Charlie Rose

Disarmingly intelligent talk show host Charlie Rose became one of broadcasting's most respected interviewers as the creator of his long-running eponymous television program, only to see that respect fall apart in 2017 when he was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. After leaving a job in the financial industry in the mid-1970s, he received invaluable mentoring from esteemed journalist-commentator Bill Moyers as a producer on "Bill Moyers Journal" (PBS, 1971-1981). A move to Texas near the end of the decade provided him with the opportunity to host his own program "The Charlie Rose Show" (KXAS, 1979-1981), prior to his receiving national exposure and an Emmy for his work on the ground-breaking "CBS News Nightwatch" (CBS, 1982-1992). It was, however, as the host of "Charlie Rose" (PBS, 1991-2017) where he found his format and his calling, as host, producer and de facto booking agent. Inquisitive yet gracious, his interview style was far less aggressive than that of a "hard news" reporter, yet more nuanced than any question posed in the average "puff piece." Rose conducted his discussions in direct conversational style, allowing no one other than himself and his guest in the studio during the interview - a feat accomplished through the employment of robotic cameras. Rose's reputation as a fair but thoughtful host enabled him to secure in-depth interviews with such diverse personalities as poet-author Maya Angelou, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and actor-director George Clooney; and led to a second gig with CBS, where he served as a co-anchor for "CBS This Morning" from 2012 to 2017. However, Rose's reputation suffered when, in November 2017, eight women accused him of sexual harassment. Following the allegations, Rose was fired by CBS News, and PBS cancelled his long-running talk show.