Rivera, Geraldo 1943–

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Rivera, Geraldo 1943–

(Gerald Rivera, Gerald Riveria)

Personal

Original name, Gerald Michael Riviera; surname legally changed to Rivera in 1960s; given name is pronounced "Hare–all–doe;" some sources cite name variants including Gerald Michael Rivera, Geraldo Miguel Rivera, and Jerry Rivers; born July 4, 1943, in New York, NY (some sources say Brooklyn, NY); son of Cruz Allen (a cab driver and restaurant worker) and Lillian (a waitress; maiden name, Friedman) Rivera; brother of Craig Rivera (a broadcast journalist); married Linda Coblentz, c. 1965 (divorced); married Edith Bucket "Pie" Vonnegut (an artist and fashion designer), December 14, 1971 (divorced); married Sherryl Raymond (a television producer), December 31, 1976 (divorced, 1984); married C. C. Dyer (a television producer), 1987 (divorced, 2000); married Erica Levy, August 10, 2003: children: (previous relationship) Cruz; (third marriage) Gabriel Miguel; (fourth marriage) Isabella Holmes, Simone Cruickshank; (fifth marriage) Solita Liliana. Education: University of Arizona, B.S., business administration, 1965; Brooklyn School of Law, J.D., 1969; graduate legal study at University of Pennsylvania, 1969; studied journalism at Columbia University, 1970; also attended State University of New York Maritime College and New York City Community College of Applied Arts and Sciences. Religion: Jewish.

Addresses: Agent—William Morris Agency, 1325 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019.

Career: Broadcast journalist, actor, producer, and writer. Investigative News Group (production company), founder, c. 1985, and owner; Maravilla Productions (production company), founder, 1989; Qwest Broadcasting (minority television broadcasting company), partner and member of board of directors, beginning 1994; Fox News Channel, war correspondent, 2001. Two Rivers Times (weekly newspaper), Red Bank, NJ, co–owner, managing editor, and columnist, c. 1991–2000; Broadcast Boxing Club (fitness center), New York City, operator, beginning 1994; founder of a helicopter commuting service between New York City and surrounding suburbs in New York and New Jersey, 1994. Young Lords (Latino "activist group"), New York City, legal spokesperson in the late 1960s; worked as clerk for Harlem Assertion of Rights and Community Action for Legal Services, both New York City, 1968–70; One–to–One Foundation, board chair; Help 7 (consumer action bureau), founder; lawyer. Military service: Served in U.S. Merchant Marine.

Awards, Honors: Reginald Heber Smith fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 1969; award from Associated Press Broadcasters Association of New York, 1971, for "Drug Crisis in East Harlem," Eyewitness News; named broadcaster of the year, New York State Associated Press, 1971, 1972, and 1974; George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award, Henry W. Grady School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Georgia, 1972, for Willowbrook: The Last Disgrace; Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards, 1973 and 1975; News Emmy Award, program and programs segments, 1980, News Emmy, outstanding investigative journalism (programs), 1981, both for 20/20; chosen one of the fifty most beautiful people in the world, People Weekly, 1991; ALMA Award nomination, outstanding host in a national information program, American Latin Media Arts Awards, 1999, for Up Front Tonight; ALMA Award nomination, outstanding correspondent, anchor and/or host of a national news program or special, 2001, for Back to Bedlam; ALMA Award, outstanding correspondent or anchor of a national news programor special, 2001; ALMA Award nomination, outstanding correspondent or anchor of national news program, 2002, for Rivera Live; also received two Alfred I. du Pont–Columbia University Citations, five additional Emmy Awards, and more than 150 other awards for broadcast journalism.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Himself, Salsa, 1976.

(Uncredited) Himself, Hard to Kill (also known as Seven Year Storm), 1990.

(Uncredited) Robert Cordo, The Bonfire of the Vanities, 1990.

Himself, Hated (documentary; also known as Hated: G. G. Allin and the Murder Junkies), Film Threat Video, 1994.

Himself, Grumpier Old Men (also known as Grumpy Old Men 2), Warner Bros., 1995.

Himself, Mi Puerto Rico, 1995.

Himself, Meet Wally Sparks, Trimark Pictures, 1997.

Unforgotten: Twenty–Five Years after Willowbrook (documentary), Castle Hill, 1997.

Himself, Contact, Warner Bros., 1997.

(Uncredited) Himself, Cop Land, Buena Vista/Miramax, 1997.

Himself, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Couple and Mit aller macht), MCA/Universal, 1998.

