Longtime 'CCO anchor Bill Carlson dies at 73

CBS

Longtime WCCO anchor Bill Carlson died Friday. He was 73.

The familiar face on Channel 4 had been battling prostate cancer.

By TERRY COLLINS, Star Tribune

Last update: March 1, 2008 - 8:52 AM

Longtime WCCO-TV anchor Bill Carlson died Friday night at his Eden Prairie home after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. He was 73.

A native of Thief River Falls, the host of the Channel 4 noon newscast worked at WCCO for nearly 50 years, starting in 1951 as a page for the radio station. He moved to television eight years later.

Fellow WCCO anchor Don Shelby said Friday that Carlson was "a man of grace and dignity, unlike the puffed-up celebrities of today."

The first 10 minutes of the station's 10 p.m. newscast Friday was devoted to Carlson.

The versatile Carlson worked at the station as weatherman, entertainment reporter and anchor.

He had anchored WCCO's noon news broadcast for years until he was pulled from the job early in 2003. He was returned to the job before the end of the year by a new general manager who saw the error of his predecessor's ways.

Carlson's fondness for feature films was evident in his succinct reviews and numerous interviews with A-List Hollywood stars over the years.

"I've talked to countless stars who he's interviewed maybe 20 years ago. They'd all ask: 'How's Billy doin'?'" said Shelby.

WCCO news director Scott Libin called Carlson an "extraordinary figure," whose reputation as a straightforward journalist uniquely applied in both hard and feature news.

"Maybe only his integrity exceeded his experience," Libin said.

"Minnesota lost a best friend," veteran WCCO radio personality Dark Star said late Friday about Carlson, who was as virtual a fixture as pronto pups at the Minnesota State Fair each summer.

"He carried anybody who's ever worked at WCCO on his back," he continued. "Civility took a blow to the solarplexes with the passing of Bill Carlson."

Minneapolis movie promoter Rod Grubb started working with Carlson in the late 1950s. Grubb, whose Grubb-Cleland Agency is now called Allied Advertising, recalled that Carlson's easy-going demeanor often saved the day when things started getting testy at interview sessions.

"Some other reporter would go in and ask a question that offended the star, and he'd say, 'That's it! I'm not doing any more interviews.' So they'd send Bill in," Grubb said. "Sure enough, he'd smooth everything over."

But he was respected for more than his personality.

"He did his homework," Grubb said. "He'd be ready for the interview. And then he wouldn't come back and just play the tape. He'd edit it into a nice package. He worked hard at it."

J. Marie Fieger, president of St. Louis Park-based movie promotion agency Nemer-Fieger, worked with Carlson for more than 20 years.

"What a miracle he was," she said. "There wasn't a person anywhere with a bigger heart. He was the personification of class."

Carlson grew up in St. Paul and was a University of Minnesota graduate.

He and his wife, Nancy, worked with the Minnesota Humane Society, the Fund for Animals and other organizations.

In recent days, Carlson's cancer had spread to his liver, WCCO said on its website. Services are pending.

Staff writer Jeff Strickler contributed to this report. Terry Collins • 612-673-1790

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