Koppel, Ted (1940-…), an English-born newsman, ranks among the most respected journalists in American television. From 1980 to 2005, Koppel hosted the news program “Nightline.” On the nightly program, Koppel explored the major news stories of the day, and he was praised for his intelligent, even-handed, and informed interviewing style. Koppel and journalist Marvin Kalb collaborated on a political novel, In the National Interest (1977).
Edward James Koppel was born on Feb. 8, 1940, in Lancashire, England. He moved to the United States with his family in 1953 and became a U.S. citizen in 1963. He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech from Syracuse University in 1960 and a master’s degree in journalism from Stanford University in 1962. Koppel was a news correspondent for a New York City TV station before joining the ABC television network in 1963. He served as bureau chief in several cities throughout the world for ABC. He was also a network diplomatic correspondent.
In 1979, a group of Iranian revolutionaries invaded the United States Embassy in Tehran and took several Americans hostage. Koppel hosted a number of ABC news specials called “The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage” that updated and analyzed the situation. The specials attracted large audiences and developed into “Nightline.” Koppel retired from “Nightline” and ABC in 2005. From 2006 to 2008, Koppel created documentary films for the Discovery Channel, a cable network.
