Alex Dreier

Alex Dreier
Dreier in 1964
BornJune 26, 1916
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedMarch 11, 2000(2000-03-11) (aged 83)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Broadcaster, actor
Years active1968-1979
Awards7 Emmys

Alexander M. Dreier (June 26, 1916 – March 11, 2000) was an American news reporter and commentator who worked with NBC Radio during the 1940s, and later with the ABC Information Radio network in the 1960s and early 1970s. Dreier then became an actor and appeared in a number of TV series and films.

Early years

Dreier was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, attended Stanford University, and graduated in 1939.[1] He then went into journalism, and was covering Berlin for United Press when he joined NBC in 1941. During his year in Berlin he was under surveillance by the Gestapo, and he left the city one day before the Pearl Harbor attack.

His commentary aired on NBC on Saturdays from 1942 to 1945 and weekdays from 1951 to 1956. Known as Chicago's "Man on the Go," Dreier was the city's top TV anchor during his years on NBC-owned WNBQ-TV, serving as a news reporter and anchor. He also handled news for NBC-TV's Today on the Farm from 1960–61. He was replaced as WMAQ anchor by Floyd Kalber in 1962; he then moved to ABC owned-and-operated WBKB-TV.

From 1959 to 1964, Dreier also co-hosted the television program Championship Bridge with Charles Goren. These can still be seen on the Arts Channel of TV4U.com.


Later years

(left to right) Alex Dreier, Bob Hope, Anne T. Hill, Geraldine Dreier, Roy W. Hill at a fund raiser for Eisenhower Medical Center ca 1975

Dreier moved to California in 1967, where he worked in Los Angeles for KTTV and also began a career as an actor in many films such as The Boston Strangler (1968), Chandler (1971), The Carey Treatment (1972), The Loners (1972), Lady Cocoa (1975) and The Astral Factor (1978), and TV shows, including Mannix, Kojak, Land of the Giants, Hart to Hart and Love, American Style between 1968 and 1979. He served as chairman of the board for the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences and as a board member of the Eisenhower Medical Center. In 1989, he was inducted into the Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame.[1]

Philanthropy

Dreier served on the boards of trustees of institutions including Shimer College[2] and the Eisenhower Medical Center.[3]

Death

Dreier died on March 11, 2000, in Rancho Mirage, California.[4][5] He is buried in Desert Memorial Park[4] in Cathedral City, California.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1941 Here Comes Mr. Jordan Radio Announcer Uncredited
1968 The Boston Strangler News Commentator
1971 Chandler Ross J. Carmady
1972 The Carey Treatment Dr. Joshua Randall
1972 The Loners Police Chief Peters
1975 Lady Cocoa Ramsey
1975 Alias Big Cherry
1978 The Astral Factor Dr. Ulmer

References

  1. ^ a b Alexander Dreier, 83, Broadcast Journalist Who Won 7 Emmys. New York Times. March 16, 2000 [1]
  2. ^ "Board of Trustees". Shimer College Record. Vol. 52, no. 4. December 1960.
  3. ^ James Janega (2000-03-15). "Alex Dreier, Broadcasting Pioneer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
  4. ^ a b Palm Springs Cemetery District, "Interments of Interest"
  5. ^ Alex Dreier on the Internet Movie Database