{{Short description|American journalist (1960–2024)}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam Rubin | image = Sam Rubin.jpg | caption = Rubin in 2022 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1960|02|16|mf=y}} | birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|05|10|1960|02|16|mf=y}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | burial_place = Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery, Simi Valley, California, U.S. | education = Occidental College (BA) | employer = {{Unbulleted list|KTLA | Reelz Channel | WGN | ITV}} | occupation = Entertainment journalist | years_active = 1991–2024 | spouse = {{marriage|Julie Anderson|1988|2006|end=div.}}<ref name="marriages">{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-paid-morning-presenter-who-29150197|title=Tributes paid to This Morning presenter who died following suspected heart attack|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=May 10, 2024|last1=Colderick|first1=Stephanie|last2=Scheerhout|first2=John|access-date=May 15, 2024|archive-date=May 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513195213/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-paid-morning-presenter-who-29150197|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/ktlas-sam-rubin-dead-at-age-64-entertainment-reporter-dies/|title=KTLA's Sam Rubin Dead at Age 64: Legendary Entertainment Reporter Dies After Reported Heart Attack|magazine=In Touch Weekly|date=May 10, 2024|last=Shilliday|first=Beth|access-date=May 15, 2024|archive-date=May 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515085444/https://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/ktlas-sam-rubin-dead-at-age-64-entertainment-reporter-dies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-mornings-hollywood-correspondent-sam-32784097|title=This Morning's Hollywood correspondent Sam Rubin dies at 64 after being rushed to hospital|newspaper=Mirror|date=May 10, 2024|last=Hill|first=Rose|access-date=May 15, 2024|archive-date=May 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513175951/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-mornings-hollywood-correspondent-sam-32784097|url-status=live}}</ref><br />{{marriage|Leslie Gale Shuman|2007}}<ref name="marriages" /> | partner = | parents = | children = 4 | relatives = | website = | known_for = | awards = Golden Mike Award }}
'''Sam Rubin''' (February 16, 1960 – May 10, 2024) was an American journalist who served as the entertainment reporter for the ''KTLA Morning News'' and as a television host of entertainment talk shows and specials. He reported on the entertainment industry for over thirty years and interviewed many Hollywood stars.<ref name="KTLA">{{cite web |url= http://www.ktla.com/about/station/bios/ktla-news-bio-rubin,0,1853753.story |title= Sam Rubin - ktla.com |access-date= April 17, 2011 |archive-date= September 24, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120924175352/http://www.ktla.com/about/station/bios/ktla-news-bio-rubin,0,1853753.story |url-status= live }}</ref> He was also the co-author of two biographies, one on the former first lady Jacqueline Onassis and another about actress Mia Farrow.{{r|Var240510}}
==Career== Sam Rubin was born in San Diego on February 16, 1960.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1758692208117768407 |user=SamOnTV |title=ICYMI.....and I didn't. Thank you so much for the many very kind "Happy Birthday" wishes. It is a true "pinch yourself" moment everyday to do what you love surrounding by the company of your friends. And thanks to @roobina_s – I have cut into that cake and it is delicious !!! |date=February 16, 2024 |access-date=May 11, 2024}}</ref>{{r|LAT}} In the 1980s, he was an entertainment reporter for Group W, the ''National Enquirer'', and Fox Entertainment News.<ref name="LosA920608">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ktlas-morning/147019426/|date=June 8, 1992|first=Steve|last=Weinstein|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-news/147019461/ F8]|title=KTLA's 'Morning': Snap, Crackle, Pop; Offbeat Style Boosts Show to No. 1 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511073916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ktlas-morning/147019426/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon -->{{r|Var240510}} Beginning in 1988, he hosted hourly entertainment newsbreaks for the Movietime cable channel.<ref>{{Cite magazine| issn = 0018-3660| volume = 302| issue = 49| pages = 4, 27| title = Movietime network adds hourly news| journal = The Hollywood Reporter| date = June 23, 1988| id={{ProQuest|2826281812}} }}</ref>
===KTLA=== Rubin joined KTLA in 1991,<ref name = LAT>{{cite news|first1=Alexandra|last1=del Rosario|first2=Andrew J.|last2=Campa|first3=Richard|last3=Winton|url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-10/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-anchor|title = Sam Rubin, KTLA journalist and longtime entertainment anchor, dies at 64|newspaper = Los Angeles Times|date = May 10, 2024|accessdate = May 10, 2024|archive-date = May 10, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240510201656/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-10/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-anchor|url-status = live}}</ref> two months after the station started its morning news program, ''KTLA Morning News''.{{r|OCR920928}}<ref>{{Cite magazine| issn = 1068-6827| volume = 130| issue = 9| pages = 36–37| last = Schlosser| first = Joe| title = Tribune rises with KTLA|magazine = Broadcasting & Cable| date = February 28, 2000| id={{ProQuest|225301918}}}}</ref> The newscast had initially been faltering in the ratings with a straightforward format in the vein of its 10 p.m. newscast; its original anchors—Carlos Amezcua and Barbara Beck—loosened up the format.{{r|LosA920608}} Rubin's introduction to the show coincided with an increase in celebrity interviews on the program.<ref>{{Cite news|page=10|title=KTLA's 'Morning' led a.m. news revolution|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 3, 2004|id={{ProQuest|2640081644}} }}</ref> Ray Richmond of ''The Orange County Register'' credited Rubin as being "the missing piece" to the original cast.<ref name="OCR920928">{{Cite news |work=The Orange County Register |date=September 28, 1992|page=F4|title=KTLA proves news can be played lightly – Morning show gets laughs and an audience |first=Ray|last=Richmond}}</ref>
