Broadcaster Alistair Cooke dies at 95

NEW YORK, March 30 (UPI) -- Alistair Cooke, the veteran BBC broadcaster who straddled two continents and cultures, has died in his New York home. He was 95.

Cooke was best known to U.S. audiences as the host of PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre," of which he was the host for 22 years -- from the show's premiere in 1971 until he retired in 1992. Cooke won an Emmy for the show in 1975.

Cooke's commentaries provided "Masterpiece Theatre" audiences with context about the dramatic productions they were about to see -- primarily adaptations of such literary classics as "Emma" and "Then Golden Bowl" or original productions such as "The Six Wives of Henry VIII." The series also featured popular continuing serials, such as "Upstairs, Downstairs," which ran from 1974-77.

PBS said Cooke often likened his role on the series to that of a headwaiter, "in the sense that I'm there to explain for interested customers what's on the menu and how the dishes were composed."

The assignment made Cooke something of an icon for TV viewers, to the extent that he was the basis for a running feature on the children's educational series "Sesame Street." The popular Muppet Cookie Monster became "Alistair Cookie," the host of "Monsterpiece Theatre."

In his native England, however, Cooke was perhaps best known for his weekly "Letter from America" on the BBC. The series of radio commentaries featured Cooke's observation of life in the United States for more than 55 years until he retired on Feb. 20, on the advice of his doctor.

"I have had much enjoyment in doing these talks and hope that some of it has passed over to the listeners, to all of whom I now say thank you for your loyalty and goodbye," Cooke said in announcing his decision.

Tributes were quick to pour in after Cooke's daughter announced his death around midnight Tuesday.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair described him as "a remarkable man" and "one of the greatest broadcasters of all time."

The BBC's acting director general, Mark Byford, said Cooke was "one of the greatest broadcasters ever in the history of the BBC."

Cooke was born in Manchester, England, on Nov. 20, 1908. After earning a degree in English Literature from Cambridge University, he attended the Yale School of Drama in New Haven, Conn., and went on to direct plays at Harvard University for its Hasty Pudding Club and dramatic society.

He became a U.S. citizen in 1941.

Cooke worked as a foreign correspondent for the London Times before launching a 24-year stint as chief U.S. correspondent for the Manchester Guardian. In 1953, Cooke began his American TV career as host of "Omnibus," a Sunday evening program that examined the cultural, historical and artistic heritage of American society. The series ran first on CBS, then ABC, then finally CBS through 1957.

In 1972-73, Cooke wrote and narrated "America -- A personal History of the United States." The 13-hour TV series was expanded and adapted for a best-selling book, "Alistair Cooke's America," which sold more than 2 million copies in hardcover.

Cooke also wrote such books as "Christmas Eve," "One Man's America," "Six Men" and "Talk About America."

He received four Emmy awards and three Peabody awards. He was made an honorary Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire, in 1973.

Cooke was married twice and had a son in one marriage and a daughter in the second.

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