Andy Rooney Dies at 92

Veteran '60 Minutes' commentator delivered his last essay on Oct. 2

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/5/2011 11:39:37 AM

Longtime 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney died Nov. 4 at a hospital in New York City due to complications from minor surgery. He was 92.

For 33 years Rooney delivered the last word on the CBS newsmagazine where he became known to TV audiences for his humorous and contentious television essays, a genre he is credited with inventing. His inquisitive essays asking why products didn't work or exploring curious human behavior earned him the curmudgeon status he became known for.

Rooney had announced on Oct. 2 that he would no longer appear regularly on the broadcast. 60 Minutes will end its Nov. 6 broadcast with a tribute segment to Rooney led by Morley Safer.

"It's a sad day at 60 Minutes and for everybody here at CBS News," said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of 60 Minutes. "It's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much."

Rooney spent nearly 60 years at CBS, first hired in 1949 as a writer for Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He delivered his first 60 Minutes essay in 1978, before taking over the final minutes of the broadcast in the 1979-80 season.

In addition to his 60 Minutes role, he had a national newspaper column and is the author of 16 books.

He is survived by his four children Ellen, Brian, Emily and Martha Fishel; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.