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Richard Cohen, Meredith Vieira’s journalist husband, dies at 76 after living with MS for 50 years

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Journalist Richard M. Cohen, who had been married to Meredith Vieira for many years, passed away at the age of 76. Throughout more than half a century, he lived with multiple sclerosis and overcame two instances of colon cancer.

On Christmas Eve, Cohen, similar to his spouse who’s also a broadcaster, passed away. The news was disseminated on Tuesday on the NBC morning program, “Today,” which Vieira co-hosted from 2006 until 2011; she chose to leave then to devote more time to her husband and their three kids.

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Today show co-host Hoda Kotb stated on Tuesday that Cohen passed away in the presence of his loved ones. She explained to the audience that these family members had recently enjoyed a wonderful month together with their father, as they had returned home for Thanksgiving out of concern that he might die prematurely.

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Mike Rinder, a high-ranking member within the Church of Scientology who turned into a critic following his departure, passed away recently at the age of 69.

In a 2018 interview on “Today,” Cohen shared that when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 25, he was effectively informed that there was little hope for him. Essentially, they said “Diagnose and goodbye,” suggesting that not much could be done.

It wasn’t until 1993, around 20 years after his diagnosis, that the first drug designed to manage Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was approved by the FDA. Today, there are approximately 20 such drugs available on the market. These medications don’t cure MS, but they can slow down its progression, decrease the frequency of relapses, and prevent additional damage to the nervous system, as stated by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

On “Today”, no details about Cohen’s cause of death were shared, but according to The Hudson Independent, it was pneumonia.

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This week, the longtime couple, Thomas and Ruth O’Brien, who were married for 66 years, passed away – Conan O’Brien’s parents, specifically. The unfortunate event took place on Monday for Thomas and then on Thursday for Ruth.

Cohen, who was born on February 14th, 1948, wedded Meredith Vieira in June 1986. A prominent figure in journalism, he served as a senior producer for CNN and CBS News, and authored multiple books that delved into the challenges of living with chronic illness. “Blindsided,” released in 2003 following Cohen’s cancer battles, offers an insightful look at raising three children while battling illness, as well as his personal relationship with Meredith Vieira. The book also examines themes of denial and resilience, and the healing power of a loving family, as described by publisher HarperCollins.

Working at all three significant U.S. television news networks, Vieira served as an inaugural panelist on “The View,” spent some time on “60 Minutes,” and hosted the daytime syndicated version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” She has occasionally filled in as host during the fourth hour of “Today” alongside Laura Bush and the departing Kotb since 2019.

Vieira, who’s worked for all three major U.S. news networks, was a founding member of “The View,” spent some time on “60 Minutes,” hosted “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” and sometimes fills in as host during the fourth hour of “Today” alongside Laura Bush and Kotb since 2019.

Beyond his spouse, Cohen also leaves behind his children Benjamin, Gabriel, and Lily Cohen. Each of them falls into their thirties. Notably, Gabriel Cohen serves as a journalist for CNN.

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2025-01-08 03:31

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