News Anchors Who Disappeared Without A Trace

Over the years, we’ve witnessed many iconic faces in the world of journalism. Some became household names, while others vanished from the public eye for various reasons. Whether due to scandal, personal choice, or simply stepping away from the limelight, these news anchors once graced our screens but have since disappeared—leaving fans to wonder what happened to them. Here’s a look at the news anchors who vanished from the public spotlight and where they are now.

1. Connie Chung: Behind the Scenes After Stepping Away

Connie Chung made waves in the journalism world as one of the first women to anchor national news at CBS, eventually becoming the co-anchor for the “CBS Evening News” in 1993. However, her career took a turn in 1995 when she was let go from the role. After adopting a child with her husband, Maury Povich, Chung chose to focus on motherhood, stepping away from the public eye. In 2006, she co-hosted “Weekends With Maury & Connie,” but the show was short-lived. Since then, Chung has remained out of the public eye, though she and Povich own the Montana-based newspaper The Flathead Beacon.

2. Linda Ellerbee: Retired and Living in Mexico

Linda Ellerbee made a name for herself with Nick News With Linda Ellerbee on Nickelodeon, where she covered tough topics for children, like AIDS, 9/11, and the Great Recession. After 44 years in broadcasting, she retired in 2015. After leaving television, Ellerbee has largely stayed out of the limelight, choosing to live half the year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she enjoys a quieter life away from public scrutiny.

3. Bernard Shaw: Retired to Focus on Family

Bernard Shaw, CNN’s first chief news anchor, covered major global events like the Gulf War and Tiananmen Square protests. Despite his legendary career, Shaw retired in 2001 to focus on his family. For the next two decades, Shaw remained out of the public eye, finding peace away from the cameras. Shaw passed away in 2022 at the age of 82, marking the end of an era for CNN and American journalism.

4. Matt Lauer: From Beloved Anchor to Disgraced Figure

Matt Lauer was a staple on NBC’s Today show for decades, but in 2017, his career came crashing down after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct. Lauer was fired from the network, and he quickly vanished from the public eye. In interviews with sources close to him, it was revealed that Lauer has been living a private life, largely isolated from his former colleagues and the media. Lauer has not made a public return to television and reportedly has no plans to do so.

5. Max Robinson: Pioneering Anchor Who Battled Personal Struggles

Max Robinson made history as the first Black news anchor on a national news broadcast when he joined ABC Nightly News in 1978. Despite his groundbreaking role, Robinson struggled with alcohol misuse, personal demons, and racial discrimination in the workplace. He left ABC in the early ’80s and worked locally in Chicago, but his life took another turn when he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the late ’80s. He kept his diagnosis private, ultimately passing away in 1988 at the age of 49, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance in the face of adversity.

6. Bryant Gumbel: Retirement to Focus on Golf

Bryant Gumbel’s career started with Today in 1982, and he quickly became a well-known face in American television. After spending 15 years with Today, he moved on to Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel on HBO, where he hosted for 29 seasons. Gumbel’s departure from broadcasting came in 2023, when he chose to retire. In an interview, he expressed that he no longer had the passion for television and wanted to spend more time with his family and improve his golf game. Since retiring, Gumbel has remained largely out of the public eye, making only rare appearances.

7. Jillian Barberie: Life After Personal Struggles

Jillian Barberie gained fame in the ’90s as a weather correspondent for Fox Sports. After a successful career on Good Day L.A. and Fox Sports, Barberie was let go from the latter program in 2012. Shortly after, her marriage ended, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, leading to a long and challenging recovery. After her treatment, Barberie faced financial hardship and sold her home, retreating from public life. In recent years, she has been more active on Instagram, sharing her personal journey and finding a community of women who have gone through similar struggles.

8. Ann Curry: From Today to a New Chapter

Ann Curry’s rise to fame came in 1997 when she joined the Today show as a news correspondent. In 2011, she was promoted to co-anchor, but her time in that role was short-lived. She was let go in 2012, sparking rumors that Matt Lauer may have been involved in her ousting. Despite the heartbreak, Curry shifted her focus to behind-the-scenes work and launched her own production company. She’s also worked as a journalism professor and continues to make contributions to the industry, though she keeps a relatively low profile compared to her Today days.

9. Tabitha Soren: A Shift to Photography

Tabitha Soren was a political correspondent for MTV News in the ’90s, covering major events like the 1992 presidential election. After leaving MTV in 1998, she disappeared from the public eye and turned to digital photography. Soren, who had grown tired of the constraints of TV news, found new creative freedom in fine art photography. Today, she resides in Northern California, where she showcases her photography worldwide, focusing on psychological states and complex truths that her work seeks to represent.

Conclusion: The Vanishing Act

These anchors all share a common thread—they disappeared from the public eye for a variety of reasons, whether by choice, scandal, or personal health struggles. From Connie Chung’s retreat into motherhood to Matt Lauer’s fall from grace, each of these journalists has left an indelible mark on the world of broadcasting, even if they’ve since faded from the spotlight. As viewers, we can only wonder what comes next for them and how their legacies will be remembered in the ever-changing landscape of media.