Editing Lester Holt

{{Short description|American journalist and news anchor (born 1959)}}
{{For|the American pioneer aviator|Lester E. Holt}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Lester Holt
| image        = Lester Holt 2022.jpg
| alt          =
| caption      = Holt in November 2022
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1959|3|8}}
| birth_place  = [[Marin County]], [[California]], U.S.
| education    = [[California State University, Sacramento]] (no degree)
| occupation   = {{hlist|Journalist|news anchor}}
| years_active = 1981–present
| employer     = [[CBS]] (1981–2000)<br />[[NBC]] (2000–present)
| television   = [[CBS News]] (1981–2000)<br />[[NBC News]] (2000–present)
| term         = Anchor of ''NBC Nightly News'' and ''NBC Nightly News Kids Edition ''
| predecessor  = [[Brian Williams]]
| party        = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (2018–present)<ref name = "journal-isms.com" /><br />[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (until 2018)<ref>{{cite news |last=Borchers |first=Callum |date=September 25, 2016 |title=5 things to know about presidential debate moderator Lester Holt |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/25/5-things-to-know-about-presidential-debate-moderator-lester-holt/ |department=The Fix (blog) |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 26, 2016 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217145348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/25/5-things-to-know-about-presidential-debate-moderator-lester-holt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "journal-isms.com">{{cite web|title=Lester Holt Drops GOP Registration|url=https://journal-isms.com/2018/03/lester-holt-drops-gop-registration|last=Prince|first=Richard|date=March 19, 2018|publisher=Journalisms|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-date=July 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721183503/https://journal-isms.com/2018/03/lester-holt-drops-gop-registration/|url-status=dead}}/</ref>
| spouse       = {{Marriage|Carol Hagen|1982}}
| children     = 2, including [[Stefan Holt]]
| credits      = ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' weeknight anchor (2015–present)<br />''[[Weekend Today]]'' co-anchor (2003–2015)<br />''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' weekend anchor (2007–2015)<br />''[[Dateline NBC]]'' anchor (2011–present)<br />
}}