Rubin was known for his frequent jokes about movies and TV, including personnel at competing TV stations.{{r|LosA920608}} In a 1992 interview, he climbed into a bed between Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold.<ref name="LosA921224">{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-thats-entertainme/147021026/|date=December 24, 1992|pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-reporters/147021054/ F8]|first=Steve|last=Weinstein|title=That's Entertainment, Too: Sam Rubin, Laurie Pike Put a New Slant on Show-Biz Reporting |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511073832/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-thats-entertainme/147021026/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> At times, Rubin's remarks agitated KTLA colleagues and management. In 1993, he joked that Hal Fishman, one of KTLA's main evening news anchors, "once wore a skirt for a co-anchor job in Spokane" making a comparison between Fishman and actor Dustin Hoffman (referring to Hoffman in ''Tootsie''). The remark irked Fishman, who enlisted his lawyer, noted that he was "not a cross-dresser", said that he had never spent any significant amount of time in Spokane, and hinted at possibly leaving the station.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ray|last=Richmond|work=Daily News of Los Angeles|page=L16|title=Fishman may leave KTLA over colleague's remarks|date=July 28, 1993}}</ref> Rubin apologized and was reprimanded by KTLA.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Reminiscences: Harold Fishman (1931–2007): Longtime Los Angeles TV Anchor Took Serious Approach to News|page=A6|first=Joe|last=Weinbach|work=The Wall Street Journal|id={{ProQuest|399098762}} }}</ref> In 1998, 2002, and 2004, KTLA suspended Rubin for comments he made about KTLA's assistant news director, KABC-TV's general manager, and the station's new set, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Roderick|title=Sam Rubin suspension |work=L.A. Observed|date=November 23, 2004}}</ref>
Twice in the 1990s, KTLA tapped Rubin to co-host new local shows. In 1993, it debuted ''The Morning Show'' at 9 a.m., which was hosted by the ''KTLA Morning News'' team but was strictly a talk show.<ref>{{Cite news|title='The Morning Show'|page=9|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 8, 1993|id={{ProQuest|2362066227}}|first=Rick|last=Sherwood}}</ref> The program was intended for national syndication but found little interest, so KTLA canceled it within a year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Linan |first=Steven |date=July 9, 1994 |title=Television |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-09-ca-13598-story.html |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515232053/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-09-ca-13598-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, Sam joined Stephanie Edwards for ''The Live Show'', which ran 26 weeks.<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Press-Enterprise|title=KTLA's 'live show' is officially dead|page=A14|first=Bob|last=Sokolsky|date=June 13, 1998}}</ref> In addition, he hosted and produced award show specials for KTLA.{{r|Var240510|LADN240510}}
During a live on-air interview with actor Samuel L. Jackson on February 10, 2014, Rubin mistakenly asked Jackson about the success of the trailer advertised at the Super Bowl, which featured African American actor and former Jackson co-star Laurence Fishburne, who had reprised his role as Morpheus from ''The Matrix'' franchise for a car commercial.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-samuel-l-jackson-gets-medieval-on-ktlas-sam-rubin-during-interview-20140210,0,4062164.story#axzz2sx7Rv0OX |title=Samuel L. Jackson gets medieval on KTLA's Sam Rubin in live interview |first=Greg|last=Braxton |website=Los Angeles Times |date=February 10, 2014 |access-date=February 11, 2014 |archive-date=February 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211054753/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-samuel-l-jackson-gets-medieval-on-ktlas-sam-rubin-during-interview-20140210,0,4062164.story#axzz2sx7Rv0OX |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson was offended by the mistaken reference and, in response, berated Rubin. In his apology, Rubin claimed he was referring to another commercial which did feature Jackson. That commercial, for ''Captain America: The Winter Soldier'', was also screened at the Super Bowl. Rubin said he had not brought it up during the interview itself because he felt "stupid". At the same time, he said that Jackson had misinterpreted what he said. Rubin, nevertheless, chastised himself for what he called "a very amateur mistake".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://ktla.com/2014/02/10/ktlas-sam-rubin-apologizes-to-samuel-l-jackson-after-laurence-fishburne-mix-up/#axzz2t7sgAslZ|title= KTLA's Sam Rubin Apologizes to Samuel L. Jackson After Laurence Fishburne Mix-Up|work=KTLA|date= February 10, 2014|access-date= February 13, 2014|archive-date= May 11, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240511073747/https://ktla.com/entertainment/ktlas-sam-rubin-apologizes-to-samuel-l-jackson-after-laurence-fishburne-mix-up/#axzz2t7sgAslZ|url-status= live}}</ref>
