Matt Lauer

Background and Education

Born Matthew Todd Lauer in New York City, Lauer was raised in a Jewish household. His father was of Romanian Jewish descent, while his mother was not Jewish. He attended Ohio University, majoring in media arts and studies. Although he dropped out in 1979 to pursue television opportunities, he returned later and completed his degree. Ohio University awarded him the remaining credits based on his professional experience, recognizing his accomplishments in broadcasting.

Early Broadcasting Career

Lauer began his television career in 1979 as a producer for the 12 News Hour on WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. He worked in several cities throughout the 1980s, including Boston, Philadelphia, and Richmond. In New York City, he hosted programs on local stations WNEW-TV and WNYW-TV, and in 1988, he helmed the show Talk of the Town.

He gained prominence hosting the three-hour live program 9 Broadcast Plaza on WWOR-TV and later anchored the courtroom series Day in Court, later retitled Trial Watch, for the Kushner-Locke Company. The series aired for two seasons on NBC. Lauer then joined WNBC-TV, where he co-anchored weekday morning newscasts on Today in New York with Jane Hanson and later co-hosted Live at Five alongside Sue Simmons until 1996.

Anchor on NBC's Today Show

Lauer joined NBC’s Today in 1994 as a newsreader and became a co-anchor in 1997, a position he held until 2017. One of his most popular segments, Where in the World Is Matt Lauer?, began in 1998 and featured him broadcasting live from various locations around the globe.

He co-hosted NBC’s annual live coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and anchored The Greatest American, a Discovery Channel program that invited viewers to vote on notable historical figures through online and telephone ballots. In 2007, Lauer interviewed Prince William and Prince Harry, and he made a cameo appearance as himself in the 2009 film Land of the Lost. In April 2012, he renewed his NBC contract with a reported annual salary of $25 million.

Rumors Regarding Ann Curry’s Departure

Speculation circulated suggesting that Lauer was behind co-anchor Ann Curry’s departure from Today. These rumors were later disputed, with reports revealing that executive producer Jim Bell initiated "Operation Bambi," an internal effort to remove Curry. Several sources indicated Lauer attempted to prevent Curry’s ouster.

Personal Life

Matt Lauer married television producer Nancy Alspaugh in 1981; they divorced in 1988. He later became engaged to newscaster Kristen Gesswein. Though their relationship was seen as a compatible match given their shared industry, it ended before marriage. Both acknowledged that their bond lacked the foundation needed for a long-term future.