'''Lester Don Holt Jr.''' (born March 8, 1959)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29583078/ |title=Today in history: March 8th |date=March 9, 2009 |publisher=WBBH |access-date=March 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314110955/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29583078/ |archive-date=March 14, 2009}}</ref> is an American news anchor for the weekday edition of ''[[NBC Nightly News]],'' NBC Nightly News Kids Edition, and ''[[Dateline NBC]]''. On June 18, 2015, Holt was made the permanent anchor of ''NBC Nightly News'' following the demotion of [[Brian Williams]]. Holt followed in the career footsteps of [[Max Robinson]], an [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] evening co-anchor, and became the first Black male solo anchor for a major network newscast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/06/18/media/lester-holt-nbc-promotion/index.html|title=Lester Holt gets anchor chair in historic moment for black journalists|last=Stelter|first=Brian|work=CNN Money|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=June 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622100513/http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/18/media/lester-holt-nbc-promotion/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Permanent">{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/lester-holt-to-become-permanent-nbc-nightly-news-anchor-1434589457 |title=Brian Williams to Stay at NBC, but Lester Holt Will Be Anchor |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618035535/http://www.wsj.com/articles/lester-holt-to-become-permanent-nbc-nightly-news-anchor-1434589457 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a 2018 poll, Holt was ranked as being the most trusted TV news anchor in America.<ref>{{cite web|title=America's Most Trusted TV News Anchors Revealed (Exclusive Poll)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/who-are-americas-trusted-tv-news-anchors-poll-1160597|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 13, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019205432/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/who-are-americas-trusted-tv-news-anchors-poll-1160597|url-status=live}}</ref> Holt also moderated the first presidential debate of 2016 to mixed reviews; being credited for [[fact-checking]] the candidates for false statements while struggling to keep control of the debate and unable to adhere to time restrictions.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/holt-strikes-a-moderate-tone-as-debate-moderator/2016/09/26/fd6ce0d6-8403-11e6-a3ef-f35afb41797f_story.html |title=Holt strikes a moderate tone as debate moderator|last=Fahri|first=Paul|date=September 26, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223210118/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/holt-strikes-a-moderate-tone-as-debate-moderator/2016/09/26/fd6ce0d6-8403-11e6-a3ef-f35afb41797f_story.html |archive-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> While ''NBC Nightly News'' was the top-ranked evening news program for over 30 years during the [[Tom Brokaw]] and Brian Williams eras, ratings dropped to second place after Holt began as anchor.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Katz |first=A. J. |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Q2 2020 Evening News Ratings: World News Tonight Is America's Most-Watched Evening Newscast, Both in Total Viewers and A25-54 |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/q2-2020-evening-news-ratings-world-news-tonight-is-americas-most-watched-evening-newscast-both-in-total-viewers-and-a25-54/446153/ |website=Adweek |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018011605/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/q2-2020-evening-news-ratings-world-news-tonight-is-americas-most-watched-evening-newscast-both-in-total-viewers-and-a25-54/446153/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Holt was born on March 8, 1959, on [[Hamilton Air Force Base]], [[Marin County]], California, the youngest child of four of June (née DeRozario) and Lester Don Holt<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lester_Holt.aspx |title=Lester Holt Facts, information, pictures &#124; Encyclopedia.com articles about Lester Holt |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=May 13, 2015 |archive-date=May 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515165903/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Lester_Holt.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcuniversalarchives.com/nbcuni/clip/5119072604_s27.do |title=Me...And My Mom: In Honor... Stock Footage & Video Clips |publisher=NBCUniversal Archives |access-date=May 13, 2015 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805061926/http://www.nbcuniversalarchives.com/nbcuni/clip/5119072604_s27.do |url-status=live }}</ref> His maternal grandparents were born in Jamaica. Holt's maternal grandfather Canute DeRozario was of [[Anglo-Indian]] descent from [[Spanish Town]], and was one of 14 children born to an [[Indo-Jamaican|Indian]] father from [[Calcutta]], and an English-born [[White Jamaican]] mother.<ref name=TodayShowRoots>[https://www.today.com/video/lester-and-jenna-trace-their-jamaican-roots-44495427630 Today Show: "Lester and Jenna trace their Jamaican roots"] Aired on September 9, 2012 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913233331/http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/48959400#48959400 |date=September 13, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/11/189148.aspx |title=To Jamaica with Mom |last=Holt |first=Lester |date=May 11, 2007 |work=allDAY |publisher=NBC News |access-date=March 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210170155/http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/05/11/189148.aspx |archive-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> His maternal grandmother, May, was an [[Afro-Jamaican]] born in [[Manchester Parish]], Jamaica but raised in [[Harlem, New York]], where his mother was born. His father was [[African American]] from [[Michigan]], with [[African Americans in Tennessee|roots]] in [[Tennessee]].

His father was stationed at [[Elmendorf Air Force Base]] in Alaska for four years during the [[Vietnam War]]. Holt was introduced to broadcasting by his older brother, a [[disc jockey]] at a local radio station in [[Anchorage, Alaska]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bieri |first=Chris |date=July 22, 2023 |title='NBC Nightly News' will broadcast live from Anchorage on Monday |url=https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2023/07/22/nbc-nightly-news-will-broadcast-live-from-anchorage-on-monday/ |work=[[Anchorage Daily News]] |accessdate=July 23, 2023}}</ref>