Himself, The U.S. vs. John Lennon (documentary), Lions Gate, 2006.

Himself, "Planet Terror," Grindhouse, Dimension Films, 2007.

Himself, Harvest of Empire (documentary), Harvest of Empire, 2008.

Film Work:

Dialogue coach, Salsa, 1976.

Television Appearances; Series:

Reporter and correspondent, Eyewitness News, WABC (New York City), 1970–75.

Host, Goodnight America, ABC, 1974–78.

Correspondent, Good Morning America, ABC, 1974–78.

Special correspondent, 20/20 (also known as ABC News 20/20), ABC, 1978–85.

Substitute host, Larry King Live, CNN, 1985.

Special correspondent, Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), 1985–87.

Host, Geraldo! (also known as The Geraldo Rivera Show), syndicated, 1987–98.

Host, Now It Can Be Told, syndicated, 1991.

Anchor, Rivera Live, CNBC, 1994–2001.

Anchor, Upfront Tonight, CNBC, 1998–2001.

Host, Geraldo Voyager, Travel Channel, 1999–2001.

Host, At Large with Geraldo Rivera, Fox News, 2001—.

Himself, The Pulse, Fox, 2002.

Himself, The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News, 2004–2008.

Host, Geraldo at Large, syndicated, 2005–2007.

Also appeared as host, ABC's Wide World of Entertainment (also known as ABC Late Night), ABC.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Ted Mayne, Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo, 1992.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Host, Willowbrook: The Last Disgrace (documentary), WABC (New York City), 1972.

Host, The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults (documentary), syndicated, 1986.

Host, American Vice: The Doping of America (documentary), syndicated, 1986.

Whatta Year … '86 (documentary), 1986.

Our Kids and the Best of Everything (documentary), 1987.

Host, Innocence Lost: The Erosion of American Childhood (documentary), syndicated, 1987.

Host, Modern Love (documentary), syndicated, 1987.

Host, Sons of Scarface: The New Mafia (documentary), syndicated, 1987.

Host, Murder: Live from Death Row (documentary), syndicated, 1988.

Host, On Trial: Lee Harvey Oswald, 1988.

Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground, NBC, 1988.

Candid Cameras on Wheels, CBS, 1989.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

Happy Birthday, Bugs: 50 Looney Years, CBS, 1990.

2 Years Later, NBC, 1990.

Host, What's Poisoning Your Children, 1992.

Presenter, Soap Opera Digest Awards, NBC, 1992.

Hats Off to Minnie Pearl: America Honors Minnie Pearl, TNN, 1992.

Donahue: The 25th Anniversary, NBC, 1992.

The New Godfathers, 1993.

In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993.

Talk Back America II, CNBC, 1994.

Panelist, Trial by Television, PBS, 1995.

Talk Back America III, CNBC, 1995.

Latin Nights: An All–Star Celebration, ABC, 1995.

Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1996.

Talked to Death, NBC, 1997.

Geraldo Rivera, Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

Host, Blacks and Blue, NBC, 1998.

Correspondent, Women in Prison: Nowhere to Hide, NBC, 1999.

Host, Nueva America, NBC, 1999.

Correspondent, Back to Bedlam, NBC, 1999.

Sail to the Century (also known as Geraldo Rivera's "Sail to the Century I"), Travel Channel, 1999.

Host, Drug Bust: The Longest Wart, NBC, 1999.

Presenter, The 13th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1999.

The Great American History Quiz: Heroes and Villains, History Channel, 2000.

Reporter, Smashed: Kids and Alcohol, NBC, 2000.

Reporter, Las Vegas—The American Fantasy, NBC, 2000.

Reporter, LAPD Blues, NBC, 2000.

Correspondent, Justice for All, NBC, 2000.

Geraldo Voyager: The Journey Home, Travel Channel, 2000.

Geraldo Voyager: On the High Seas, Travel Channel, 2000.

Geraldo Voyager: Sail to the Century II, Travel Channel, 2000.

Himself, When It Was a Game 3 (documentary), 2000.

Jerry Falwell: Minister of Morals, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Presenter, The 2001 ALMA Awards, ABC, 2001.

Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Arts and Entertainment, 2003.

Katie Couric: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell, VH1, 2007.

Also appeared in Barriers: The View from a Wheelchair; The Littlest Junkie: A Children's Story; Marching Home, Again; Migrants: Dirt Cheap; Tell Me Where I Can Go; Working Class Heroes; VH1 Goes Inside "Cops," VH1.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Dinah! (also known as Dinah! & Friends), 1976.

