Jerry Dunphy was a renowned American television news anchor who left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles/Southern California media market. His iconic introduction, "From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California, a good evening," has become an ingrained part of regional broadcasting history.
After serving as a pilot in World War II, Dunphy embarked on a broadcast television career in 1953, starting as a news director and anchor at CBS-owned WXIX (now WVTV) in Milwaukee. He later transitioned to sports reporting at WBBM-TV in Chicago, and even served as a color commentator for Green Bay Packers telecasts on CBS in 1956.
In 1960, Dunphy took the reins as anchor at CBS-owned KNXT (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles, where he helmed the popular newscast "The Big News." This program consistently drew a quarter of Los Angeles television owners, an unprecedented ratings feat in the market. Despite his enduring popularity, Dunphy was unceremoniously fired in 1975, allegedly due to the station's desire to adopt a faster-paced, "Eyewitness News" format.
Undeterred, Dunphy joined KABC-TV, where he propelled the station to the top of the ratings, cementing its status as Southern California's news leader. After leaving KABC-TV in 1989, he joined upstart KCAL-TV, becoming one of the pioneering anchors of the innovative "Prime 9 News" format. Dunphy later returned to KCBS-TV from 1995 to 1997 and then rejoined KCAL-TV, where he remained until his passing.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dunphy interviewed several U.S. presidents, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford. He also made cameo appearances in various L.A.-based films, such as Warning Shot, Night of the Lepus, Oh God!, Short Cuts, The Jerky Boys, and Independence Day.
Dunphy's impact extended beyond television, as he was the inspiration for fictional characters Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Kent Brockman on The Simpsons. The director of "Krusty Gets Busted," Brad Bird, designed the character and modeled him after anchorman Ted Koppel.
In addition to his television accomplishments, Dunphy was a talented songwriter. One of his songs, "From the Desert to the Sea," was recorded by country music star T.G. Sheppard.
On May 9, 1984, Dunphy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the television industry, located at 6669 Hollywood Boulevard. Unfortunately, he succumbed to a heart attack on May 20, 2002, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and influence the world of television news.