He graduated from [[Cordova High School (Rancho Cordova, California)|Cordova High School]] in [[Rancho Cordova, California|Rancho Cordova]] in 1977<ref>[http://www.cordovaalumni.com/news/lester.html "It's back to school for 'Today' host"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017230609/http://www.cordovaalumni.com/news/lester.html |date=October 17, 2021 }}, May 2004.</ref> and majored in government at [[California State University, Sacramento]], though he never graduated,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article9726503.html |title=Cordova High's Lester Holt fills in for NBC anchor Brian Williams during suspension |date=February 11, 2015 |first=Bill |last=Lindelof |work=[[The Sacramento Bee]] |access-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211194305/http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article9726503.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.today.com/about/lester-holt-co-anchor-todays-weekend-editions-6C10109542 |title=Lester Holt |work=NBC News |access-date=March 25, 2009 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093122/http://www.today.com/about/lester-holt-co-anchor-todays-weekend-editions-6C10109542 |url-status=live }}</ref> receiving an [[honorary degree]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lester Holt {{!}} CSU |url=https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/alumni/Honorary-Degrees/Pages/lester-holt.aspx |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.calstate.edu |language=en-US |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520023451/https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/alumni/Honorary-Degrees/Pages/lester-holt.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also received honorary [[Doctor of Humane Letters|Doctorates in Humane Letters]] from both [[Rutgers University]] in 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Award-Winning Journalist Lester Holt Named Rutgers University's Commencement Speaker |url=https://www.rutgers.edu/news/award-winning-journalist-lester-holt-named-rutgers-universitys-commencement-speaker |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www.rutgers.edu |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520023451/https://www.rutgers.edu/news/award-winning-journalist-lester-holt-named-rutgers-universitys-commencement-speaker |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Villanova University]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Award-Winning Journalist and NBC News Anchor Lester Holt to Deliver Villanova University's 2023 Commencement Address {{!}} Villanova University |url=https://www1.villanova.edu/university/media/press-releases/2023/2023-commencement-speaker.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www1.villanova.edu |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528204412/https://www1.villanova.edu/university/media/press-releases/2023/2023-commencement-speaker.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012, Holt told ''American Profile'' news magazine: "My first on-air job was actually as a disc jockey at a Country and Western station. The only time I could land a full-time gig was if I was willing to report the news." Holt would keep the job with the radio station through his college years.<ref>"Ask American Profile", ''American Profile'' magazine, February 5, 2012.</ref>

==Career==
Holt spent 19 years with [[CBS]], as a reporter, anchor, and international correspondent.
[[File:2005_Lester_Holt_on_Weekend_Today.jpg|thumb|left|Holt hosting ''[[Weekend Today]]'' in 2005, cooking live on the streets of [[New York City]]]]

In 1981, he was hired as a reporter for [[WCBS-TV]] in New York City. In 1982, he became a reporter and weekend anchor on [[KNXT (Los Angeles)|KNXT]] in Los Angeles, and the next year he returned to WCBS-TV as a reporter and weekend anchor. In 1986, Holt moved to [[WBBM-TV]] in Chicago, where he spent 14&nbsp;years anchoring the evening news. Holt not only worked at the anchor desk but also reported extensively from troubled spots around the world, including Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador and Haiti.<ref name="Bio" />

Holt joined [[MSNBC]] in 2000. In 2003, he assumed full-time duties at [[NBC News]], where he became a substitute anchor for ''NBC Nightly News'' and ''Today''. Holt became a full-time co-anchor of ''[[Weekend Today]]'' following the death of previous co-anchor [[David Bloom]].<ref name=Meadows>{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20150151,00.html |title=National Newshound |last=Meadows |first=Bob |date=May 24, 2004 |work=People |access-date=March 25, 2009 |volume=61 |issue=20 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194137/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20150151,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Until late 2005, he also anchored a two-hour daily newscast on MSNBC. On May 9, 2007, Holt was named anchor of the weekend edition of ''NBC Nightly News'', anchoring the show for eight years before replacing Brian Williams as permanent anchor of the weekday edition.<ref name="NY Daily News">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/tv-anchor-keeping-real-article-1.254177 |title=TV anchor keeping it real |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=May 13, 2007 |work=New York Daily News |access-date=March 25, 2009 |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015140307/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/tv-anchor-keeping-real-article-1.254177 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, Holt is the current host for NBC's Dateline. He moderated a presidential debate in 2016, and interviewed President Donald Trump in 2017, where fellow journalists said that he asked tough but appropriate questions. 
[[File:2010 Lester Holt during airdrop mission by US Air Force.jpg|thumb|right|Holt in 2010 photographed by the [[United States Air Force]] while reporting on an airdrop mission in Afghanistan]]

