Charles Osgood, a renowned journalist and five-time Emmy Award winner best known for anchoring “CBS Sunday Morning” for over two decades, has passed away at the age of 91. His family reported that he died at his home in Saddle River, New Jersey, and the cause was dementia.
Osgood, often referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence, had a remarkable career that included hosting the radio program “The Osgood File” and becoming a beloved figure on “Sunday Morning.” Recognized for his warm and erudite broadcasting style, he seamlessly blended music, essays, and light verse with hard news reporting. His sign-off phrase, “I’ll see you on the radio,” became iconic.
Rand Morrison, the executive producer of “Sunday Morning,” paid tribute to Osgood, stating, “To say there’s no one like Charles Osgood is an understatement. He embodied the heart and soul of ‘Sunday Morning.’ … At the piano, Charlie put our lives to music. Truly, he was one of a kind — in every sense.”
Osgood took the reins of “Sunday Morning” in 1994 after the retirement of Charles Kuralt. Despite the challenge of succeeding a beloved host, Osgood’s folksy erudition and distinctive bow-tied style endeared him to viewers, maintaining the program’s reputation as an unhurried TV magazine.
Beginning as a classical music DJ in Washington, D.C., and serving in the Army, Osgood’s career included roles at ABC Radio in New York and CBS-owned NewsRadio 88. His on-air position at CBS in 1971 marked the launch of “The Osgood File.” Throughout his career, Osgood received numerous accolades, including four Emmy Awards and induction into the National Association of Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2016, after 45 years in journalism, Osgood retired in his signature style. In his farewell remarks, he expressed gratitude for the joy of his work, singing a few wistful bars from a favorite folk song: “So long, it’s been good to know you. I’ve got to be driftin’ along.” “CBS News Sunday Morning” plans to honor Charles Osgood with a special broadcast on Sunday.
