Los Angeles TV news anchorman and Middle East expert Hal Fishman died Tuesday.
The Brooklyn native and former political science professor at California State University died after colon cancer spread to his liver. He was 75.
The Jewish newsman was the authoritative voice on Arab-Israeli affairs for countless Angelinos for half a century. Fishman was best known for his nightly KTLA Prime News, which he had anchored since 1975. His last broadcast was July 30.
Colleagues recalled him as a “walking encyclopedia” and voracious reader who retained everything he read. Last month, he was presented with a certificate from Guinness World Records, which noted that he had anchored TV news without interruption from June 20, 1960 to the present – probably an American record.
Ehud Danoch, Israel’s consul general in L.A., recalled a lengthy on-air discussion with Fishman during last year’s Lebanon War. “A precious Jew has left us,” he said Tuesday.
Fishman is survived by his wife, Nolie, and son, David.
