Ernie Anastos Dead at 82: Legendary NYC Anchor Dies of Pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital
Ernie Anastos, one of New York City's most iconic and beloved television news anchors, has died at the age of 82. His wife Kelly confirmed that the Ernie Anastos cause of death was pneumonia. He passed away early Thursday morning, March 13, 2025, at Northern Westchester Hospital.
Ernie Anastos Cause of Death Confirmed as Pneumonia
His wife Kelly confirmed that Ernie Anastos died early Thursday morning of pneumonia at Northern Westchester Hospital. He was 82 years old.
The news of his passing broke Thursday morning, stunning the New York broadcasting community and longtime viewers across the tri-state area. Anastos had remained active and visible in local media up until his final days, showing no public signs of slowing down.
He appeared to have made one final broadcast on his social media page on March 3, speaking about the importance of truth in journalism and the need to protect it.
A Career That Defined New York Television News
Ernie Anastos built one of the most decorated careers in New York broadcast history, spanning more than four decades across multiple flagship stations. He anchored at WABC, WCBS, WWOR, and WNYW Fox 5, becoming a fixture in living rooms across the city and suburbs.
Anastos spent 11 years as an anchor at Eyewitness News beginning in 1978. Throughout his career, he won more than 30 Emmy awards and nominations and received the prestigious Lifetime Emmy Award.
He covered some of the most significant events in modern American history, including the September 11 World Trade Center attacks, the coronavirus pandemic, and the death of Princess Diana, reporting live from London.
Anastos is also distinguished as the United States' first Greek-American television news anchorman.
"Positively Ernie" and His Final Chapter
Even after stepping back from full-time anchoring, Ernie Anastos refused to leave the spotlight. He channeled his signature optimism into a new platform that reflected everything he stood for in his career.
In recent years, he developed the program "Positively Ernie," which was described as very appropriate, since he was one of the most optimistic people you could ever know.
Most recently, Anastos remained active in local broadcasting, launching his own nationally syndicated radio show "Positively America" on WABC-AM radio, which aimed to promote positive stories to inspire and educate the audience.
In 2019, he left his Fox 5 anchor chair to enroll at Harvard Business School to study leadership and management, continuing to reinvent himself well into his late 70s.
Legacy and Tributes Pour In
Colleagues who worked alongside Ernie Anastos described him as someone who never lost his love for the craft. His warmth, professionalism, and relentless positivity left a lasting mark on every newsroom he entered.
Ernie was beloved. He was always positive. He never lost his passion, and he never was cynical. He treated every day like it was his first day on the job. Ernie knew everybody, and everybody loved Ernie.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio honored Anastos in 2017 by designating March 21 as Ernie Anastos Day in New York City, a tribute that underscored just how deeply he was woven into the fabric of the city he served for so many decades.
Ernie Anastos is survived by his wife Kelly and his family. Funeral arrangements had not been publicly announced as of Thursday morning ET.
