Russell Wayne Baker was an American journalist, narrator, writer of Pulitzer Prize-winning satirical commentary and self-critical prose, and author of Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography Growing Up.
12 Facts About Russell Baker
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Russell Baker was a columnist for The New York Times from 1962 to 1998, and hosted the PBS show Masterpiece Theatre from 1992 to 2004.
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Russell Baker left in 1945, continuing his degree in English at Johns Hopkins University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1947.
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Shortly after leaving college, Russell Baker took a job at The Baltimore Sun as a night police reporter, working his way up to be sent to London as a correspondent for the paper in 1952, and then White House Correspondent shortly thereafter.
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Russell Baker was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1993.
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Russell Baker wrote a sequel to his autobiography in 1989, called The Good Times.
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Russell Baker edited the anthologies The Norton Book of Light Verse and Russell Baker's Book of American Humor.
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Russell Baker wrote the libretto for the 1979 musical play Home Again, Home Again, starring Ronny Cox, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Barbara Fried, choreography by Onna White, and direction by Gene Saks.
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In 1993, Russell Baker replaced Alistair Cooke as the regular host of the PBS television series Masterpiece Theatre.
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In 1950, Russell Baker married Miriam Nash, who died in 2015.
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Russell Baker died at his home in Leesburg, Virginia, on January 21,2019, after complications following a fall.
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Russell Baker is, in my opinion, a precious national resource, and as long as he does not get his own television show, America will remain stronger than Russia.