Lara Spencer

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Laura Spencer.
Lara Spencer
Spencer in 2014
Born
Lara Christine Von Seelen

(1969-06-19) June 19, 1969 (age 54)
Garden City, New York, U.S.
Alma materPennsylvania State University
Occupation(s)Television host, television producer
Spouses
David Haffenreffer
​
​
(m. 2000; div. 2015)​
​
(m. 2018)​
Children2

Lara Christine Von Seelen

Great American Country channel. In April 2018, she announced she would be only appearing on GMA three days a week to focus on her television producing.[6]

Biography

Spencer in 2009

Spencer grew up in the New York suburb of Garden City, Long Island,[2] the daughter of Richard Ernest and Carolyn von Seelen. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1987.[7] She attended Pennsylvania State University on an athletic scholarship[7] for springboard and platform diving and was a nationally ranked competitive diver. She was named an All American Athlete in 1991,[8] her senior year, and graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism.[9][10]

Following college, Spencer went into the

News 12 Long Island. Two years later, she began to anchor overnight news updates for WABC-TV.[11] While there, she convened over coverage of the TWA Flight 800 crash, bringing her to the attention of national news executives.[11][12] She then joined ABC's Good Morning America in 1999 as a national correspondent.[3]

Spencer married former CNNfn journalist David Haffenreffer on September 30, 2000, at St. Andrew's Dune Church in an Episcopal ceremony.[1] They lived in the Riverside[13] section of Greenwich, Connecticut. The couple divorced in June 2015.[14]

In 2014, Spencer was named grand marshal at Penn State's homecoming.[8]

In 2017, she hosted the limited series People Icons.[15]

Spencer announced in January 2018

financial technology company. On September 1, 2018, Spencer and McVey married in an outdoor ceremony in Vail, Colorado.[17]

In 2018, People announced Spencer’s plans to leave her job as one of the co-anchors on Good Morning America to focus on her production company, DuffKat Media, and work on Good Morning America from behind the scenes in a lesser capacity.[18]

In 2019, Spencer was the guest picker on College GameDay for the Michigan vs. Penn State game.[19]

Television producer

Spencer was the creator and executive producer of the

Great American Country called Flea Market Flip.[21]

Other work

Spencer's first book, I Brake for Yard Sales, a guide on how to create high-end looking rooms using secondhand finds, was published and released in April 2012.[22]

She replaced Brooke Burke-Charvet and co-hosted the 87th Miss America pageant at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey with Chris Harrison on September 15, 2013.[23] She and Harrison co-hosted Miss America 2015 on September 14, 2014.[24]

Spencer's second book, titled Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures, a guide on designing rooms and homes, was published and released on September 16, 2014.[25]

Controversy

In August 2019, Spencer's comments about six-year-old Prince George of Cambridge enjoying ballet classes (among other hobbies) were interpreted by some as offensive, causing public backlash.[26][27] Spencer issued an Instagram apology, saying, "I fully believe we should all be free to pursue our passions"[28][29] and apologized on Good Morning America during an interview with three professional male dancers.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "WEDDINGS; Lara Spencer, David Haffenreffer". The New York Times. October 1, 2000. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Lara Spencer". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sherwood, Ben (2011-03-17). "Lara Spencer, Insider Co-Anchor, Joins Good Morning America". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (2011-03-17). "Lara Spencer Leaving 'The Insider' for 'Good Morning America' - The Hollywood Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  5. ^ "2012-13 Penn State Women's Swimming and Diving Yearbook". 8 January 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-13.
  6. ^ "Lara Spencer Is Stepping Away From Role at "Good Morning America"". Good Housekeeping. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  7. ^ a b Ricapito, Maria (December 15, 2014). "How I Got Here: 'Good Morning America' Cohost Lara Spencer Explains Her Career Path". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Lara Spencer to be grand marshal at Homecoming 2014" (Press release). news.psu.edu. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Lara Spencer Biography". laraspencer.net. 2013. Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  10. ^ Blaschak, Kate (1996-01-31). "Coach scores Brownie points". The Digital Collegian. Archived from the original on 20 March 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  11. ^
    ISSN 0099-9660
    . Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  12. ^ Johnson, Jill (February 2012). "Firmly Anchored". greenwichmag.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  13. The Advocate (Stamford) of Stamford, Connecticut
    , May 13, 2007, page 2
  14. ^ "GMA's Lara Spencer Finalizes Divorce". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  15. ^ Corinthios, Aurelie (14 February 2017). "From Will and Kate to Sexiest Man Alive: Lara Spencer to Host New Series Inspired by Iconic PEOPLE Covers". Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  16. ^ "'Good Morning America' host Lara Spencer engaged to Rick McVey". NY Daily News. Retrieved 2018-01-06.
  17. ^ "Lara Spencer is Married! Good Morning America Co-Host Ties the Knot in Vail". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  18. ^ "Lara Spencer Is Cutting Back Good Morning America Role to Focus on Lifestyle Brand: Source". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  19. ^ "Lee Corso's headgear pick for Michigan vs. Penn State with Lara Spencer - College GameDay". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  20. ^ "'It's Worth What?': NBC Sets Premiere Date". The Hollywood Reporter. June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  21. ^ "'Flea Market Flip': Lara Spencer on her new HGTV show and her top 4 treasure-hunting tips". Entertainment Weekly. September 28, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  22. OCLC 700735587
    .
  23. ^ "Chris Harrison, Lara Spencer to Host Miss America 2014". ABC News. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  24. ^ Kuperinsky, Amy (August 14, 2014). "Miss America 2015: Judges include N.J.'s Gary Vaynerchuk". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  25. OCLC 858845655
    .
  26. ^ A. O. L. Staff (23 August 2019). "'GMA' anchor Lara Spencer accused of 'bullying' Prince George for liking ballet: 'Despicable'". AOL.com. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  27. ^ Ohmer, S. "Defending Dance". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  28. ^ Swift, Andy (August 23, 2019). "Lara Spencer Apologizes for Mocking Prince George's Ballet Lessons on GMA". Yahoo Entertainment.
  29. ^ Todisco, Eric (August 23, 2019). "Lara Spencer Apologizes for 'Insensitive Comment' About Prince George's Ballet Lessons on GMA". People.
  30. ^ France, Lisa Respers; Garvey, Marianne (August 26, 2019). "Lara Spencer, 'Good Morning America' co-anchor, apologizes for mocking Prince George's interest in ballet". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lara Spencer.
Media offices
Preceded by Miss America co-host with Chris Harrison
2013–2014 		Succeeded by
Brooke Burke
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