George Putnam

Birth Name:

George Putnam

Birth Place:

Breckenridge, Minnesota, United States

Profession

Actor

Received an honorary LL․D․ from Bates College in 1985
Admired U․S․ President Franklin D․ Roosevelt in his youth
In 1934, he started his broadcast career on a Minneapolis, Minn․, radio station on his birthday
Quote: "And that's the up-to-the-minute news, up to the minute, that's all the news․ Back at 10, see you then!"
Made his biggest mark as a news anchorman and conservative commentator on Los Angeles television, speaking in a rich baritone and adding a theatrical flair to his delivery
Was a fixture on a daily current-events radio talk show which he launched on KIEV-AM (870) for almost three decades
According to Ted Knight, the Ted Baxter character in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was partly inspired by him
Owned a working ranch that housed 65 racehorses, which competed in the Kentucky Derby and other races in Southern California
President Richard M․ Nixon spoke at a roast of Putnam given by KTTV to celebrate the anchor's 50th anniversary in broadcasting
Rode in the Rose Parade from 1951 until 2000, at which point his horse died and he didn't feel up to training another

Fast Facts