Following his recent hospitalization, it seems that former Today cohost Bryant Gumbel is recovering.
On Saturday, October 25, TMZ posted pictures showing Bryant, 77, and his spouse, Hilary Gumbel, strolling through the streets of New York City. Bryant, who looked to be in good spirits, sported a bomber jacket and a New York Yankees baseball cap as he and his wife walked their dog in NYC.
On Monday, October 20, the outlet had previously reported that Gumbel had experienced a “medical emergency” that required him to be taken from his apartment building to a hospital in Manhattan. His family members chose not to specify the reason for Gumbel’s hospitalization, but a family member informed TMZ that the four-time Emmy Award winner was “OK.”
Afterward, his spouse Hilary posted a hopeful image on her Instagram Story of sunlight filtering through a tree, along with the word “Gratitude.”
Bryant has previously experienced significant health problems, most notably undergoing surgery in October 2009 to have a malignant tumor removed from the area near one of his lungs.
Gumbel said on a 2009 episode of Live With Regis and Kelly, “There’s no point in hiding it. They cut open my chest, removed a malignant tumor, removed a portion of my lung, and removed some other items. The pathology of the majority of the material was benign, but enough aggressive cells had escaped the tumor to necessitate treatment, which I underwent, and it is now complete.”
In December 2024, Bryant’s older brother Greg Gumbel — a well-known sports broadcaster who spent 50 years working for CBS and NBC — passed away. Following a battle with pancreatic cancer, CBS Sports announced Greg’s passing at the age of 78.
In a joint statement released last December, Greg’s family stated, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel. After a brave fight with cancer, he passed away peacefully while surrounded by love.”
His family stated that Greg “faced his illness” by displaying “stoicism, grace, and positivity” to his loved ones.
They continued, “[Greg] leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration, and commitment to more than 50 outstanding years in the sports broadcast industry; and his famous voice will always be remembered. His family, closest friends, coworkers, and everyone who knew Greg will always cherish his memory.”
Greg Gumbel and Bryant Gumbel in September 2014. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for UNICEF
Jim Nantz, Greg’s longtime colleague at CBS Sports, referred to the late sportscaster as “broadcasting royalty.”
Nantz stated, “He was the most unselfish broadcaster I have ever encountered in the business. We worked together for almost 35 years, and he was the ideal friend and teammate. Every member of the CBS Sports family has a pleasant or kind memory of Greg. I have a great deal of affection and respect for him, and I will miss him terribly.”
Bryant, meanwhile, has had a distinguished career in both news and sports broadcasting. For 15 years, he co-hosted NBC’s Today before covering the 9/11 terror attacks for CBS’s The Early Show in September 2001.
He served as host and executive producer of HBO’s sports news magazine program, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, for which he received 37 Sports Emmy Awards and won three Peabody Awards. Following 29 seasons on HBO, Real Sports came to an end in December 2023.
Bryant has two grown children from his first marriage to June Baranco, Jillian Beth Gumbel and Bradley Christopher Gumbel. In 2001, Bryant’s first marriage came to an end, and the following year, he wed his second wife, Hilary.
Just For You
