14 Facts About Don Hewitt

Donald Shepard Hewitt was an American television news producer and executive, best known for creating the CBS television news magazine 60 Minutes in 1968, which at the time of his death was the longest-running prime-time broadcast on American television.

Don Hewitt's father was a Jewish immigrant from Russia, and his mother's family was of German Jewish descent.

Don Hewitt's family moved to Boston, Massachusetts, shortly after his birth, where his father worked as a classified advertising manager for the Boston Herald American.

Don Hewitt graduated from New Rochelle High School, in New Rochelle, New York.

Don Hewitt attended New York University and started his journalism career in 1942 as head copyboy for the New York Herald Tribune.

Don Hewitt joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1943 and served as a journalist for Stars and Stripes in London.

Don Hewitt later returned to sea as an ensign in the Naval Reserve.

Don Hewitt soon received a lucrative offer at the CBS television network, which was seeking someone who had "picture experience" to help with production of television broadcast.

Don Hewitt began working at its news division, CBS News, in 1948 and was producer-director of the network's evening-news broadcast with Douglas Edwards for fourteen years.

Don Hewitt directed the televised production of the first 1960 US presidential candidate debate between Senator John F Kennedy and Vice-president Richard M Nixon on September 26,1960, at the CBS studios in Chicago.

Don Hewitt later became executive producer of the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite, helming the famous broadcast of John F Kennedy's assassination as the story developed.

Don Hewitt then launched the eight-time Emmy Award-winning show 60 Minutes.

Don Hewitt was portrayed in the film by Philip Baker Hall.

In March 2009, Don Hewitt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from which he died on August 19,2009, at his home in Bridgehampton, New York.