Deborah Roberts
An ABC News correspondent whose empathetic reporting on social issues and family stories has connected with American audiences for decades.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American television journalist·Birthday: September 20·Baby Boomers
Biography
Deborah Roberts brings a measured warmth and sharp intelligence to every story she covers. Joining ABC News in 1990, she carved out a space as a correspondent who could handle hard news with gravity before shifting focus to the deeply human stories within American culture. For years, she was a staple on '20/20', investigating social issues, profiling compelling figures, and exploring the complexities of family and relationships. Her reporting often highlights resilience and societal challenges, from adoption and parenting to racial dynamics and health. Married to fellow journalist Al Roker, Roberts balances her high-profile career with a relatable public persona, frequently discussing the joys and trials of modern family life. She is less a confrontational interrogator and more a trusted guide, using her platform to illuminate, explain, and connect the personal to the broader national conversation.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Deborah was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Deborah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Deborah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
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 40
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 50
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 60
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 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has been a prominent correspondent for ABC News programs like '20/20', 'Primetime', and 'Good Morning America' for over three decades.
- Reported extensively on major stories including the September 11 attacks, the Columbine shooting, and multiple presidential elections.
- Produced and reported award-winning segments on social issues such as interracial adoption and childhood obesity.
Did You Know?
She is married to NBC's 'Today' show weather anchor Al Roker.
Roberts was a cheerleader at the University of Georgia, where she earned a degree in journalism.
She authored the children's book 'My Dad, My Hero', inspired by her husband's relationship with our son.
Early in her career, she worked as a news anchor and reporter in local television markets in Georgia and Florida.
“I think the best stories are the ones that touch the heart and also inform the mind.”
