Mike Wallace

Mike Wallace (born Myron Leon Wallace on 9 May 1918 in Brookline, Massachusetts) was a pioneering American journalist whose career spanned nearly seven decades, making him one of the most recognizable faces in broadcast news. Starting as a radio announcer for WOOD in Grand Rapids after graduating from the University of Michigan, he quickly moved to larger markets, working for WXYZ in Detroit and later for CBS radio, where he narrated programs such as The Green Hornet and Curtain Time. In the late 1940s he transitioned to television, hosting early game shows like The Big Surprise and Who Pays?, and even co‑hosting a short‑lived police drama, Stand By for Crime. Wallace’s reputation as an incisive interviewer was cemented when he co‑produced the groundbreaking documentary The Hate That Hate Produced in 1959, introducing mainstream audiences to the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X. His most enduring legacy began in 1968 when he became a founding correspondent for 60 Minutes, where his relentless questioning of political, corporate, and cultural leaders earned both acclaim and controversy, from the libel suit filed by General William Westmoreland to allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues. Throughout his tenure he earned 21 Emmy Awards, multiple Peabody Awards, and a lifetime achievement Emmy in 2003, reflecting his impact on investigative journalism. Despite personal challenges, including a battle with clinical depression and health issues such as a pacemaker and triple bypass surgery, Wallace continued to appear on television until his final interview with Roger Clemens in 2008. He passed away on 7 April 2012 in New Canaan, Connecticut, leaving behind a complex legacy of journalistic rigor, public service, and the evolving standards of broadcast ethics.