In addition to his primary responsibilities at NBC News, he hosted a special for [[History (U.S. TV channel)|The History Channel]] about the [[9/11 conspiracy theories]], served as a sportsdesk reporter for [[NBC Sports]] coverage of the [[2008 Summer Olympics]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mediumwell/blog/2008/07/your_nbc_olympics_lineup.html |title=Your NBC Olympics lineup |work=Medium Well |publisher=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 16, 2008 |last=Frager |first=Ray |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130165640/http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mediumwell/blog/2008/07/your_nbc_olympics_lineup.html |archive-date=November 30, 2009}}</ref> and is the host of ''Dateline on ID,'' an edition of ''[[Dateline NBC]]'' shown on the [[Investigation Discovery]] network.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Discovery Times Channel Becomes Investigation Discovery on January 27, With Slate of New Fact-Based Programming |url=http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/discovery-times-channel-becomes-investigation-disc/ |publisher=Discovery Channel |date=January 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310175525/http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/discovery-times-channel-becomes-investigation-disc/ |archive-date=March 10, 2009  }}</ref>  In 2008, he narrated a documentary regarding actual crystal skulls on the [[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci-Fi Channel]].

When [[Brian Williams]] took medical leave in 2013 for knee replacement surgery, Holt filled in as weekday anchor. In 2015, Williams was suspended for reportedly exaggerating a story about the Iraq War, and Holt permanently replaced him as ''NBC Nightly News'' anchor.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/brian-williams-take-self-nightly-news-next-several-days-n302181 |title=Brian Williams to Take Self Off Nightly News for 'Next Several Days' |work=NBC News |date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209041832/http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/brian-williams-take-self-nightly-news-next-several-days-n302181 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/02/nbc-news-brian-williams-suspended-without-pay-202425.html |title=NBC News: Brian Williams suspended for 6 months without pay |first=Dylan |last=Byers |work=POLITICO |date=February 10, 2015 |access-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211040543/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/02/nbc-news-brian-williams-suspended-without-pay-202425.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Permanent" />
[[File:Dr Holly Bamford talks with Lester Holt from NBC Nightly News.jpg|thumb|left|Holt interviewing Dr. Holly Bamford of the [[National Ocean Service]] and [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] in 2013]]

Holt moderated the Democratic presidential candidates' debate in January 2016, alongside a panel of NBC political reporters,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lester Holt To Moderate First Democrat Debate Of 2016 |url=https://deadline.com/2015/12/lester-holt-moderate-democratic-debate-january-2016-1201668048/ |website=Deadline |date=December 16, 2015 |access-date=December 16, 2015 |language=en-US |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222162852/http://deadline.com/2015/12/lester-holt-moderate-democratic-debate-january-2016-1201668048/ |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the [[United States presidential election debates, 2016|first presidential debate]] on September 26, 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=CPD Announces 2016 Debate Moderators |url=http://www.debates.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=63&cntnt01origid=27&cntnt01detailtemplate=newspage&cntnt01returnid=80 |publisher=Commission on Presidential Debates |access-date=September 2, 2016 |archive-date=September 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904092224/http://debates.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=63&cntnt01origid=27&cntnt01detailtemplate=newspage&cntnt01returnid=80 |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to the debate, presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]] said that this was "a very unfair system" because "Lester is a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]" (Holt was at the time a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. He changed his party affiliation to independent in 2018).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/25/5-things-to-know-about-presidential-debate-moderator-lester-holt/ |title=5 things to know about presidential debate moderator Lester Holt |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217145348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/09/25/5-things-to-know-about-presidential-debate-moderator-lester-holt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "journal-isms.com" /> Afterward, Donald Trump said that Holt did "a good job". Journalists also said that Holt performed admirably; for example he challenged Trump when Trump said that he originally opposed the war in Iraq, which was proven to be a false statement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/moderator-lester-holt-scrutiny-debate-42366378 |title=Moderator Lester Holt Works to Keep Control of Debate |work=ABC News |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=September 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929230237/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/moderator-lester-holt-scrutiny-debate-42366378 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Uberti|first1=David|title=Sizing up Lester Holt's low-key debate performance|url=https://www.cjr.org/criticism/lester_holt_debate_moderator_trump_clinton.php?newsletter|work=Columbia Journalism Review|language=en|date=September 27, 2016|archive-date=October 28, 2020|access-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028123213/https://www.cjr.org/criticism/lester_holt_debate_moderator_trump_clinton.php?newsletter|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' said "Kudos to Holt" for making it clear that [[stop and frisk]] was ruled unconstitutional in New York, when Trump said it wasn't.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/09/28/trumps-false-claim-that-stop-and-frisk-was-not-ruled-unconstitutional/ Trump's false claim that stop and frisk in NYC wasn't ruled unconstitutional] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229061222/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/09/28/trumps-false-claim-that-stop-and-frisk-was-not-ruled-unconstitutional/ |date=December 29, 2017 }}, By Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, September 28, 2016</ref>

