31 Facts About Christine Chubbuck

Christine Chubbuck was an American television news reporter who worked for stations WTOG and WXLT-TV in Sarasota, Florida.

The first person to die by suicide on a live television broadcast, Chubbuck shot herself in the head with a gun on July 15,1974, during WXLT-TV's Suncoast Digest, after claiming that the network was about to present "an exclusive coverage of an attempted suicide"; it was confirmed after her death that she had added the quote in her script for the broadcast, making the action likely premeditated.

Christine Chubbuck was born in Hudson, Ohio, the daughter of Margretha D "Peg" and George Fairbanks Chubbuck.

Christine Chubbuck attended the Laurel School for Girls in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.

Christine Chubbuck attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for one year, majoring in theater arts, then attended Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, before earning a degree in broadcasting at Boston University in 1965.

Christine Chubbuck worked for WVIZ in Cleveland between 1966 and 1967, and attended a summer workshop in radio and television at New York University in 1967.

In 1968, Christine Chubbuck left WQED to spend four years as a hospital computer operator and two years with a cable television firm in Sarasota, Florida.

Several years before her death, Christine Chubbuck had moved into her family's summer cottage on Siesta Key.

Christine Chubbuck had a close relationship with her family, describing her mother and Greg as her closest friends.

Christine Chubbuck took her position seriously, inviting local officials from Sarasota and Bradenton to discuss matters of interest to the growing beach community.

Christine Chubbuck was considered a "strong contender" by district forester Mike Keel.

Christine Chubbuck had been scheduled to appear as a guest on Chubbuck's show the morning of her suicide, but canceled because of the birth of his son.

On occasion, Christine Chubbuck incorporated homemade puppets she had used to entertain children with intellectual disabilities during her volunteer work at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Christine Chubbuck had attempted to overdose on drugs in 1970 and frequently made reference to that event.

Christine Chubbuck had been seeing a psychiatrist up until several weeks before her death.

Christine Chubbuck's mother chose not to tell WXLT management about her daughter's suicidal tendencies because she feared Chubbuck would be fired.

Christine Chubbuck's focus on her lack of intimate relationships is generally considered to be the driving force for her depression.

Christine Chubbuck believed her constant self-deprecation for being "dateless" contributed to her ongoing depression.

Christine Chubbuck baked him a cake for his birthday and sought his romantic attention, only to find out he was already involved with sports reporter Andrea Kirby.

Christine Chubbuck was self-deprecating, criticizing herself constantly and rejecting any compliments others paid her.

Christine Chubbuck had her right ovary removed in an operation the year before her suicide, and had been told that if she did not become pregnant within two to three years, it was unlikely she would ever be able to conceive.

Christine Chubbuck had hosted a party just days before the incident.

That morning's guest waited across the studio while Christine Chubbuck sat at the news anchor's desk.

Christine Chubbuck fell forward violently and the technical director faded the broadcast rapidly to black.

Christine Chubbuck said her script called for her condition to be listed as "critical".

Christine Chubbuck was rushed to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

Christine Chubbuck was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead fourteen hours later.

Simmons, the station director, said Christine Chubbuck's suicide was unrelated to the station.

The broadcast of Christine Chubbuck's death has not been seen since its airing, and numerous theories on what happened to the recording have been advanced.

Christine Chubbuck has no plans to make it publicly available.

In 2016, two films about Christine Chubbuck played at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.