Ernie Anastos’ Cause of Death Confirmed: NYC News Anchor Dies at 82
Legendary New York City news anchor Ernie Anastos passed away Thursday morning at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York. His wife, Kelly Anastos, confirmed to CBS News that he died of pneumonia. He was 82 years old.
Ernie Anastos, pictured at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival, died of pneumonia, his wife Kelly Anastos confirmed.
Ernie Anastos, Legendary NYC News Anchor, Dies at 82
Ernie Anastos (pictured above with his wife Kelly in 2011) passed away at the age of 82.
Over a remarkable 40-year broadcast career, Anastos covered major news events, including the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy Jr., the September 11 attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He earned more than 30 Emmy Awards and nominations, including a Lifetime Emmy, and was also honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for broadcast excellence.
Anastos began his career at ABC 7 in 1978 and left in 1989. He then worked at CBS 2, moved to WWOR in 1997, and returned to CBS in 2001. In 2005, he joined Fox 5 NY alongside Rosanna Scotto. He departed Fox 5 around 2020 to pursue leadership management studies at Harvard Business School.
Ernie Anastos Remembered by Fox 5 NY Co-Anchor Rosanna Scotto
Ernie Anastos (pictured above at a book event at Barnes & Noble in New York City in November 2013) began his career at ABC 7 and later spent 15 years at Fox 5 NY.
Rosanna Scotto, 67, shared her reaction to Anastos’ passing in an exclusive statement to Page Six.
“He was a terrific newsman—compassionate and fair,” Scotto said of her former co-anchor. She added that she learned valuable lessons from him, including how to stay calm under pressure and the importance of giving back to the community.
“I loved working with him,” Scotto continued. “We are all heartbroken to hear that he’s passed.”
Fox 5 NY Colleagues Pay Tribute to Ernie Anastos
Rosanna Scotto (pictured above in a selfie with Ernie) told Page Six that she is “heartbroken” over the death of Ernie Anastos.
Another former Fox 5 colleague, Teresa Priolo, honored Anastos in a Facebook post, writing:
“I’m here to confirm, every single good thing you will hear and read about this man is true. And then some. Times 10.”
Priolo described Anastos as the “heart of our newsroom” and noted he was “endlessly proud of his children and grandchildren.”
Anastos married Kelly Anastos in November 1968. The couple had two children, Philip and Nina, and he is survived by four grandchildren.
