Don Lemon
A CNN primetime anchor who brought a direct, often provocative style to cable news, becoming a prominent and polarizing figure in the media landscape.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American television journalist·Birthday: March 1·Generation X
Biography
Don Lemon's path to a CNN primetime chair was forged in local newsrooms, where he cut his teeth reporting on everything from politics to plane crashes. His break came with CNN, where his willingness to deliver blunt commentary and challenge guests—and sometimes his own network—set him apart. As the host of 'CNN Tonight,' Lemon blended news analysis with personal perspective, particularly on issues of race and LGBTQ+ rights, making his show a destination for viewers seeking a more opinionated take on the day's events. His tenure was marked by high ratings, significant controversies, and a clear sense that he was a journalist who refused to be confined to a neutral, behind-the-desk persona.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Don was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Don Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Don's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Anchored the CNN primetime news and talk program 'CNN Tonight with Don Lemon' for nearly a decade.
- Published the memoir 'Transparent,' discussing his experiences as a Black gay man in America and journalism.
- Was a lead anchor for CNN's coverage of major events including presidential elections and the death of George Floyd.
- Began his national television career as a correspondent for NBC News programs like 'Today.'
Did You Know?
He started his career as a weekend news anchor at WNYW in Birmingham, Alabama.
He is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and came out publicly in his 2011 memoir.
He worked as a bartender and restaurant server while trying to break into journalism.
He survived a lightning strike while reporting live on camera during a 2011 storm.
“I'm not an activist. I'm a journalist. But I'm a journalist who is a member of the community, and I think it's important to have a voice.”
