Profession: Television and Radio Interviewer
Biography: Tom Snyder was an American television personality, news anchor, and radio host. He was best known for his pioneering role in late-night television with Tomorrow with Tom Snyder"(1973-1982) and his distinctive interview style with on-air smoking.
Tom Snyder began his broadcasting career in radio at WRIT-AM in Milwaukee before transitioning to television in the 1960s. He worked in various anchoring roles, moving from station to station, including KTLA and KYW-TV. In 1973, Snyder gained national attention as the host of Tomorrow with Tom Snyder on NBC.
During his time on Tomorrow with Tom Snyder he interviewed several notable personalities, such as John Lennon in 1975, John Lydon in 1980, and Charles Manson in 1981. His conversation with KISS in 1979 made headlines due to the band's makeup and theatrics.
Snyder's distinctive style caught the attention of comedian Dan Aykroyd, who parodied him on Saturday Night Live. After Tomorrow concluded, Snyder worked at WABC-TV but struggled to return to national syndication. He also hosted The Tom Snyder Show on ABC Radio Networks (1988-1992) and returned to television with a show on CNBC (1993-1994).
In 1995, at the request of David Letterman, Snyder returned to late-night television with The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder (1995-1999) on CBS.
Tom Snyder's career ended as he was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in April 2005. He passed away in July of 2007 in San Francisco. Posthumously, in 2008, he was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. Ed Helms portrayed him in the film A Futile and Stupid Gesture (2018).
Born: May 12, 1936
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Taurus
Died: July 29, 2007 (aged 71)
Cause of Death: Complications from leukemia
Career Highlights
- 1975-04-28 Ringo Starr appears on "The Smothers Brothers Show", singing Hoyt Axton's "No No Song", and John Lennon is the guest on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" program, in what turns out to be his final television interview; both on NBC-TV
- 1981-06-13 Tom Snyder interviews murderer Charles Manson on "Tomorrow"
- 1995-01-10 "The Late Late Show" with Tom Snyder premieres on CBS at 12:30 AM; hosts the program until 1999
- 1999-03-26 Tom Snyder's final appearance as host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS, after 777 episodes
References
Famous Radio Hosts
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