In May 2017, when Holt interviewed President Trump, they discussed Trump's [[Dismissal of James Comey|firing of FBI director James Comey.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Lester Holt's Extended Interview With President Trump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/pres-trump-s-extended-exclusive-interview-with-lester-holt-at-the-white-house-941854787582 |website=[[NBC News]] |date=May 11, 2017 |access-date=August 31, 2018 |type=video |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810040248/https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/pres-trump-s-extended-exclusive-interview-with-lester-holt-at-the-white-house-941854787582 |url-status=live }}</ref> Holt's interview with Trump resulted in extensive media coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawrence: Flynn guilty plea means walls are closing in on Trump |url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-flynn-guilty-plea-means-walls-are-closing-in-on-trump-1108101187858 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=MSNBC.com |language=en |archive-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219180915/http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-flynn-guilty-plea-means-walls-are-closing-in-on-trump-1108101187858? |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[Transcript http://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/the-last-word {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501195452/http://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/the-last-word |date=May 1, 2018 }}]</ref>

In 2020, Holt extensively covered the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and saw a spike in ratings alongside the other evening news shows.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/business/media/coronavirus-evening-news.html | title=The Evening News is Back | work=The New York Times | date=March 24, 2020 | last1=Koblin | first1=John }}</ref> He also sometimes ended his shows with monologues, reflecting on the pandemic and its impact. He also ended his show with a monologue after the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|January 6 Capitol Attack]], criticizing Trump and the culture of disinformation that led to the attack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-08 |title=NBC's Lester Holt Closes Nightly News: Capitol Attack is 'Not Only Un-American, it is Cruel' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/nbcs-lester-holt-closes-nightly-news-with-towering-commentary-capitol-attack-is-not-only-un-american-it-is-cruel/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Mediaite |language=en |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330023320/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/nbcs-lester-holt-closes-nightly-news-with-towering-commentary-capitol-attack-is-not-only-un-american-it-is-cruel/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-03 |title=Lester Holt Offers Somber Monologue on Covid Risks |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/this-is-not-a-hoax-lester-holt-offers-somber-reminder-of-covid-risks-after-trump-tests-positive/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Mediaite |language=en |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411011408/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/this-is-not-a-hoax-lester-holt-offers-somber-reminder-of-covid-risks-after-trump-tests-positive/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, Holt announced the death of [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in an NBC News Special Report,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07TX3u34lgs | title=Queen Elizabeth II Dies 'Peacefully' at Age 96 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=September 8, 2022 | access-date=January 28, 2024 | archive-date=January 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128184042/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07TX3u34lgs | url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2023, he interviewed [[Ebrahim Raisi]], president of Iran.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/full-transcript-read-lester-holts-interview-iranian-president-ebrahim-rcna104913 | title=Full Transcript: Read Lester Holt's interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi | website=[[NBC News]] | date=September 13, 2023 | access-date=January 28, 2024 | archive-date=January 28, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128184042/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/full-transcript-read-lester-holts-interview-iranian-president-ebrahim-rcna104913 | url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2023, Holt traveled to [[Israel]] to cover the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|2023 Hamas attack on Israel]], and the ongoing [[Israel–Hamas war|Israel-Hamas War]]<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2023/10/09/journalists-israel-hamas-coverage-danger/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406041148/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2023/10/09/journalists-israel-hamas-coverage-danger/ |date=April 6, 2024 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> On November 8, 2023, he co-moderated the third [[2024 Republican Party presidential debates and forums|GOP Primary Debate]], alongside [[Hugh Hewitt]] and [[Kristen Welker]].