# Sam Champion > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Champion > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sam_Champion.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Champion > Source revision: 1354433440 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American weather anchor|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam Champion | image = Sam Champion 121121-G-OD937-141 (cropped).jpg | caption = Champion in 2012 | birth_name = Samuel James Champion | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|8|13}} | birth_place = [Paducah, Kentucky](/source/Paducah%2C_Kentucky), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|[Rubem Robierb](/source/Rubem_Robierb)|2012}} | children = | education = [Eastern Kentucky University](/source/Eastern_Kentucky_University) (B.A.) | years_active = 1988–present | other_names = | title = [Weather presenter](/source/Weather_presenter) | occupation = Weather Anchor, Television host }} '''Samuel James Champion''' (born August 13, 1961) is an American [weather anchor](/source/weather_presenter) with [WABC-TV](/source/WABC-TV) and ''[Good Morning America](/source/Good_Morning_America)''. He formerly co-anchored ''[AMHQ: America's Morning Headquarters](/source/America's_Morning_Headquarters)'' and ''23.5 Degrees With Sam Champion'' on [The Weather Channel](/source/The_Weather_Channel). After December 4, 2013, his final day with ABC, he became the [managing editor](/source/managing_editor) of The Weather Channel, beginning on January 1, 2014. Champion also appeared on the ''[Today](/source/Today_(American_TV_program))'' show on [NBC](/source/NBC). After leaving NBC and the Weather Channel in 2016, he returned to ABC on a fill-in basis and returned to become the weekday morning weather anchor at WABC-TV in June 2019. ==Early life and education== Champion was born on August 13, 1961, in [Paducah, Kentucky](/source/Paducah%2C_Kentucky), to Sylvia and James H. Champion.{{cite journal| url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sam-champion/bio/268492| title=Sam Champion: Biography| journal=[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)| access-date=December 4, 2013| archive-date=January 5, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105074934/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sam-champion/bio/268492}} He has one sibling, sister Teresa. His father, who died October 25, 2010, was a lieutenant colonel in the [U.S. Marine Corps](/source/U.S._Marine_Corps) who served in Vietnam.{{cite news| title=Remembering Sam Champion's Father| url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/sam-champions-father-lt-col-james-champion-passes/story?id=11972842| date=October 26, 2010| access-date=December 5, 2013| work=[ABC News](/source/ABC_News_(United_States))}} Sam Champion graduated from [Fairfax High School](/source/Fairfax_High_School_(Fairfax%2C_Virginia)) in [Fairfax, Virginia](/source/Fairfax%2C_Virginia) in 1979. He has a B.A. in [broadcast news](/source/Broadcast_journalism) from [Eastern Kentucky University](/source/Eastern_Kentucky_University), and interned at [WKYT-TV](/source/WKYT-TV) in [Lexington, Kentucky](/source/Lexington%2C_Kentucky).{{cite web| title=Sam Champion's Biography| url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/sam-champion-biography/story?id=2343718| date=August 22, 2016| website=ABC News}} ==Career== Champion worked at [WPSD-TV](/source/WPSD-TV) in [Paducah, Kentucky](/source/Paducah%2C_Kentucky), and WJKS (later [WCWJ](/source/WCWJ)) in [Jacksonville, Florida](/source/Jacksonville%2C_Florida). He became a weather presenter for [WABC-TV](/source/WABC-TV)'s ''[Eyewitness News](/source/Eyewitness_News)'' in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) in 1988. During the [Blizzard of '96](/source/January_1996_United_States_blizzard), Champion received several name checks from [David Letterman](/source/David_Letterman) during the latter's CBS [show](/source/Late_Show_with_David_Letterman). Champion went on ''[Good Morning America](/source/Good_Morning_America)'' at a salary in 2004 of $1.5 million per year.{{cite journal| url=http://nymag.com/guides/salary/14497/index1.html| title=Who Makes How Much| journal=[New York](/source/New_York_(magazine)) |date=September 16, 2005| editor-first=Kate| editor-last=Pickert| access-date=February 9, 2021}} On April 7, 2012, he debuted as host of ''[Sea Rescue](/source/Sea_Rescue_(TV_show))'', an educational and informational program in [Litton's Weekend Adventure](/source/Litton's_Weekend_Adventure) that focuses on the rescue, rehabilitation, and in many instances release of animals back into wildlife.{{cite web |title=Sea Rescue |url=http://seaworldparks.com/Sea_Rescue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411201616/http://seaworldparks.com/Sea_Rescue |archive-date=April 11, 2012 |website=[SeaWorld](/source/SeaWorld) |access-date=December 5, 2013}} In August 2006, ''Good Morning America'' announced Champion would join that show and ABC News, effective September 5, 2006. Champion announced his departure from ABC on December 2, 2013, to become an on-air presence at and managing editor of [The Weather Channel](/source/The_Weather_Channel). His last day on ''Good Morning America'' was December 4, 2013, with [Ginger Zee](/source/Ginger_Zee) moving from ''GMA''{{'}}s weekend shows to become his successor.{{cite news| url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/12/sam-champion-bids-farewell-to-good-morning-america/| title=Sam Champion, With Laughs and Tears, Bids Farewell to 'Good Morning America'| first=Katie| last=Kindelan| date=December 4, 2013| access-date=December 4, 2012| website=ABC News}} He had occasionally appeared on ''[Live with Kelly and Ryan](/source/Live_with_Kelly_and_Ryan)'', the daily talk show produced by WABC-TV, and [CNN](/source/CNN)'s ''[Larry King Live](/source/Larry_King_Live)''. He often begins his 30-second weathercasts by saying, "Let's get to the boards." His catchphrase when breaking for weather reports from local [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) stations is, "That's the weather around the nation. Here's what you can expect this morning." Immediately following his departure from ''GMA'', it was announced that Champion would join [The Weather Channel](/source/The_Weather_Channel) to host his own morning show, titled ''[America's Morning Headquarters](/source/America's_Morning_Headquarters)'' which debuted on March 17, 2014. In September 2015, it was revealed that Champion would leave ''AMHQ'' to serve as a contributor to its primetime programs.