HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Don Hewitt, the pioneer behind the CBS News program “60 Minutes,” died Wednesday. He was 86.
Hewitt died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Bridgehampton, N.Y., where he was surrounded by friends and family, CBS announced on its Web site.
Hewitt joined CBS News in 1948 and went on to oversee the network’s nightly 30-minute broadcast with Walter Cronkite, a fellow CBS legend who died last month.
Hewitt eventually came up with the idea of mixing hard news and features in a broadcast, leading to the launch of “60 Minutes” on Sept. 24, 1968. The New York native would go on to produce the popular news program for 36 years.
“It is a sad and difficult time for all of us who work at ’60 Minutes,’ ” said Jeff Fager, executive producer of “60 Minutes,” in a statement. “Don was a giant figure in our lives and will always have an impact on this broadcast — there’s a part of him in every one of us, and it affects every decision we make. He will be remembered as a brilliant editor and story teller, an irrepressible force who changed journalism forever. Those of us who knew him and worked with him will remember him simply as a great guy to be around. He was full of life, usually armed with a joke, and he always found a way to make our stories better. I will miss Don very much.”
Hewitt is survived by his wife of 30 years, Marilyn.
