Handout portrait of Dennis Richmond at KTVU-TV in San Francisco, May 27, 2002.
KTVU via Hearst Archive
Dennis Richmond, KTVU-TV anchor of 32 years, died Wednesday in Grass Valley, California. He was 81 years old.
Richmond, known for his prominent mustache and perpetually calm demeanor, was an anchor at the station from 1976 to 2008. He first joined the station as a clerk and rose to become one of its most prominent faces and one of the first Black anchors on a major TV newscast. Richmond was on the air for some of the station’s historic broadcasts, including coverage of the OJ Simpson chase in 1994, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and the assassinations of George Moscone and Harvey Milk. According to a statement shared by KTVU, it was during Richmond’s tenure that the station’s “Ten O’Clock News” became the Bay Area’s most popular nightly newscast.
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KTVU-TV anchor Dennis Richmond (left) interviews California Gov. Gray Davis before a debate at the Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts on Sept. 3, 2003, in Walnut Creek, Calif.
Karl Mondon-PoolGetty Images
“Dennis was a strong presence in the KTVU newsroom for decades, guiding the team and setting high standards for himself and his colleagues in everything they did,” KTVU general manager Mellynda Hartel said in the statement. “His impact is still felt in the KTVU newsroom today.”
Last year, longtime KTVU anchor Julie Haener retired from the station. On her last broadcast, Richmond returned to the newsroom for a surprise appearance. Two months ago, Richmond suffered a heart attack and fall, prompting his former colleagues to pay him a visit and share tributes on social media. More were posted Wednesday.
I join so many in Oakland in mourning the passing of Dennis Richmond—a legend, trailblazer, and dear friend. For decades, he was the voice who shined a light on our city, breaking barriers in broadcast news.
My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire KTVU…
— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLee_CA) February 5, 2025
“I join so many in Oakland mourning the passing of Dennis Richmond—a legend, trailblazer, and dear friend,” Barbara Lee, the longtime congresswoman and current candidate for Oakland mayor, said in a post on X. “For decades, he was the voice who shined a light in our city, breaking barriers in broadcast news. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and the entire KTVU community. His loss is felt by us all. Rest in power.”
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Oakland’s California state Sen. Jesse Arreguin also posted on X: “Like so many people in the Bay Area, I fondly remember growing up watching Dennis Richmond on the news. He set the standard for journalistic excellence and integrity, inspiring generations of journalists. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.”
Many past and present KTVU colleagues also posted tributes to Richmond on social media, with Haener writing a lengthy post on Facebook.
“I’m honored and filled with gratitude that I had the chance to work by his side for many years on the 6 and 10 O’Clock evening broadcasts,” Haener wrote. “We shared a mutual respect, partnership and friendship covering stories for Bay Area viewers. He was the utmost professional who really loved what he did. He set the bar high and inspired all of us around him to get better, work hard and be consistent. Dennis was the voice of calm in stressful situations and I learned so much from him.”
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KTVU turned its entire noon telecast into a tribute to Richmond, playing an hour of archival videos from Richmond’s lengthy career, as well as interviews with Richmond from over the years while also interviewing several of those KTVU colleagues about Richmond.
This news story has been updated.
