Alistair Cooke

TV Show Host

Birthday November 20, 1908

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace England

DEATH DATE Mar 30, 2004 (95)

#175357 Most Popular

About

British author of Alistair Cooke's America who hosted the popular PBS program, Masterpiece Theatre, from 1972 until 1992. He is also known for writing and presenting the BBC radio series, Letters From America.

Before Fame

As a young man, he was the editor of the literary magazine, Granta. While attending Jesus College, Cambridge, he also organized The Mummers, Cambridge's first mixed-sex theatre group.

Trivia

He became a United States citizen in 1941, after having studied at both Harvard and Yale.

Family Life

He married Ruth Emerson (a distant relative of Ralph Waldo Emerson) in August of 1934. The couple became parents to future author and musician, John Byrne Cooke, before divorcing in 1944. Cooke's second wife, Jane White Hawkes, bore him a daughter named Susan.

Associated With

He misjudged James Mason, telling him early in his career to stay out of the arts.