<ref>https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/25/lester-holt-kristen-welker-and-hugh-hewitt-to-moderate-third-gop-debate-00123599 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130204806/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/25/lester-holt-kristen-welker-and-hugh-hewitt-to-moderate-third-gop-debate-00123599 |date=January 30, 2024 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> The debate drew 7.5 million viewers.<ref>https://www.axios.com/2023/11/10/third-gop-debate-viewership-ratings-drop-no-trump {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130204807/https://www.axios.com/2023/11/10/third-gop-debate-viewership-ratings-drop-no-trump |date=January 30, 2024 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> Since 2020, Holt has signed off by saying "I'm Lester Holt; please take care of yourself, and each other. Good night"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/broadcasts/1435504 | title=Lester Holt signs off. &#124; Vanderbilt Television News Archive | access-date=February 20, 2024 | archive-date=August 16, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816093344/https://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/broadcasts/1435504 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://qctimes.com/opinion/letters/letter-be-good-to-each-other/article_f0251a0e-904a-513f-8a33-d6ac193b2ec3.html | title=Letter: Be good to each other | date=September 4, 2020 | access-date=February 20, 2024 | archive-date=February 20, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220014736/https://qctimes.com/opinion/letters/letter-be-good-to-each-other/article_f0251a0e-904a-513f-8a33-d6ac193b2ec3.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Other work===
Holt has made cameo appearances in the 1993 film ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]],'' its 1998 sequel ''[[U.S. Marshals (film)|U.S. Marshals]],'' and ''[[Primal Fear (film)|Primal Fear]]'' (1996), as well as on television shows, playing himself in episodes of ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''; the episode "Red, White, or Blue" of the series ''[[Due South]]''; "Fate" of ''[[Early Edition]]'' and "A New Hope" of ''[[Warehouse 13]].'' He appeared on the episode "[[Cleveland (30 Rock episode)|Cleveland]]" of the NBC sitcom ''[[30 Rock]].'' He also did a voice-over in the episode "[[Sandwich Day]]," announcing that [[Jack Donaghy]] would be a new cabinet member in the Bush administration. Holt announced the 2006, 2007, and 2008 [[Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show]] for the [[USA Network]], and was featured in [[Making Music Magazine|''Making Music'' magazine]]. He also hosted the 2008 [[Sci-Fi Channel]] documentary ''[[Mystery of the Crystal Skulls]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4846494&page=1|title='Indiana Jones': Real Archaeologists Don't Have Whips|last=Germain|first=David|date=May 16, 2008|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|access-date=May 15, 2020|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025144940/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=4846494&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/17/mystery-of-the-crystal-skulls-sci-fi-channel-special-digs-into-prophecy/|title='Mystery of the Crystal Skulls' Sci Fi Channel special digs into prophecy|date=May 17, 2008|website=[[TwinCities.com]]. [[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]|access-date=May 15, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022002219/https://www.twincities.com/2008/05/17/mystery-of-the-crystal-skulls-sci-fi-channel-special-digs-into-prophecy/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 31, 2020, Holt delivered a virtual commencement speech for the 254th graduating class of [[Rutgers University]] due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

==Career timeline==
* 1981–2000: [[CBS]] [[owned and operated station]]s
** 1981–1982: [[WCBS-TV]] reporter
** 1982–1983: [[KCBS-TV|KNXT]] weekend anchor and reporter
** 1983–1986: WCBS-TV anchor
** 1986–2000: [[WBBM-TV]] anchor and reporter
* 2000–present: [[NBC News]]
** 2000–2003: NBC News / [[MSNBC]] correspondent
** 2003–2015: ''[[Weekend Today]]'' co-anchor
** 2003–present: ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]'' fill-in anchor
** 2007–2015: ''[[NBC Nightly News]] Weekend'' anchor
** 2009–2015: ''[[Why Planes Crash]]'' voiceover
** 2011–present: ''[[Dateline NBC]]'' anchor
** August 6, 2013 – September 2, 2013, and February 9, 2015 – June 18, 2015: ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' interim anchor
** June 22, 2015 – present: ''NBC Nightly News'' anchor/managing editor (added managing editor in April 2021)

