Who is Geraldo Rivera? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Gerald Riviera

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Erica Michelle Levy (m. 2003), C.C. Dyer (m. 1987–2000), Edith Vonnegut (m. 1971–1975), Linda Coblentz (m. 1965–1969), Sherryl Raymond (m. 1976–1984)

father: Cruz

mother: Lillian Friedman

siblings: Craig Rivera

children: Cruz Grant Rivera, Gabriel Miguel Rivera, Isabella Holmes Rivera, Simone Cruickshank Rivera, Solita Liliana Rivera

Born Country: United States

Lawyers Journalists

Height: 5'10" (178 cm), 5'10" Males

political ideology: Republican

Ancestry: Russian American, Puerto Rican American

Notable Alumni: State University Of New York Maritime College, Brooklyn Law School, University Of Arizona

City: Brooklyn, New York City

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: University Of Arizona, Brooklyn Law School, State University Of New York Maritime College

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Childhood & Early Life

Geraldo Rivera was born as Gerald Michael Rivera on July 4, 1943 in New York City, New York, as the son of Cruz, a cab driver, and Lillian, a restaurant worker. His father came from a Catholic family while his mother was of Jewish descent. His brother Craig Rivera grew up to be a television journalist and producer.

He grew up in Brooklyn and West Babylon where he studied at West Babylon High School. From 1961 to 1963, Rivera attended the State University of New York Maritime College. After this, he studied at the University of Arizona, eventually graduating with a B.S. degree in business administration.

He then did a number of odd jobs before enrolling at the Brooklyn Law School in 1966. During his time there, Rivera held internships under the Harlem Assertion of Rights and the legendary crime-fighter Frank Hogan who was the New York County District Attorney at that time. He received his J.D. in 1969.

He then attended a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship program at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He later went on to become an attorney for the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican activist group.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Lawyers

American Journalists

Male Media Personalities

American Lawyers & Judges

Career

In 1970, Geraldo Rivera began working with WABC-TV as a reporter for Eyewitness News. He then started appearing on ABC’s ‘Nightline’ and ‘20/20’ in 1972. Around this time, he began hosting ABC's late night newsmagazine program ‘Good Night America’ as well and also served as an executive producer of the show.

He hosted ‘The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults’ on April 21, 1986. This 2-hour special broadcast was watched by millions of people.

In 1987, Rivera started hosting the talk show ‘Geraldo’ which ran for eleven years. The show featured controversial personalities which led to the show being deemed as "Trash TV" by two United States senators as well as Newsweek. Despite the criticism it received, it proved to be a popular show.

In 1988, the American talk show host did a show about Satanism and interviewed satanic themed murderer Charles Manson. The same year, he interviewed some Jewish activists, white supremacists, and antiracist skinheads on another show.

From 1994 to 2001, Geraldo Rivera hosted CNBC’s ‘Rivera Live,’ an evening news and interview show. After leaving CNBC in November 2001, he went on to become a Fox News war correspondent. During this time, he reported on the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq conflict.

In 2008, his book ‘HisPanic: Why Americans Fear Hispanics in the U.S.’ was published. The following year, Rivera released his book titled ‘The Great Progression: How Hispanics Will Lead America to a New Era of Prosperity’.

On January 3, 2012, he began hosting a radio show on 77 WABC in New York. The same month, he also started hosting a weekday program on Talk Radio 790 KABC in Los Angeles.

The journalist competed in the 14th season of the TV series ‘The Celebrity Apprentice’ in 2015. Although he was placed second to television personality Leeza Gibbons, he still managed to raise more money than she did.

In 2016, Rivera participated in the reality TV show ‘Dancing with the Stars’ along with professional dancer Edyta Śliwińska. Unfortunately, they were the first pair to get eliminated from the show.

Continue Reading Below

In 2018, he released his book ‘The Geraldo Show, A Memoir’. Currently, Rivera serves as the host of the newsmagazine program ‘Geraldo at Large’ and also appears regularly on Fox News Channel. In addition, he hosts the radio program ‘Geraldo Show’ on WABC 770.

Recommended Lists:

American Media Personalities

Cancer Men

Controversies & Scandals

Geraldo Rivera came into the limelight in early 2003 when he was travelling as a reporter with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. He kindled controversy when he suddenly began to disclose an upcoming operation during a Fox News broadcast. Rivera was severely criticized for his actions and was ultimately expelled from Iraq.

In 2005, the journalist became involved in a dispute with ‘The New York Times’ over their accusations that he pushed aside a member of a rescue team so as to be filmed "assisting" a lady in a wheelchair in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Later, Rivera demanded a retraction from the newspaper and also threatened to sue them if one was not provided.

In 2007, Geraldo Rivera was involved in a feud with his Fox colleague Michelle Malkin. The conflict arose between the two when Rivera made some insulting statements on Malkin in a Boston Globe interview. He had commented that she was the most hateful commentator he had ever met in his life. Rivera had added that he would spit on her if he saw her. However, he later apologized for his derogatory comments.

In the aftermath of the shooting death of African American teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, Rivera commented a few times on Martin's hoodie and how that hoodie was connected to his death. He later apologized for the same.

Awards

In 1972, Geraldo Rivera won a Peabody Award for his report on the abuse and neglect of patients at Willowbrook State School, an institution for the mentally ill situated in New York City.

Personal Life

Geraldo Rivera’s first marriage was with Linda Coblentz from 1965–69. After divorcing her, Rivera went on to marry painter Edith Vonnegut in 1971. He divorced Vonnegut in 1975.

He then married Sherryl Raymond on December 31, 1976. The couple had one son Gabriel Miguel before separating in 1984. Rivera’s fourth marriage was with Cynthia Cruickshank “C.C.” Dyer. The couple had two children.

Since 2003, Rivera has been married to Erica Michelle Levy. They have one daughter named Sol Liliana.

The flamboyant journalist also had an affair with Marian Javits, wife of Senator Jacob K. Javits, during the 1980s.

Geraldo Rivera Biography