Bill Kurtis
His rich, authoritative voice became the sound of true-crime documentaries, narrating tales of mystery and justice for a generation of viewers.
Born 1940 (age 86)·American television journalist·Birthday: September 21·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bill Kurtis carved out a unique space in American media, evolving from a hard-nosed Chicago news anchor into a pioneering documentary filmmaker and narrator. He began his career as a radio reporter in Kansas before joining WBBM-TV in Chicago, where his calm, steady presence during turbulent times made him a trusted figure. But Kurtis found his true calling in long-form storytelling. He founded Kurtis Productions, creating and hosting shows like 'Investigative Reports' and 'American Justice' for A&E, which helped define the modern true-crime television genre. His distinctive baritone and sober, meticulous approach turned complex legal cases into compelling narratives, educating audiences without sensationalism. Beyond crime, his work for the 'The New Explorers' series highlighted scientific adventure. Kurtis didn't just report the news; he spent decades examining its aftermath, exploring the human stories behind the headlines with a reporter's rigor and a storyteller's heart.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bill was born in 1940, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bill Was Born
The biggest hits of 1940
#1 Movie
Fantasia
Best Picture
Rebecca
Bill's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1940Born
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1945Started school
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1953Became a teenager
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Could drive
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1958Could vote
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Turned 21
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1970Turned 30
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 40
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 50
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 60
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 70
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 80
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 86 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created and hosted the landmark true-crime documentary series 'American Justice' and 'Investigative Reports' for A&E.
- Served as the primary anchor for the CBS Morning News and was a longtime anchor for WBBM-TV in Chicago.
- Founded Kurtis Productions, a successful independent production company responsible for hundreds of hours of documentary programming.
- Narrated the hit comedy series 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,' playing a parody of his own serious journalistic persona.
Did You Know?
He is a certified rancher and owns the Red Buffalo Ranch in Kansas, where he raises bison.
He started his broadcasting career after being drafted into the Army and working for the American Forces Korea Network.
He provided the voiceover for countless commercials and trailers, most famously for the 'Got Milk?' ad campaign.
“The best stories are the ones you find in your own backyard.”