==Awards and honors==
[[File:Lester Holt & Mark Searle (49014770983).jpg|right|thumb|Holt receiving the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism]]
* 1990: [[Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award]] for his work on [[CBS]]'s ''48 Hours: No Place Like Home'' . {{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}
* 2012: Honorary Doctorate from [[Pepperdine University]]
* 2015: Honorary Doctorate from [[California State University, Sacramento]]
* 2015: Inducted into the [[California Hall of Fame]] on October 28, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/inductee/lester-holt|title=Lester Holt - California Museum|website=www.californiamuseum.org|date=September 14, 2015|language=en|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030801/http://www.californiamuseum.org/inductee/lester-holt|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2016: Alan B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year from [[Montclair State University]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.montclair.edu/newscenter/2016/12/13/17452_nbc-news-anchor-lester-holt-receives-broadcaster-of-the-year-award/|title=NBC News Anchor Lester Holt Receives Broadcaster of the Year Award|access-date=November 29, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032709/https://www.montclair.edu/newscenter/2016/12/13/17452_nbc-news-anchor-lester-holt-receives-broadcaster-of-the-year-award/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2016: NABJ Journalist of the Year Award from the [[National Association of Black Journalists]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nabj.org/news/295174/NBCs-Lester-Holt-Accepts-2016-NABJ-Journalist-of-the-Year-Award-.htm|title=NBC's Lester Holt Accepts 2016 NABJ Journalist of the Year Award - National Association of Black Journalists|website=www.nabj.org|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035841/http://www.nabj.org/news/295174/NBCs-Lester-Holt-Accepts-2016-NABJ-Journalist-of-the-Year-Award-.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2018: Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dyakon |first=Tina |date=2018-07-16 |title=Lester Holt to receive Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism |url=https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2018/lester-holt-to-receive-poynter-medal-for-lifetime-achievement-in-journalism/ |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=Poynter |language=en-US |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214223331/https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2018/lester-holt-to-receive-poynter-medal-for-lifetime-achievement-in-journalism/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2019: Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism<ref>{{cite news |title=NBC's Lester Holt to receive 2019 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism |url=https://asunow.asu.edu/20190709-nbc-lester-holt-receive-2019-walter-cronkite-award-excellence-journalism |work=ASU News |date=9 July 2019 |language=en |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |access-date=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014022502/https://asunow.asu.edu/20190709-nbc-lester-holt-receive-2019-walter-cronkite-award-excellence-journalism |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2020: Honorary Doctorate from [[Rutgers University]]
* 2023: Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication from the [[Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.psu.edu/news/bellisario-college-communications/story/mary-barra-lester-holt-jon-iwata-headline-annual-page/ | title=Mary Barra, Lester Holt, Jon Iwata headline annual Page Center Awards &#124; Penn State University | access-date=May 9, 2023 | archive-date=May 9, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509222616/https://www.psu.edu/news/bellisario-college-communications/story/mary-barra-lester-holt-jon-iwata-headline-annual-page/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2023: Honorary Doctorate from [[Villanova University]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Award-Winning Journalist and NBC News Anchor Lester Holt to Deliver Villanova University's 2023 Commencement Address {{!}} Villanova University |url=https://www1.villanova.edu/university/media/press-releases/2023/2023-commencement-speaker.html |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=www1.villanova.edu |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528204412/https://www1.villanova.edu/university/media/press-releases/2023/2023-commencement-speaker.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Holt resides in Manhattan with his wife, Carol Hagen; they have two sons, Stefan and Cameron.<ref name=Meadows /> [[Stefan Holt]] graduated in 2009 from [[Pepperdine University]] and was the morning news anchor at NBC-owned [[WMAQ-TV]] in Chicago.<ref>[https://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/nbc-5s-stefan-holt-rising-son-in-the-morning "NBC 5's Stefan Holt: Rising son in the morning"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220313/https://www.timeout.com/chicago/tv/nbc-5s-stefan-holt-rising-son-in-the-morning |date=August 7, 2018 }}, ''Time Out Chicago'', February 13, 2012.</ref> In 2016, Stefan moved to the same floor as his father's ''Nightly News'' when joining [[WNBC]], and he eventually succeeded veteran [[Chuck Scarborough]] as anchor of the station's 11 p.m. news broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|title=WNBC anchor Chuck Scarborough leaving late-night job after 42 years for earlier shift|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/wnbc-anchor-chuck-scarborough-drops-late-night-gig-article-1.3289710|first=Don|last=Kaplan|website=nydailynews.com|publisher=[[New York Daily News]]|date=June 30, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2017|archive-date=June 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630182106/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/wnbc-anchor-chuck-scarborough-drops-late-night-gig-article-1.3289710|url-status=live}}</ref>  Stefan currently is the 10:00 pm anchor at WMAQ.

