Matt Lauer Biography

Fast Facts

• Actively supports the charities Jumpstart and The Doe Fund
• In 1998, created an annual golf tournament to raise money for charity at the hospice where his father was cared for
• Attended Ohio University from 1975 to 1979 as a communication major but left a few credits shy of graduation, returning in 1997 to complete his degree and speak at his own graduation
• Began his career as a producer at WOWK in Huntington, W․Va․, in 1979
• Prior to joining "Today," he hosted an interview program called "9 Broadcast Plaza" from 1989 to 1991 and also hosted news programs in Boston and Philadelphia
• Joined "The Today Show" as a permanent host in 1994 after sporadically filling in for Margaret Lawson the previous two years
• Shares the same birthday with former "Today" co-host and correspondent Meredith Vieira
• Once arm wrestled actor Tom Cruise on air in his studio