s major TV stations — an uncommon achievement. He spent 11 years at WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News beginning in 1978, anchoring the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts until 1989. He then served at WCBS from 1989 to 1995, WWOR from 1995 to 2000, returned to WCBS from 2001 to 2005, and joined WNYW FOX 5 from 2005 to 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, commenting on Anastos’ professionalism and his knack for collaborating with many co-anchors.
Over his lengthy career, Anastos covered major historical moments. He was on the air the night of 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 covered the coronavirus outbreak that affected New York.
His reporting earned him more than 30 Emmy Awards and nominations, including a Lifetime Achievement Emmy and the Edward R. Murrow Award. Beyond honors, Anastos became a prominent regional figure and frequently took part in community events while maintaining an active presence on social media.
Before his New York rise, Anastos developed his broadcasting 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 degree in sociology and later received honorary doctorates from institutions such as Marist College, New York Institute of Technology, Manhattanville College, Curry College, and Sacred Heart University.
Showing his dedication to continuous learning, Anastos enrolled at Harvard Business School in June 2019 after leaving FOX 5 to study leadership and management. He remained active in media through his WABC 770 AM radio show “Positively Ernie” and the nationally syndicated “Positively America.”
Bill Ritter, the Eyewitness News anchor who now leads the same broadcast Anastos once anchored, said he had received a note from Anastos on March 8 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.”
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani also paid tribute, posting 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.”
Anastos’ final social media post, on March 3, showed him by the Superman Globe at the Daily News Building in Manhattan. His caption was prophetic: “Now more than ever we need to promote and protect the truth!”
Anastos and his family lived in Westchester County for many years, most recently in Armonk. He was a regular at charitable functions—serving as host and chair for organizations including 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.
He most recently appeared on WABC-TV in a 2020 documentary about John Lennon’s death, reflecting on the night four decades earlier when he delivered the shocking news.
His passing marks the end of an era in New York television news, leaving behind a record of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the truth. For many New Yorkers, Ernie Anastos was more than an anchor—he was a trusted figure who brought the world into their homes with warmth, clarity, and that memorable smile.
His wake was held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, where hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their respects, followed by his funeral service at the same church.
He is survived by his wife, Kelly, whom he met at the New Jersey church where her father served as priest, and with whom he shared 57 years of marriage, daughter Nina, son Phillip, and four grandchildren.