Bill Ritter Biography And Wiki
Bill Ritter is an experienced American television news anchor and journalist. Born on February 26, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, he initially attended San Diego State University but was expelled just before graduation due to his involvement in a Vietnam War protest. He returned to school and graduated from The New School in May 2016. Bill started his print journalism career as a reporter and business editor for The Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Business Journal. In 1987, he shifted to television, becoming a business and investigative reporter for KNSD-TV in San Diego before joining KTTV-TV in Los Angeles, where he covered the Gulf War.
Age
Bill Ritter, born on February 26, 1950, is 74 years old as of 2025.
Height And Weight
Bill Ritter is 5 feet 11 inches (1.81 meters) tall.
Education Background
Bill Ritter’s educational path faced some challenges. He began his studies at San Diego State University but was expelled just before graduation due to his participation in a Vietnam War protest. Later, encouraged by his daughter, Bill returned to complete his education and graduated from The New School in May 2016.
Nationality And Ethnicity
Bill Ritter is American by nationality, having been born in Los Angeles, California, and is of White-American descent.
Milestones, Significant Contributions, And Notable Works
Bill Ritter has had a distinguished career with several key milestones, significant contributions, and notable works:
Milestones
- Emmy Awards: Bill Ritter has earned seven Emmy Awards for his excellence in journalism.
- ABC News: He became co-anchor of Good Morning America Sunday at ABC News in January 1993.
- WABC-TV: Bill joined WABC-TV in New York City in 1998, initially anchoring on weekends before taking over the 11 p.m. news from Bill Beutel in September 1999.
- 5 p.m. Edition: On September 13, 2019, he was named co-anchor of the 5 p.m. edition of Eyewitness News alongside Sade Baderinwa.
Significant Contributions
- Investigative Reporting: Bill has uncovered numerous issues, including a local stock swindle and safety scandals at Sea World of California.
- Fire Safety Campaign: He runs the “Operation 7 Save A Life” campaign each year, focusing on fire safety and prevention.
- Prostate Cancer Awareness: Bill was tested for prostate cancer on live television and interviewed former Mayor Rudy Giuliani about his experience with the disease.
Notable Works
- Behind the News with Bill Ritter: He wrote a daily column offering insights into the 11 p.m. Eyewitness News, focusing on how news is gathered.
- Gulf War Coverage: He provided anchoring for Gulf War coverage while at KTTV-TV in Los Angeles.
- Rodney King Trial: Bill reported on the Rodney King trial and the subsequent Los Angeles riots for the Fox Television Network.
Wife and Children
Bill Ritter is married to Kathleen Friery, an award-winning producer with nearly two decades of experience in TV production across various networks. They married in 2008 and have developed a solid, supportive relationship. The couple has three children: Mia Ritter, Bill’s first daughter; Owen Ritter, his son; and Ella Ritter, his youngest daughter. Bill has been a vocal advocate for the LGBTQI+ community, especially after his daughter Mia came out at the age of seventeen, and he has supported both her and the community ever since.
Family, Siblings, Parents
Bill Ritter was born in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish family. His parents are Ethel and Bill Ritter, and he has a brother named Bruce Ritter, who sadly passed away in March 2018.
Career
Bill started his career in print journalism, working as a reporter and business editor for The Los Angeles Times and the San Diego Business Journal. He then transitioned to television journalism in 1987, taking a position as a business and investigative reporter for KNSD-TV in San Diego.
Bill’s career continued to rise as he joined KTTV-TV in Los Angeles. There, he covered major events like the Rodney King trial and the subsequent Los Angeles riots. He also became an anchor for their Gulf War coverage.
In 1993, Bill joined ABC News as co-anchor of Good Morning America Sunday. He also worked as a correspondent for the program 20/20, broadening his experience in national reporting.
Bill’s journey took him to WABC-TV in New York City in 1998, where he initially anchored on weekends. By September 1999, he succeeded Bill Beutel as the anchor for the 11 p.m. news. He also became the co-anchor of the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts, working alongside Sade Baderinwa.
Hobbies And Personal Challenges
Bill Ritter has a few hobbies and has faced personal challenges in his life.
He is passionate about fire safety and hosts the annual “Operation 7 Save A Life” campaign to raise awareness about fire prevention. Bill also climbed the Empire State Building with a man who repairs its antennas. Journalism remains a big part of his life as he continues to report important news stories.
In terms of personal challenges, Bill was expelled from San Diego State University a semester before graduation because of his involvement in a Vietnam War protest. He also publicly took a prostate cancer test on live TV and interviewed former Mayor Rudy Giuliani about his own experience with the disease.
Salary and Net Worth
Bill Ritter earns approximately $178,800 annually as a news anchor for WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News. His estimated net worth is around $1.2 million.
Major Achievements
Bill Ritter has built a distinguished career with numerous significant achievements:
Major Achievements
Emmy Awards: Bill Ritter has earned seven Emmy Awards for his exceptional journalism.
ABC News: In January 1993, he joined ABC News as co-anchor for Good Morning America Sunday.
WABC-TV: Bill has been with WABC-TV in New York City since 1998, initially anchoring on weekends and later taking over the 11 p.m. news in September 1999.
Investigative Reporting: He is recognized for his investigative journalism, uncovering issues like local stock scams and safety scandals at Sea World of California.
Fire Safety Campaign: Bill leads the annual “Operation 7 Save A Life” campaign, aimed at promoting fire safety and prevention.
Prostate Cancer Awareness: He publicly underwent a prostate cancer test on live television and interviewed former Mayor Rudy Giuliani about his own experience with the disease.
Empire State Building Climb: Bill has climbed the Empire State Building, accompanying the technician who maintains the broadcast antennas atop one of New York’s tallest buildings.
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