The Unseen Lives: What The Iconic Old Today Show Cast Is Doing Now In 2025

The golden era of the Today Show, spanning the 1970s through the early 2000s, created some of the most recognizable and trusted faces in American television journalism. For millions, the morning ritual was incomplete without the familiar, friendly presence of anchors like Jane Pauley, Bryant Gumbel, and Katie Couric, who defined an entire generation of morning television.

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the lives of this iconic "old Today Show cast" are still very much in the public eye, though their careers have branched out into new, surprising directions, from anchoring prestigious Sunday morning programs to running their own media empires and even facing major health battles. Here is the definitive, up-to-date look at what these legendary figures are doing now.

The Trailblazers and Their Current Legacies (1970s-1990s)

The anchors of this era set the standard for morning news, blending hard journalism with an approachable, conversational style. Their careers post-Today have been marked by longevity and continued influence in the media world.

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Jane Pauley: The Enduring Sunday Anchor

Jane Pauley, who famously became a co-host of Today at age 25 in 1976, has enjoyed one of the most respected and long-lasting careers in broadcast journalism.

Current Status: Pauley is the anchor of the award-winning CBS News Sunday Morning, a role she has held since 2016.

Latest Update: Her enduring impact was recognized in 2024 when she was honored with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Poynter Institute, cementing her status as a media legend.

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Key Entities: Jane Pauley, CBS News Sunday Morning, Lifetime Achievement Award, Poynter Institute, Tom Brokaw, Bryant Gumbel.

Bryant Gumbel: The Investigative Sports Icon

Bryant Gumbel co-hosted Today for 15 years, from 1982 to 1997, becoming one of the show's longest-serving male anchors.

Current Status: Gumbel recently concluded his critically acclaimed HBO investigative series, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, which ran for a remarkable 29 seasons.

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Latest Update: The legendary broadcaster has been in the spotlight recently due to a sudden medical emergency in late 2024, which required him to be rushed to a New York hospital. He has since retired from his HBO show, marking the end of a major chapter in his career.

Key Entities: Bryant Gumbel, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, HBO, 29 seasons, retirement, hospitalization, NBC News.

Deborah Norville: A Fresh Career Chapter in 2025

Deborah Norville’s tenure on Today in the early 1990s was brief but memorable, following Pauley and preceding Couric. She quickly moved on to a massive career outside of NBC.

Current Status: Norville has just concluded a phenomenal three-decade run as the anchor of the syndicated newsmagazine Inside Edition, officially stepping away from the desk on May 21, 2025.

Latest Update: Her departure from Inside Edition is one of the most significant recent shifts in the newsmagazine landscape, allowing her to focus on other pursuits, including her work as a Director for the Broadcasters Foundation of America.

Key Entities: Deborah Norville, Inside Edition, May 21, 2025, Broadcasters Foundation of America, syndicated newsmagazine.

The Powerhouse Era: Where Are They Now? (1990s-2000s)

The period featuring Katie Couric and Matt Lauer dominated morning television ratings, making them household names. Their post-Today careers have been marked by high-profile projects and, in one case, a dramatic retreat from the spotlight.

Katie Couric: Media Mogul and Health Advocate

Katie Couric was the co-host of Today from 1991 to 2006, forming an immensely popular duo with Matt Lauer. After leaving, she became the first solo female anchor of a major evening news broadcast, the CBS Evening News.

Current Status: Couric is the founder and CEO of Katie Couric Media, a multimedia news and production company that publishes a popular daily newsletter and produces videos and podcasts.

Latest Update: In a nod to her roots, Couric recently returned to the NBC set to launch a new, life-saving health project, utilizing her platform to advocate for public wellness. She continues to be one of the most influential and visible journalists in America.

Key Entities: Katie Couric, Katie Couric Media, CBS Evening News, multimedia company, daily newsletter, health project, Matt Lauer.

Meredith Vieira: Game Show Host and Honoree

Meredith Vieira served as co-host of Today from 2006 to 2011, following Katie Couric's departure. Her career has spanned news, talk shows, and game shows.

Current Status: Vieira is the host of the syndicated game show 25 Words or Less.

Latest Update: Continuing her tradition of excellence, Vieira is set to receive the prestigious 2025 Governors' Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Boston/New England Chapter, recognizing her decades of work in television.

Key Entities: Meredith Vieira, 25 Words or Less, Governors' Award, NATAS, The View, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, syndicated television.

Matt Lauer: A Life Away from the Cameras

Matt Lauer was one of the longest-serving co-hosts in Today history, anchoring the show from 1997 until his controversial firing in 2017.

Current Status: Lauer has remained almost entirely out of the public eye since his dismissal, focusing on his personal life and family.

Latest Update: While rumors of a media "comeback" occasionally surface, Lauer's most notable recent activity involves the sale of his Upper East Side commuter apartment, signaling his continued retreat from New York City media life and a focus on writing and producing content away from the traditional spotlight.

Key Entities: Matt Lauer, 2017 firing, Upper East Side, writing and producing, sexual harassment allegations, NBC.

Enduring Icons and Their Final Chapters

The history of the Today Show stretches back over 70 years, and the earliest anchors laid the groundwork for all who followed. Their careers are a testament to the show's foundational role in American media.

Tom Brokaw: Health and Legacy

Tom Brokaw was a co-host on Today from 1976 to 1981 before going on to become the anchor of NBC Nightly News for over two decades.

Current Status: Brokaw retired from full-time anchoring and served as a Special Correspondent for NBC News until 2021.

Latest Update: He continues to be a powerful voice on national issues while managing his health journey. Brokaw has been courageously open about his ongoing battle with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer he was diagnosed with in 2013, providing a powerful example of resilience.

Key Entities: Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News, multiple myeloma, blood cancer, author, Special Correspondent.

Hugh Downs: The Television Pioneer

Hugh Downs was a giant of early television, co-hosting Today from 1962 to 1971, often alongside Barbara Walters, before moving on to a legendary run on ABC's 20/20.

Legacy: Downs passed away in 2020 at the age of 99, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most versatile and reassuring presences in television, with over 15,000 hours of television broadcast time. His career is a historical marker for the Today Show’s early success.

Key Entities: Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, 20/20, television pioneer, 1960s, longevity, 2020.

The careers of the "old Today Show cast" are a fascinating study in media evolution. They transitioned from the traditional news desk to running digital media companies, hosting game shows, and advocating for critical health issues, proving that the sun never truly sets on a career built on morning television stardom. Their ongoing successes and challenges—from Jane Pauley's 2024 award to Deborah Norville's 2025 transition—ensure that the legacy of the Today Show continues to be written by its former stars.