Andy Rooney Dead: '60 Minutes' Host Dead at 92
Andy Rooney, 92, the legendary "60 minutes" commentator, died Friday night in a New York City hospital after suffering from complications following a minor surgery he had early last month.
"It's a sad day at '60 Minutes' and for everybody here at CBS News," said chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of "60 Minutes," Jeff Fager. "It's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."
Just a little over a month after he delivered his last monologue on the popular show, CBS had said the 92-year-old was in stable condition and that no other information about his medical situation will be disclosed at the request of his family. Now a week later, he has passed.
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Rooney's final "60 Minutes" segment aired Oct. 2. It was to be a sendoff while capping 33-years of social commentary and current events.
Rooney delivered his 1097 essay and said he “dreaded” the moment.
"I wish I could do this forever. I can't, though," said Rooney.
Rooney also said he did not see himself as a television personality, but as a journalist.
"I'm not retiring. Writers don't retire, and I'll always be a writer,” he had said after the initial surgery.
One of his final statements on the show referenced his disdain for public recognition, and he spoke about various people approaching him at restaurants: "Please, just let me eat my dinner."
The regular Sunday night program was a mainstay and won Rooney three Emmy award. He earned a "Life Time Achievement" award in 2003.
Rooney has over 70 years of field experience, which began when he started at the United States Army's Stars and Stripes newspaper. He then became a writer for "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts."
Once establishing himself as a CBS fixture, Rooney created "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney" where he often talked about an everyday item, like a door or milk.
Rooney's spoken essays were chronicled in books, such as "Common Nonsense" in 2002 and "Years of Minutes" in 2003.
Rooney lost his wife of 62 years, Marguerite, in 2004 to heart failure.
