David Frost

One of the most accomplished interviewers of the late 20th century, Sir David Frost was a British journalist and television presenter whose conversations with world leaders and cultural icons frequently elevated him from news reporter to news maker. He initially came on the scene as a satirist with the comedy series "That Was the Week That Was" (BBC, 1962-63) and "The Frost Report" (BBC, 1966). But with "The Frost Programme," he displayed not only a talent for serious reporting, but a gift for generating hard-hitting and often controversial interviews with political figures and celebrities from both sides of the Atlantic. Frost's reputation brought him to American in the 1970s, where he memorably faced off against disgraced President Richard Nixon before a record-breaking television audience; the interviews would later serve as the basis for an award-winning play and motion picture. Frost later returned to England to host several long-running morning interview programs and maintain interests in a variety of television companies. Though occasionally criticized for his journalistic approach, David Frost's 40-year career in news was ultimately as important to history as the subjects he interviewed. No less than British Prime Minster David Cameron spoke fondly of Frost upon the occasion of the broadcaster's death in August 2013.