Remembering Roy Leonard

Roy Leonard, a legendary interviewer and entertainment critic and a member of WGN Radio’s Walk of Fame, died Thursday night, his son Kelly confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.  He was 83. Leonard hosted middays on WGN Radio for over 30 years and interviewed celebrities and newsmakers. His soothing voice and calm demeanor made him a […]

Roy Leonard, a legendary interviewer and entertainment critic and a member of WGN Radio’s Walk of Fame, died Thursday night, his son Kelly confirmed to the Chicago Tribune.  He was 83.

Leonard hosted middays on WGN Radio for over 30 years and interviewed celebrities and newsmakers. His soothing voice and calm demeanor made him a favorite among listeners and advertisers alike, and earned him additional roles including as host of WGN-TV’s “Family Classics” anthology of movies.

In later years, Roy continued to review movies and theater and worked to catalog and transfer his vast collection of interviews into digital form so they would remain available for future generations.

Audio montage:

On the Couch with Roy, from “WGN Gold – 80 Years of Radio Memories” produced by Todd Manley

http://tribwgnfm.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/onthecouchwithroy.mp3

Walk of Fame profile:

http://tribwgnfm.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/royleonardwalkoffameprofile.mp3

Roy’s induction into the WGN Radio Walk of Fame:

http://tribwgnfm.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/walkoffameinduction.mp3

 

 

 

Visit WGN Radio’s Roy Leonard audio archive.

Read more on this story from the Chicago Tribune.

Obituary with information on arrangements.

Visit Roy’s section at wgngold.com.

Visit Roy’s blog at Chicago Now.

Visit Roy’s archive at WGN-TV.

 

Roy Leonard(Glenn Kaupert)Roy Leonard (Glenn Kaupert)Milt Rosenberg and Roy Leonard (Glenn Kaupert)Roy Leonard and Pat Brickhouse (Glenn Kaupert)Roy Leonard (Glenn Kaupert)Bob Sirott and Roy Leonard chat during a break. (Dave Marzullo / WGN Radio)Roy Leonard (Dave Marzullo / WGN Radio)Roy Leonard (Jackie Cotton / WGN Radio)Louie Bellson and Pearl Bailey with Roy LeonardRoy Leonard with Peggy Lee, 1969Two entertainment legends: Dick Clark visits with Roy LeonardRoy Leonard with Harry Connick, Jr.Roy Leonard with Sid Caesar in 1973.Roy Leonard with Lily TomlinRoy with Clint Eastwood in 1978Bette Midler with Roy LeonardRoy Leonard Talks with Muhammad Ali

 

Roy Leonard