Willie Geist
Willie Geist | |
|---|---|
 Geist in 2025 | |
| Born | William Russell Geist May 3, 1975 Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Vanderbilt University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse |
Christina Sharkey (m. 2003) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Bill Geist (father) |
| Relatives | Herbie Lewis (great-grandfather) Libby Geist Wildes |
William Russell Geist
Geist is the author or co-author of two books that have appeared on The New York Times bestseller list: Good Talk, Dad—written in 2014 with his father Bill Geist[4]—and American Freak Show: The Completely Fabricated Stories of Our New National Treasures, released in 2010. His third book, the self-help satire Loaded! Become a Millionaire Overnight and Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks or Your Money Back!, was released in 2011.
Early life
Geist was born in Evanston, Illinois, the son of newspaper columnist and broadcast journalist Bill Geist and social worker Jody (née Lewis).[2][5] He is of German, French, English, Irish, and Norwegian descent.[6] Geist is the older brother of Libby Geist Wildes, the Academy Award-winning documentary film producer of O.J.: Made in America and The Last Dance.[7] He is the great-grandson of former Detroit Red Wings star and Hockey Hall of Fame player Herbie Lewis.[8]
Geist attended
Career
Geist began his career as an editor and producer for
Geist began substituting as a co-host on
Geist solo anchored NBC's hours-long coverage of the
In addition to his political interviews on Morning Joe during the week, Geist has earned a reputation on Sunday TODAY as a well-regarded long-form profile interviewer.
Geist hosts the popular Sunday Sitdown podcast, which features the full-length, unedited versions of his Sunday TODAY television profile interviews.
Geist did voice work in Kung Fu Panda 3, voicing Sum opposite Al Roker's Dim,[14] and has made cameos in several other movies and television shows.
He is a frequent guest on Andy Cohen's late night Bravo show "Watch What Happens Live", where he often is paired with a Real Housewife.
Geist has appeared twice in People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive" issue, in 2012 and 2017.
Saturday Night Live cast member Mikey Day impersonates Geist during SNL's sketches about Morning Joe.
In 2019, Geist participated with
In 2024, Geist appeared as a fictionalized version of himself on the twelfth season of the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm.
On January 22, 2025, Geist hosted the first Sunday Sitdown LIVE at New York’s City Winery, interviewing comedian Nate Bargatze in front of a sold-out crowd that traveled from across the country. An edited version of the conversation aired on Sunday TODAY.
Geist was selected by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels to host the one-hour preshow for SNL 50: The Anniversary Special on February 16, 2025.
On March 12, 2025, Geist filled in for Kelly Clarkson as host of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
In 2025, it was reported that Geist will continue hosting Sunday Today and co-hosting Morning Joe once the corporate separation of MSNBC from NBC News is complete.[16]
Personal life
On May 24, 2003, Geist married his high school sweetheart Christina Sharkey, in Humacao, Puerto Rico.[1] The couple has two children.[2] He is an Independent.[17]
Geist sits on the board of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. His father, former New York Times columnist and CBS News journalist Bill Geist, has Parkinson's disease.
Geist is a board member at Operation Mend, an organization at UCLA Medical Center that provides free surgery and care to severely injured military veterans.
On November 7, 2021, Geist ran the 50th annual New York City Marathon to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He finished his first marathon in 3:58:23 and raised more than $500,000 for Parkinson's Disease research, entirely in small donations.[citation needed]
He lives in New York.
Career timeline
- (2004–2005): I, Max, Writer/Producer
- (2005–present) MSNBC/NBC News/NBC Sports
- (2005–2008): Tucker (formerly The Situation with Tucker Carlson)
- (2006–present): Zeitgeist Host
- (2006–2007): Scarborough Country
- (2007–present): Morning Joe Co-Anchor
- (2009–2012): Way Too Early Host
- (2011–present): NBC News correspondent
- (2012–present): NBC Sports contributor
- (2012–present): Today ShowFourth Hour fill-in co-host
- (2012–2016): Today ShowThird Hour Co-Anchor
- (2012–present): Today Show7–9 am contributor and fill-in news, Orange Room and co-anchor
- (April 17, 2016–present): Sunday Today with Willie Geist Anchor
References
- ^ a b c Donnelly, Shannon (June 1, 2003). "Wedding Vows/Celebrations". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Willie Geist Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ "Willie Geist: What my father has given me". TODAY.com. June 16, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Bill Geist; Willie Geist. "Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees...and Other Conversations We Forgot to Have". Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
- ^ Laliberte, Richard (December 2020). "Journalists Bill and Willie Geist Spread the Word About Parkinson's". brainandlife.org – via American Academy of Neurology.
he and his wife, Jody Lewis Geist
- ^ Stump, Scott (February 21, 2023). "Willie Geist 'devastated': His fave German chocolate cake isn't German!". today.com.
Though his last name is German, Willie said, "when you really break it down," he is part German, French, English, Irish and Norwegian.
- ^ "The B.S. Report: 5/11". ESPN. December 5, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ^ "Willie Geist on Twitter: "@rjjohnston6 My great grandfather Herbie Lewis. Won two Cups with the Red Wings in the '30s. Hall of Famer."". Twitter. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- ^ "Willie Geist: MSNBC contributor". MSNBC. April 5, 2007. Archived from the original on April 20, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
- ^ Skowronski, Lauren (July 15, 2009). "Way Too Early with Willie Geist To Debut July 27 on MSNBC". nbcumv.com. Retrieved July 16, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ Chris Ariens (March 31, 2016). "Willie Geist's Sunday Today Show Launches April 17 | TVNewser". Adweek.com. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ Mark Joyella (June 12, 2016). "Network Coverage Plans for Orlando Mass Shooting | TVNewser". Adweek.com. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
- ^ "2020 National Edward R. Murrow Award winners". www.rtdna.org. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
- ^ "Kung Fu Panda 3 Cast". IMDb. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ "How low will they go? TODAY fans play Snapchat's bidding game". TODAY.com. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/25/msnbc-trump-comcast-maddow-psaki-00305876
- ^ Fung, Katherine (November 18, 2011). "Scarborough Reveals Surprising Information About Mika Brzezinski". Huffington Post.
External links
- Willie Geist at IMDb
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 2009 Miss USA judge official biography