John Roland News Anchor At New York’s WNYW, Dies At 81: Remembering His Legendary Career

This time, John Roland is the news, not the messenger. John Roland, a long-time FOX 5 news anchor, died on May 7, 2023, at the age of 81. From 1966 through 2004, viewers could count on John to provide the news practically every night. He is most known for his 35-year stint on The 10 O'Clock News with FOX 5 WNYW, however he moved to their new 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts in 2003.

After some health issues, John retired in 2004. However, after over 40 years in the business, he is regarded as one of the most prominent on-air journalists of all time. His death has come as a huge shock to people all across the world, particularly in New York, where he did the most of his work. What was the cause of death for John?

Although no further details have been released, John's death was initially reported on FOX 5 WNYW on Sunday night news. They revealed that he died as a result of complications from a stroke in Aventura, Fla. (just outside of Miami). 

John Roland was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from California State University, lengthy Beach, in 1964, before embarking on a lengthy career in newscasting.

In 1966, he worked for NBC before being recruited by KTTV to cover the killing of John F. Kennedy and the Charles Manson trial, two high-profile events that catapulted John's career. 

Roland left KTTV in Los Angeles in December 1969 to work as a general assignment correspondent for sister Metromedia station WNEW in New York. He covered politics throughout the week and led the 10 p.m. program on weekends until taking over the flagship 10 p.m. weekday edition from Bill Jorgensen in 1979. (When News Corp. and Fox took over the station in 1986, it was renamed WNYW.)

Roland departed the 10 p.m. slot in 2003 to anchor new 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts before retiring to Florida in June 2004.

Roland said on the air when he departed:

John Roland news anchor, a native of Pittsburgh, graduated from California State University, Long Beach in 1964 and began working for NBC News in Los Angeles two years later. He covered the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 and other breaking news at KTTV.

Roland and a buddy were enjoying a late meal at the defunct Racing Club near the Channel 5 studios in Manhattan in 1983 when three armed men arrived and demanded money. Before the other two thieves rushed him, Roland disarmed one of them and shot him in the leg.

He was suspended after arguing with a homeless lady on the radio in 1988, but he was reinstated after apologizing. He almost died at work in 2002 after contracting diverticulitis; he later shared his health concerns with viewers.

Roland starred in films such as Hero at Large (1980), Eyewitness (1981), The Scout (1994), and The Object of My Affection (1998) as a reporter or as himself.