Mike Leonard

Birth Name:

Michael Leonard

Birth Place:

Paterson, New Jersey, United States

Profession

Actor, Producer, Editor, Camera department

Set a broadcasting record when he filed his 1,000th network story in October 2009
Was a broadcasting pioneer who, in 1989, became the first only network correspondent to combine all of the different news reporting duties into one job
Got his first job at PBS and later worked as a sportscaster at another station before being spotted by a "Today" producer
Was inspired to choose a more creative career path after seeing Bob Dylan in concert, describing the experience as "the first time I ever valued words․"
Quote: "I am not a hero․ We don't get chances to save someone from drowning or getting them off the ledge․ We don't think of having a heroic life, but sometimes it's just interest or a kind word that can change someone's life․"
Quote: "Some people say, 'I've never seen you; I've never even heard of you․' And that's fine․ I never hang out with the TV types․ I live in a satellite world because it's better for me and for my family that way․"
Best known as a former features correspondent for "Today," for which he worked for 32 years
Wrote the book "The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family" based on a three-month-long trip around the country in a rented RV with his family

Fast Facts