Sophia Michaels
Richard Cohen, a respected journalist and the spouse of former “Today” show co-anchor Meredith Vieira, has passed away at the age of 76. As reported by NBC’s “Today,” he died on December 24, 2024, after battling pneumonia. Cohen, a two-time cancer survivor who had lived with multiple sclerosis for over fifty years, was surrounded by his family, including Vieira and their three children—Benjamin, Gabriel, and Lily—at the time of his passing.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the young age of 25 in 1973, Cohen did not let this illness hinder his personal or career aspirations. He expressed his outlook on life in a 2007 interview with Brain&Life, stating that succumbing to the disease and setting limitations would prevent one from living life to the fullest.
Richard Cohen met life’s hurdles with positivity and resilience
Cohen and Vieira met in 1983 while employed at CBS. On their second date, Cohen disclosed his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, sharing, “I told her about the illness, because I learned it was best to be upfront.” Thankfully, Vieira took it in stride, and the couple married in 1986, welcoming two sons and a daughter throughout their more than thirty years together.
A talented writer, Cohen authored four books and earned three Emmy Awards during his career. He also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital School of Medicine due to his advocacy for patients with similar conditions. Always maintaining a positive attitude, he once reflected, “I can list many things I can no longer do, but I accept that. I focus on my children, my marriage, and my accomplishments. What is there to complain about?” Rest in peace, Richard Cohen.
