'CBS Sunday Morning' Host Charles Osgood Passes Away at 91

Award-winning journalist Charles Osgood, who hosted 'CBS Sunday Morning' for 22 years and the long-running radio program 'The Osgood File,' died at 91 at home in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Osgood is a gifted news writer, poet, and author who spent 45 years at CBS News before retiring in September 2016.

Osgood Dead at 91

According to Entertainment Tonight, Osgood's family announced that the cause of his death was dementia.

"To say there's no one like Charles Osgood is an understatement," 'CBS Sunday Morning' executive producer Rand Morrison said. He added that he embodied the heart and soul of 'Sunday Morning.'

Rand shared that Osgood's signature bow tie, poetry, and presence were special for the audience and those who worked with him.

Veteran broadcaster Jane Pauley, who succeeded Osgood as 'CBS Sunday Morning' host in 2016, said, "Watching him at work was a masterclass in communicating. I'll still think to myself, 'How would Charlie say it?', trying to capture the elusive warmth and intelligence of his voice and delivery. I expect I'll go on trying. He was one of the best broadcast stylists and one of the last."

She praised his style and said he was natural and unaffected, communicating his authenticity. She noted that he connected with people, and even to her, who listened to him for years.

Furthermore, Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, president of CBS News, also commented on Osgood's sudden death. She claimed that Osgood was one of the legendary journalists who made CBS News what it is today.

She continued that his commitment to the craft, especially to the art of writing, left an indelible impression on the field. He was a mentor and friend to many, and his impact will be felt on CBS News for decades.

On January 28, 'CBS News Sunday Morning' will pay tribute to Osgood with a special broadcast.

Charles Osgood: Pride of 'CBS Sunday Morning'

In 1994, Osgood took over as 'CBS Sunday Morning' anchor. During his tenure, the program reached its highest ratings in three decades and won three Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Morning Program.

He interviewed such well-known icons as chef Julia Child, graffiti artist-turned-gallery star Keith Haring, painter Andrew Wyeth, sculptor Louise Nevelson, and singer-songwriter Sting.

Osgood's love of poetry and music was evident in 'CBS Sunday Morning' as he performed Christmas songs on the piano and prose during the show's holiday broadcasts.

Known as the "poet-in-residence" of CBS News, he was hailed as "one of the last great broadcast writers" by Charles Kuralt, the successor of the 'Sunday Morning' magazine program in 1994. He noted that not only did he preserve a rich American tradition, but he was also a skilled composer and poet who could play the piano, organ, banjo, and violin.

He used all of his skills inside and outside of CBS, occasionally joining orchestras like 'The Boston Pops,' 'The New York Pops,' and 'The Mormon Tabernacle Choir' for live performances.