Sue Simmons

TV journalist and broadcaster

What is Sue Simmons known for?

Sue Simmons, born on May 27, 1942, in New York City, U.S., is a notable alumni of Julia Richman High School in Manhattan. She's best known as an American retired news anchor, having had a distinguished career on television that spanned over four decades. A familiar face on WNBC in New York City, she served as the lead female anchor from 1980 until her contract's expiration in 2012, shortly after her 70th birthday.

Simmons, a Greenwich Village native, was the daughter of John Simmons, a respected jazz bassist who played alongside legends like Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Lena Horne, and Nat King Cole. She decided to embark on her career journey after graduating high school, choosing to work rather than attend college.

Simmons began her broadcasting career at WTNH-TV in New Haven, Connecticut, as a consumer action reporter. She later held an anchor position at WBAL-TV in Baltimore from 1974 to 1976. She then moved to WRC-TV in Washington, DC, another NBC owned-and-operated station, where she reported and anchored from 1976 to 1980.

In New York, she co-anchored WNBC's 'Live at Five' news broadcast from 1980 to 2007, working with several co-anchors including Jack Cafferty, Tony Guida, Matt Lauer, Jim Rosenfield, Perri Peltz, and David Ushery. Simmons also co-anchored the weeknight 11 p.m. news slot with Chuck Scarborough, leading to the longest anchor-team run in New York City television history.

Interestingly, Simmons' influence reached beyond journalism. She was mentioned in the song "Traffic and Weather" by the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. She even made a brief return to WNBC in 2017 for a tribute to Gabe Pressman, a longtime reporter for the station.

However, Simmons' career wasn't without controversy. On May 12, 2008, she was heard using inappropriate language during a live news teaser, a remark aimed at co-anchor Chuck Scarborough. The incident, for which Simmons later apologized, featured in several sketches on CBS's 'Late Show with David Letterman' and was later highlighted in a 2021 episode of HBO's 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'.

Despite her illustrious career, health issues led her to step away from her job temporarily in 2010. She underwent back surgery, and despite her return, she eventually retired following the conclusion of her contract with WNBC in 2012.

For resources and further reading, see WNBC, WTNH-TV, WBAL-TV and WRC-TV.