At Rona's, NBC, 1989.

Himself, "Mr. Right," thirtysomething, ABC, 1989.

Himself, "Once a Mermaid," thirtysomething, ABC, 1990.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, PBS, 1991.

The Howard Stern Show, 1991, 1992.

Himself, "Dirty Harry," Empty Nest, NBC, 1992.

Himself, "Dirty Laundry," Nurses, NBC, 1992.

The Howard Stern Interview (also known as The Howard Stern "Interview"), 1993.

The Chevy Chase Show, 1993.

Voice of himself, "Dial 'M' for Murder," The Critic (animated), ABC, 1994.

Albert Romero, "Red Wind," Baywatch, syndicated, 1994.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1996, 2001.

"Geraldo Rivera," Lauren Hutton and …, 1996.

Albert Romero, "Payback," Baywatch Nights, syndicated, 1996.

Himself, "Till Death Do Us Part," Nash Bridges (also known as Bridges), CBS, 1996.

"Talked to Death," America Undercover, HBO, 1997.

Himself, Men Behaving Badly, NBC, 1997.

Himself, "Live Shot," Nash Bridges (also known as Bridges), CBS, 1998.

Himself, "The Finale: Part 1," Seinfeld, NBC, 1998.

Howard Stern, 1998.

"John Denver," Behind the Music (also known as VH1's "Behind the Music"), VH1, 1998.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1999.

The Howard Stern Radio Show, 2000.

"The Third World," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 2002.

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (also known as The Late Late Show), CBS, 2002.

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2002, 2003.

The View, ABC, 2005.

Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, 2005.

Heartland, 2005.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC, 2005, 2006.

The Tony Danza Show, syndicated, 2006.

"Howard's Press Tour," Howard Stern on Demand (also known as Howard TV on Demand), 2006.

Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), syndicated, 2006.

Himself, "Stage 5," The Sopranos, HBO, 2007.

"Geraldo Rivera," The Colbert Report, Comedy Central, 2008.

The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet, Fox, 2008.

Voice, Phineas and Ferb, The Disney Channel, 2008.

Television Work; Series:

Senior producer, 20/20 (also known as ABC News 20/20), ABC, 1978–85.

Producer, Geraldo! (also known as The Geraldo Rivera Show), syndicated, 1987–98.

Managing editor, Now It Can Be Told, syndicated, 1991.

Coproducer, Geraldo Voyager, Travel Channel, 1999–2001.

Videography, Geraldo Voyager: The Journey Home, Travel Channel, 2000.

Television Work; Specials:

Executive producer, The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults, syndicated, 1986.

Executive producer, American Vice: The Doping of America, syndicated, 1986.

Executive producer, Innocence Lost: The Erosion of American Childhood, syndicated, 1987.

Executive producer, Modern Love, syndicated, 1987.

Executive producer, Sons of Scarface: The New Mafia, syndicated, 1987.

Executive producer, Murder: Live from Death Row, syndicated, 1988.

Director, producer, and cinematographer, Sail to the Century (also known as Geraldo Rivera's "Sail to the Century I"), Travel Channel, 1999.

Producer, Geraldo Voyager: The Journey Home, Travel Channel, 2000.

Producer, Geraldo Voyager: On the High Seas, Travel Channel, 2000.

Producer, Geraldo Voyager: Sail to the Century II, Travel Channel, 2000.

WRITINGS

Television Specials:

The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults, syndicated, 1986.

American Vice: The Doping of America, syndicated, 1986.

The New Godfathers, 1993.

Sail to the Century (also known as Geraldo Rivera's "Sail to the Century I"), Travel Channel, 1999.

Geraldo Voyager: The Journey Home, Travel Channel, 2000.

Geraldo Voyager: On the High Seas, Travel Channel, 2000.

Geraldo Voyager: Sail to the Century II, Travel Channel, 2000.

Nonfiction:

Willowbrook: A Report on How It Is and Why It Doesn't Have to Be That Way (based on the television special Willowbrook: The Last Disgrace), Random House (New York City), 1972.

(With Edith Rivera) Miguel Robles: So Far, Harcourt (New York, NY), 1973.

Puerto Rico: Island of Contrasts, Parents' Magazine Press, 1973.

A Special Kind of Courage: Profiles of Young Americans, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1976.

(With Daniel Paisner) Exposing Myself (autobiography), Bantam (New York City), 1991.

Contributor to periodicals, including Esquire, TV Guide, and Yachting.