Sam Rubin, KTLA 5 Morning News legend, dies at 64

Sam Rubin, one of the most respected and connected entertainment anchors in the nation, died suddenly on Friday at age 64.

The circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately released. Rubin was on the air a day earlier and showed no outward signs of illness, co-workers said.

Rubin joined KTLA 5 Morning News in Los Angeles in 1991, instantly making an impact with his encyclopedic knowledge of film and television and infectious charm. His news reports, interviews and feature segments were a hallmark of KTLA’s brand.

“The Sam that you saw on the air is the Sam that was off the air,” Rubin’s longtime colleague and friend Frank Buckley said in announcing his passing on live television. “Our hearts are broken. To all of us he shared his mornings with on television, and to those he worked with behind the scenes … we will not forget him. Quite simply, Sam was KTLA.”

Rubin’s sudden passing devastated co-workers and industry veterans, many of whom reflected on his impact during KTLA’s live coverage.

“Whenever a famous person passed away, he had the most touching and moving obituaries that he would write, and he would put their lives in perspective in such a way that was truly a talent,” recalled Eric Spillman, who also started at KTLA in 1991. “Now we’re in the position of having to talk about his career and his life and give it some perspective and give it the dignity that it deserves … I’m at a loss for words.”

“Everybody in Hollywood knows Sam Rubin. Everybody loves him. He was my friend,” said KTLA Morning News weather anchor Mark Kriski.

In a city known for its larger-than-life stars, Rubin was in a league of his own.

Each morning, television viewers were treated to his celebrity interviews, which included Hollywood legends and up-and-coming actors and filmmakers. For many, these interviews were a rite of passage.

“He made you feel special every single time [he interviewed you], 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 in that desk. It was you in that seat, and that was all that mattered.”

Sam’s connections to Southern California ran deep. He was born in San Diego in 1960 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from L.A.’s Occidental College before launching his local news career.

Over the years, Rubin won numerous awards including Emmys, a Golden Mike for Best Entertainment Reporter, and received a lifetime achievement award from the Southern California Broadcasters Association.

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 was the kindest, warmest soul in this insane town,” said actor Jerry O’Connell.

Rubin is survived by his wife, Leslie, and their four children.

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