As an entertainment correspondent at KTLA, he frequently appeared on other media outlets, including KNX, ''The Joan Rivers Show'',{{r|LosA921224}} and the ''WGN Morning News''.<ref>{{Cite news|page=53|first=Robert|last=Feder|author-link=Robert Feder|title=WGN bosses confirm afternoon switcheroo |date=March 16, 2007|work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> He was also the regular Hollywood entertainment reporter in the UK on ITV's ''This Morning''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Iorizzo |first1=Ellie |title=This Morning to offer TV tribute to presenter Sam Rubin following death age 64 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ben-stiller-los-angeles-hollywood-itv-emmy-b2543206.html |website=The Independent |access-date=May 10, 2024 |language=en |date=May 10, 2024 |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511073638/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ben-stiller-los-angeles-hollywood-itv-emmy-b2543206.html |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as for Australia's Nine Network on ''Today'' and ''Today Extra''.{{r|Var240510}}
Though edgy, Rubin was considered to have conventional tastes.{{r|LosA921224}} He was known for rarely being probing in interviews and generally being positive, which made him a favorite among Hollywood publicists;{{r|LosA240510}} his easygoing manner was known to put celebrities at ease.<ref name="NYT240511">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/arts/television/sam-rubin-ktla-dead.html|date=May 11, 2024|work=The New York Times|first=Emmett|last=Lindner|title=Sam Rubin, TV Anchor Known for His Hollywood Reporting, Dies at 64|access-date=May 12, 2024|archive-date=May 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512002518/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/arts/television/sam-rubin-ktla-dead.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Henry Winkler noted that he could make guests "open up like a flower".{{r|LADN240510}} Rubin went on paid press junkets, unlike most journalists who shun the practice for ethical reasons.<ref name="LosA240510">{{Cite news |last=Braxton |first=Greg |date=May 10, 2024 |title=At KTLA, Sam Rubin was a local morning news pioneer who covered Hollywood with zeal |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-10/sam-rubin-ktla-morning-show-legacy |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511001324/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-05-10/sam-rubin-ktla-morning-show-legacy |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, he attended a press event for the film ''The Place Beyond the Pines'' at the urging of his daughter, who was 17. She wanted her father to ask her favorite actor, Ryan Gosling, questions.<ref name="LADN240510">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2024/05/10/sam-rubin-who-died-friday-at-64-felt-like-a-fun-loving-friend-on-the-ktla-5-morning-news/|first=Peter|last=Larsen|work=Los Angeles Daily News|agency=The Orange County Register|title=Sam Rubin, who died Friday at 64, felt like a fun-loving friend on the KTLA 5 Morning News|date=May 10, 2024|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511083526/https://www.dailynews.com/2024/05/10/sam-rubin-who-died-friday-at-64-felt-like-a-fun-loving-friend-on-the-ktla-5-morning-news/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Other television programs=== In 1996, Rubin and Dorothy Lucey—the entertainment reporter for KTTV—co-hosted a syndicated talk show, ''Scoop with Sam and Dorothy'', which aired locally on KTLA. The syndicator, ACI, intended ''Scoop'' to be a competitor to the successful ''Live with Regis and Kathie Lee''.<ref>{{cite news|pages=45–46|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=November 27, 1995|title=Sam and Dorothy take on Regis and Kathie Lee|first=Steve|last=Coe|id={{ProQuest|1505583731}} }}</ref> The program launched although it had less national clearance than the industry standard for new syndicated offerings;<ref>{{cite news|pages=53, 57|title=It may not be all-clear, but syndie pair to launch|first=Jim|last=Benson|work=Variety|date=May 13, 1996|id={{ProQuest|1286153778}} }}</ref> it was canceled due to low ratings after three months on the air.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Brennan|pages=3, 35|work=The Hollywood Reporter|id={{ProQuest|2469198471}}|title=Low ratings close 'Scoop' shop|date=December 16, 1996}}</ref> Beginning in 2006, Rubin hosted ''Dailies'', the flagship program of the newly relaunched Reelz Channel.<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Hollywood Reporter|page=5|date=September 27, 2006|title=The reel Rubin|id={{ProQuest|2471845540}} }}</ref> For Reelz, Rubin moderated an entertainment panel show, ''Hollywood Uncensored with Sam Rubin'', which aired from 2010 to 2012<ref name="AP100816">{{Cite news |last=Block |first=Alex Ben |agency=Associated Press |date=August 16, 2010 |title=KTLA's Sam Rubin launches talk show |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ktlas-sam-rubin-launches-talk-26724/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511073644/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ktlas-sam-rubin-launches-talk-26724/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/current-tv-sold-as-cable-407779/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Alex Ben|last=Block|date=January 3, 2013|title=Current TV Sold as Cable Universe Threatens to Shrink|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511082336/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/current-tv-sold-as-cable-407779/|url-status=live}}</ref> with a run of 120 episodes.{{r|Var240510}}