{{cite news |title=Weather Channel's Sam Champion moving to primetime; Stephanie Abrams joining AMHQ |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/weather-channel-sam-champion-moving-primetime-stephanie-abrams-joining-amhq/rRms0dLJX0HrmpClb80EDN/ |newspaper=[Atlanta Journal-Constitution](/source/Atlanta_Journal-Constitution) |first=Rodney |last=Ho |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=February 9, 2021}} In December 2016, Champion and The Weather Channel decided not to renew their contract. As a result, Champion left the company on December 27, 2016.{{cite news |last1=de Moraes |first1=Lisa |title=Sam Champion Says So Long To Weather Channel |url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/sam-champion-leaves-weather-channel-1201876085/ |access-date=May 23, 2019 |journal=[Deadline Hollywood](/source/Deadline_Hollywood) |date=December 27, 2016 |language=en}} He returned to ABC as a fill-in ''Good Morning America'' meteorologist while Zee was on [maternity leave](/source/maternity_leave) in 2018. On May 22, 2019, it was announced that Champion would be returning to WABC-TV's morning and noon newscasts, and be a featured contributor to ABC News, beginning June 3, 2019.{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sam-champion-returns-wabc-good-morning-america-1203223785/ |title=Sam Champion Returns to Disney's WABC |newspaper=[Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine)) |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date=May 22, 2019}} On September 8, 2022, Champion was announced as a contestant on [season 31](/source/Dancing_with_the_Stars_(American_season_31)) of [''Dancing with the Stars''](/source/Dancing_with_the_Stars_(American_TV_series)), partnered with [Cheryl Burke](/source/Cheryl_Burke).{{cite news |title=Dancing with the Stars: Teresa Giudice, Wayne Brady, Selma Blair and More Celebs Join Season 31 |url=https://people.com/tv/dancing-with-the-stars-season-31-cast-reveal/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |first=Christina Dugan |last=Ramirez |date=September 8, 2022 |magazine=[People](/source/People_(magazine)) |language=en}} They were eliminated in week 4, placing 13th out of 16 contestants. ==Personal life== Champion is active in charitable organizations in the [New York metropolitan area](/source/New_York_metropolitan_area). He was the Grand Marshal of the [Multiple Sclerosis Society](/source/National_Multiple_Sclerosis_Society) Fall Bike Tour, the chairman of the 25th annual [March of Dimes](/source/March_of_Dimes) NYC WalkAmerica, and master of ceremonies of "Stopping AIDS Together," a part of Sunday by the Bay. He hosted the New York City [Anti-Violence Project](/source/Anti-Violence_Project)'s 2002 "Courage Awards," along with movie critic [Frank DeCaro](/source/Frank_DeCaro).{{cite journal| url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Nueva%20gay%20island.-a0135580223| title= Nueva gay island| journal=[The Advocate](/source/The_Advocate_(LGBT_magazine))| date=August 30, 2005| first=Drew| last=Limsky| access-date=March 17, 2012}}{{cite press release| url=http://www.avp.org/publications/media/2002courageawards.htm| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030503013700/http://www.avp.org/publications/media/2002courageawards.htm| date=October 22, 2002| archive-date=May 3, 2003| title=AVP to Hold Sixth Annual Courage Awards| website=Anti-Violence Project| access-date=March 17, 2012}} In May 2010, Champion had a [basal cell carcinoma](/source/basal_cell_carcinoma) removed from his skin while on air, after previous bouts with the disease. He said he wanted to raise awareness about [skin cancer](/source/skin_cancer) during Cancer Awareness Month.{{cite news| title=Sam Champion will have cancerous spot removed from shoulder live on ABC's 'Good Morning America'| url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/sam-champion-cancerous-spot-removed-shoulder-live-abc-good-morning-america-article-1.445100| newspaper=[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News)| date=May 12, 2010| last=Huff| first=Richard| access-date=February 9, 2021}} Champion and his partner of several years, [Rubem Robierb](/source/Rubem_Robierb), were married on December 21, 2012.{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2012/12/21/sam-champion-marries-partner-ruben-robierb/1785985/| title='GMA' anchor Sam Champion marries his partner| first=Andrea| last=Mandell| newspaper=[USA Today](/source/USA_Today)| date=December 21, 2012}} == See also == * [LGBT culture in New York City](/source/LGBT_culture_in_New_York_City) * [List of LGBT people from New York City](/source/List_of_LGBT_people_from_New_York_City) * [New Yorkers in journalism](/source/New_Yorkers_in_journalism) * [NYC Pride March](/source/NYC_Pride_March) ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Champion, Sam}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:American television weather presenters Category:Eastern Kentucky University alumni Category:American gay men Category:American LGBTQ broadcasters Category:Fairfax High School (Fairfax, Virginia) alumni Category:LGBTQ people from Kentucky Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state) Category:Managing editors Category:People from Paducah, Kentucky Category:Television news anchors from New York City Category:The Weather Channel people --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Champion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Champion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Champion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.