Sam Rubin, a popular entertainment reporter for KTLA since 1991, passed away on Friday. He was 64 years old.
A source close to the station confirmed that Rubin died of a heart attack at home after reporting a regular Hollywood news segment on KTLA's Morning News program from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday.
Rubin was a fixture in Hollywood, enjoying rare longevity on a single station throughout his career. In front of the camera, Rubin always had a cheerful and good-natured demeanor and often talked about his off-air activities with his wife and his four children. Chatting live with Rubin on KTLA has become a staple of promotional tours for movies, TV shows, concerts, his tours and other entertainment stars.
Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry Sooke called Anchor an “icon” in the region and industry.
“Sam was an icon in Los Angeles and the entertainment industry, and a beloved member of our Nexstar Nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the KTLA family as we mourn his passing. We will miss him. He will be missed,” Suk said in a statement.
KTLA, one of the nation's pioneering television stations and the first commercial station on the West Coast to begin broadcasting in 1948, praised the journalists who have become synonymous with the station. KTLA news anchor Frank Buckley visibly choked up while reporting on Rubin's death on Friday afternoon's broadcast.
“Sam was a giant in the local news and entertainment world and a staple of Los Angeles morning television for decades,” KTLA said in an X-Post statement. “His laughter, charm and caring personality touched all who knew him. Sam was a loving husband and father, roles he cherished most.” Our thoughts are with Sam's family at this difficult time.”
As a Hollywood backyard anchor and reporter, Rubin also covered the inner workings of Hollywood, usually offering fans an “expert” perspective on the machinations of studios and networks and the excesses of the rich and famous.
“Everyone will feel like they've lost a family friend,” said spokeswoman Jamie Gruttemeyer-Simons. variety Following the news of Mr. Rubin's death.
Actor Yvette Nicole Brown echoed that sentiment in an X post, calling Rubin a “friend” and saying, “I always enjoyed the times I had the pleasure of visiting him at KTLA.”
In addition to his work as an anchor, Rubin's television production company, SRE, Inc., has produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including the “Live From” red carpet show and the 120-episode talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.” I did.
In 1996, Rubin teamed up with his street rival, KTTV entertainment reporter Dorothy Lucy, as host of the daytime syndicated talk show “Scoop with Sam & Dorothy,” which aired for several months.
Rubin received the Golden Mike Award, a lifetime achievement award, from the Southern California Broadcasting Corporation and the Best Entertainment Reporter Award from the Los Angeles Press Club. He wrote two celebrity biographies during his long career. One is about Jacqueline Kennedy Onnasis and the other is a 1990 book about Mia Farrow co-written with Richard Taylor.
Early in his career, Rubin covered entertainment news for Group W Television and was a correspondent for the New York area cable channel Movietime in the 1980s.
According to his KTLA bio, he supports several organizations including the MS 150 Bay to Bike Tour and supports L.A. schools and literacy programs.
A 1982 graduate of Occidental College, he is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children.
Here's a clip of Rubin's recent interview with actress Jane Seymour.