In a city known for its larger-than-life stars, Sam Rubin was in a league of his own.
Dubbed “The Moses of Hollywood Moguls” by Tom Hanks, Sam served over three decades as the weekday entertainment anchor on KTLA 5 Morning News.
He joined the team in 1991, instantly making an impact with his encyclopedic knowledge of film and television and infectious charm, and earned a reputation as someone who went beyond the entertainment headlines of the day.
Sam’s exploration of the deeper impact of stories within the entertainment industry generated conversation inside and outside the business.
“He made you feel special every single time, and I am not the only person who felt that warmth,” reflected actor Henry Winkler. “When you were being interviewed by him, there was nobody after you. There was nobody before you at that desk. It was you in that seat, and that was all that mattered.”
“Even if I was on my 85th interview that day, I was always happy to see Sam,” actor Ryan Reynolds said. “Even if he was on his 85th interview that day, he always brought genuine kindness, curiosity and an outside-the-box question.”
Throughout his career, Sam earned numerous Emmy awards. He was named Best Entertainment Reporter by the Los Angeles Press Club and received a Golden Mike Award. In 2013, he was honored by the National Hispanic Media Coalition with its Impact Award for Outstanding Integrity in Broadcast Journalism.
Sam’s reach was global.
He appeared on BBC, ITV and GB News in the United Kingdom and was a regular contributor to Australia’s Triple M radio and Channel 9.
Sam also knew the power of the pen. His written work was published in print and online, and he even authored two books.
He was also one of the founding members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest organization of film and television critics in the United States, with more than 200 members.
In 1996, the BFCA began the Critics Choice Movie Awards, which rose in prominence to the same tier as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. He hosted the 2013 Critics Choice Awards, which was seen in more than 2 million homes, making it the No. 1 rated show in Los Angeles and other major cities.
Sam also owned SRE Inc., a television production company that produced more than 200 hours of broadcast and cable programming, including several “Live From” red carpet shows and 120 episodes of the talk show “Hollywood Uncensored.”
Off the air, Sam supported a wide range of non-profit organizations and took particular pride in organizing KTLA’s team for the annual MS 150 Bay to Bay Bike Tour, a premiere cycling event that raises funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
Sam’s connections to Southern California ran deep. He was born in San Diego and grew up in L.A.’s Rancho Park neighborhood. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from L.A.’s Occidental College before launching his local news career.
He passed away on May 10, 2024, at age 64.
Sam’s legacy is survived by his wife, Leslie, and his children, Perry, Rory, Darcy and Colby.
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