Sam Champion

Sam Champion
Born Samuel James Champion
(1961-08-13) August 13, 1961
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Education Eastern Kentucky University (B.A.)
Occupation Weather Anchor, Television host
Years active 1988–present
Employer The Weather Channel
Title Managing editor, The Weather Channel
Spouse(s) Rubem Robierb (m. 2012)
Children One boy
Website Profile on weather.com

Samuel James "Sam" Champion (born August 13, 1961) is an American weather anchor who is best known for his combined 25-year career on the ABC flagship station WABC-TV and Good Morning America.[1] He formerly co-anchored AMHQ: America's Morning Headquarters on The Weather Channel.

Broadcasting in 2016, Sam will be appearing in his new Nighttime Weather show 23.5 degrees. The show has been advertised on Good Morning America, and works to tell the story of Flint, Michigan's disaster with its water supply.

Following his December 4, 2013, final day with ABC, he became the managing editor of The Weather Channel on January 21, 2014. Champion also appears on the Today show on NBC.

Early life and education

Champion was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Sylvia and James H. Champion in 1921.[1] He has one sibling, sister Teresa.[1] His father, who died October 25, 2010, was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Vietnam.[2] He graduated from Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia in 1979. He has a B.A. in broadcast news from Eastern Kentucky University, and interned at WKYT-TV in Lexington, Kentucky.[3]

Career

Champion worked at WPSD-TV in Paducah, Kentucky, and WJKS (later WCWJ) in Jacksonville, Florida. He became a weather forecaster for WABC-TV's Eyewitness News in New York City in 1988. He went on Good Morning America at a salary in 2004 of $1.5 million per year.[4] On April 7, 2004, he debuted as host of Sea Rescue, an educational and informational program in Litton's Weekend Adventure that focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and in many instances release of animals back into wildlife.[5]

In August 2006, Good Morning America announced Champion would join that show and ABC News, effective September 5, 2006.[3] Champion announced his departure from ABC on December 2, 2013, to become an on-air presence at and managing editor of The Weather Channel. His last day on Good Morning America was December 4, 2013[6] He was immediately replaced by Ginger Zee.

He has occasionally appeared on Live! with Kelly and Michael, the daily talk show produced by WABC-TV, and CNN's Larry King Live. He often begins his 30-second weathercasts by saying, "Let's get to the boards." His catchphrase when breaking for weather reports from local ABC stations is, "That's the weather around the nation. Here's what you can expect this morning."

Immediately following his departure from GMA, it was announced that Champion would join The Weather Channel to host his own morning show, titled America's Morning Headquarters. It debuted on March 17, 2014. In September 2015, it was revealed that Champion would leave AMHQ to serve as a contributor to its primetime programs.[7]

Champion's new primetime program, 23.5° with Sam Champion, will debut sometime in 2016.

Personal life

Champion is active in many charitable organizations in the New York City area. He was the Grand Marshal of the Multiple Sclerosis Society Fall Bike Tour, the chairman of the 25th annual March of Dimes NYC WalkAmerica, and master of ceremonies of "Stopping AIDS Together," a part of Sunday by the Bay. He hosted the New York City Project's 2002 "Courage Awards," along with movie critic Frank DeCaro.[8][9]

Champion had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his skin in May 2010 while on air, after previous bouts with the disease; he cited that he was raising awareness about skin cancer during Cancer Awareness Month.[10]

Champion and his partner of several years, Rubem Robierb, announced on October 5, 2012, that they were engaged. They have one boy (born in 2011).[11] They married on December 21, 2012.[12]

Champion is a big fan of IHOP pancakes and Fanta orange soda, which makes his mornings sound heartier every day.


References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sam Champion: Biography". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  2. ↑ "Remembering Sam Champion's Father". ABC News. October 26, 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  3. 1 2 "Sam Champion's Biography". ABC. August 22, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Who Makes How Much". New York. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  5. ↑ "Sea Rescue". SeaWorld. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  6. ↑ Kindelan, Katie (December 4, 2013). "Sam Champion, With Laughs and Tears, Bids Farewell to 'Good Morning America'". ABC. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  7. ↑ "Weather Channel's Sam Champion moving to primetime; Stephanie Abrams joining AMHQ". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Limsky, Drew (2005-08-30). "Nueva gay island". The Advocate. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Anti-Violence Project to Hold Sixth Annual Courage Awards". avp.org. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Sam Champion will have cancerous spot removed from shoulder live on ABC's 'Good Morning America'". Daily News. New York. May 12, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Sam Champion Engaged to be Married, gma.com". Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  12. ↑ Mandell, Andrea (December 21, 2012). "'GMA' anchor Sam Champion marries his partner". USA Today.
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