Matt Lauer

Matt Lauer is an American television personality and co-host of NBC's The Today Show.

Fast Facts

1. Born: December 30, 1957
2. Birthplace: New York City, New York
3. Salary: reportedly $13,500,000/annually
4. Host: Today Show, NBC
5. Daytime Emmys: 1

Career

Lauer began his television career in 1979 as a producer of the 12 o'clock news for WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. By 1980, he had become an on-air reporter on the 6 and 11 o'clock newscasts. He then moved around hosting a number of weekly information and talk programs in Boston, MA, Philadelphia, Providence, RI, and Richmond, VA.

Lauer got his first job in the New York area when he was tapped to host a three-hour live interview program, 9 Broadcast Plaza, from 1989-1991. He moved to WNBC-TV in 1992, where he became co-anchor on the early weekday news show Today in New York, alongside Jane Hanson. Lauer filled in as the newsreader on The Today Show for Margaret Larson when needed. This led to his joining the show full-time in January 1994 as news anchor. At The Today Show Lauer stepped in for Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric when required before being named the official co-anchor on January 6, 1997, after Gumbel stepped down.

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