Hugh Malcolm Downs (born February 14, 1921) is a retired American broadcaster, television host, producer, and author. He served as anchor of 20/20, host of The Today Show, announcer for the Tonight Show with Jack Paar, host of Concentration game show, host of the PBS talk show Over Easy and co-host of the syndicated talk show Not for Women Only. He is currently the host of the National Report Series infomericals, and of two series of infomercials .
Got his start in network tv in 1949 when he won the job as announcer on the children's show "Kukla, Fran, & Ollie".
A descendant of Davy Crockett, 19th century frontiersman and later congressman from Tennessee.
He has a post-Masters degree in gerontology from Hunter College.
The Guinness Book of World Records holder for greatest number of hours on network commercial television (1985).
He is color blind.
He is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society, Chairman of the Board of US Committee for UNICEF, Trustee of the Menninger Foundation, and served as a member of the NASA Advisory Council.
Is the 1982 recipient of the prestigious Connor Award given by the brothers of the Phi Alpha Tau fraternity based out of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He is also an honorary brother of the fraternity.
Biography/bibliography in: "Contemporary Authors". New Revision Series, vol. 135, pages 117-120. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2005.