Lester Holt plays [[bass guitar]] and the upright bass<ref name="NY Daily News" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/26/429447.aspx |title=Today's Anchor Chat: Lester Holt |last=Holt |first=Lester |date=October 26, 2007 |work=allDAY |publisher=NBC News |access-date=March 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603042619/http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/26/429447.aspx |archive-date=June 3, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makingmusicmag.com/features/09sept01.html |title=Features – Lester Holt |work=Making Music |access-date=February 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128042129/http://www.makingmusicmag.com/features/09sept01.html |archive-date=January 28, 2013 }}</ref> and performs in the band ''Rough Cuts'' composed mostly of video editors from ''Dateline NBC''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lester Holt, NBC News Anchor, Moonlights as a Rocker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/style/lester-holt-nbc-nightly-news.html|last=Hicklin|first=Aaron|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 27, 2019|access-date=May 2, 2023|archive-date=May 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503043036/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/27/style/lester-holt-nbc-nightly-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Holt attends the Manhattan [[Churches of Christ|Church of Christ]] in New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianchronicle.org/article/anchor-for-his-soul-lester-holt-reflects-on-faith-and-journalism |title=Anchor for his soul: Lester Holt reflects on faith and journalism | last=Ross | first=Bobby Jr. |date=January 2010 |work=Christian Chronicle |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724180656/http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158968~Lester_Holt_reflects_on_faith_and_journalism |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[New Yorkers in journalism]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0392473}}
* [http://www.today.com/about/lester-holt-co-anchor-todays-weekend-editions-6C10109542 Lester Holt] at [[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]
* {{C-SPAN|1008921}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-media}}
{{s-bef|before=[[David Bloom]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[Weekend Today]]'' Co-Anchor|years=2003–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Craig Melvin]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Seigenthaler, Jr.|John Seigenthaler]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' Weekend Edition Anchor|years=2007–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Kate Snow]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ann Curry]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= ''[[Dateline NBC]]'' Anchor|years=2011–present}}
{{s-inc|rows=2}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Brian Williams]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' Weekday Edition Anchor|years=2015–present}}
{{S-end}}

{{NBC News Personalities}}
{{NBCEveningNewsAnchors}}{{Portal bar|Biography|Media|Journalism|United States}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holt, Lester}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century American journalists]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:African-American journalists]]
[[Category:African-American television hosts]]
[[Category:African-American television personalities]]
[[Category:American male journalists]]
[[Category:American writers of Indian descent]]
[[Category:American members of the Churches of Christ]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Jamaican descent]]
[[Category:American people of Anglo-Indian descent]]
[[Category:Anglo-Indian people]]
[[Category:American television hosts]]
[[Category:American television reporters and correspondents]]
[[Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni]]
[[Category:NBC News people]]
[[Category:New York (state) independents]]
[[Category:New York (state) Republicans]]
[[Category:Journalists from New York City]]
[[Category:Writers from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from Rancho Cordova, California]]
[[Category:Television anchors from Chicago]]
[[Category:Television anchors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]