===Industry involvement=== Rubin was one of the founding members of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which organizes the Critics' Choice Movie Awards.{{r|Dead240510}} In 2004, he helped the awards land on The WB—their first time on broadcast TV—after he along with other members who were employed by Tribune Broadcasting–owned WB affiliates pitched the idea to the network.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schneider |first=Michael |date=October 7, 2004 |title=Crix kudos to kick off season on WB |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/crix-kudos-to-kick-off-season-on-wb-1117911589/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075715/https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/crix-kudos-to-kick-off-season-on-wb-1117911589/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rubin hosted the 18th edition of the event, held in 2013.<ref name="Dead240510">{{Cite news |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Sam Rubin Dies: Longtime KTLA Entertainment Reporter Was 64 |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-reporter-1235911862/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=May 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511001947/https://deadline.com/2024/05/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-reporter-1235911862/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
He was honored during his career with a Golden Mike Award for best entertainment reporter{{r|Dead240510}} and a lifetime achievement award from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2010.{{r|AP100816}} Rubin made appearances as himself in several films, including ''Wes Craven's New Nightmare'' (1994)<ref>{{Cite news|title='Nightmare' frightening but predictable|page=E5|work=Hartford Courant|first=Malcolm|last=Johnson|date=October 15, 1994|id={{ProQuest|255454168}} }}</ref> and ''America's Sweethearts'' (2001).<ref>{{Cite news|work=Variety|first=Robert|last=Koehler|title='Sweet' doesn't crystalize|pages=18, 23|id={{ProQuest|236236851}}|date=July 16, 2001}}</ref>
==Personal life and legacy== Rubin was born in San Diego and attended high school in Los Angeles. He graduated from Occidental College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies and rhetoric in 1982.{{r|LAT|KTLA}} He was married to Julie Anderson and then to Leslie Gale Shuman; he had four children (two with each spouse).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colderick |first=Stephanie |last2=Scheerhout |first2=John |date=2024-05-10 |title=Tributes paid to This Morning presenter who has died |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-paid-morning-presenter-who-29150197 |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref name = LAT/> On May 10, 2024, Rubin had a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles; he was rushed to the hospital, where he died.<ref name="Var240510">{{Cite news |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |last2=Saperstein |first2=Pat |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Sam Rubin, Longtime KTLA Entertainment Reporter, Dies at 64 |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-reporter-1235998979/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510194548/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/sam-rubin-dead-ktla-entertainment-reporter-1235998979/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His final television appearance was the day before.<ref name="LAT" />
On May 28, a petition was initiated on Change.org to commemorate Rubin with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurzweil |first=Tony |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Petition started to memorialize Sam Rubin with Walk of Fame star |url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/petition-started-to-memorialize-sam-rubin-with-walk-of-fame-star/ |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530021934/https://ktla.com/news/local-news/petition-started-to-memorialize-sam-rubin-with-walk-of-fame-star/ |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=KTLA }}</ref>
== Books == * {{Cite book |last1=Rubin |first1=Sam |author2=Richard Taylor |date=1989 |title=Mia Farrow: Flower Child, Madonna, Muse |url=https://archive.org/details/miafarrowflowerc0000rubi/mode/2up |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=2M Communications; St. Martin's Press |isbn=9780312029500 |oclc=19220985 |access-date=May 12, 2024}} * {{Cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Richard |author2=Sam Rubin |date=1990 |title=Jackie: A Lasting Impression |url= |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=9780312912666 |oclc=243731979 |access-date=}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0748154}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rubin, Sam}} Category:1960 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century American journalists Category:21st-century American journalists Category:20th-century American male journalists Category:American television journalists Category:Journalists from Los Angeles Category:Occidental College alumni Category:21st-century American male journalists