Howard Cosell

About Howard Cosell

Cosell became a media figure as the irascible commentator with his distinctive emphatic speech pattern on "Monday Night Football" for 14 years (1970-84) and "Monday Night Baseball" and televised fights for a total of forty years. He has guested as himself in sitcoms, series and in several made-for-TV movies and also played himself in three Woody Allen movies, "Bananas" (1971), "Sleeper" (1973) and "Broadway Danny Rose" (1984) among others. During the Vietnam War Cosell won a measure of notoriety by championing Muhammad Ali's right to become a conscientious objector. Cosell quit sports broadcasting when he felt that "Pro football has become a stagnant bore" and claimed that "I am tired of the hypocrisy and sleaziness of the boxing scene."

Partners

Wife

Emmy Cosell. married in 1944; died in 1990

Education

New York University, New York , New York

Career Milestones

1994

Inducted into the TV Hall of Fame by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

1992

Retired from ABC radio's daily sportcast, "Speaking of Sports" and half-hour interview program, "Speaking of Everything" at the end of January

1991

Operated on to remove a malignant chest tumor

Hosted syndicated talk show, "Speaking of Everything"

1986

Began serving as a faculty member of Brown University

1986

Began writing a column for the "New York Daily News"

1984

Left TV after quitting "ABC's NFL Monday Night Football"

Hosted "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell"

1973

TV-movie debut as himself, "The Connection" and "The 500 Pound Jerk"

1971

Film debut as himself in "Bananas"

Was commentator for ABC's "Monday Night Football" for 14 years

Worked as sports reporter for WABC, New York

1959

Announcer, "Prime Time Football"

TV debut as host of "Sports Focus"

1953

Hosted first radio program which had Little League baseball players meeting Major League Players

1953

Gave up law practice to join ABC radio as a sports commentator

1946

Was an attorney in private practice in New York

Served in the US Army Transportation Corps during WWII